JENN McKINLAY: Someday I'm going to gather all of these what we're writing posts together just to get a sense of what I was doing every 8 weeks. I will either be pleased or horrified--probably both.
If I worked for the government and was required to submit my list of five things I accomplished this week, it would read something like this:
1. Copyedits on WITCHES OF DUBIOUS ORIGIN - 25 pages/day due Apr 4.
2. Emailed cover ideas for THE SUMMER SHARE (contemporary novel 2026) with a mock up made on an app on my phone because I'm an overthinker. The art department probably hates me. LOL.
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| Yes, there's a Harlequin Great Dane | in the book named Dude. |
3. Wrote 5-10 pages/day on BOOKING FOR TROUBLE (Library Lovers 2026) due ASAP.
4. Decided I wasn't ready to let go of the cupcake bakery series and started writing 3-5 pages/day on a manuscript FORMULA FOR DISASTER (working title) with no plan for release or publication as yet.
5. Started drafting proposals for the next contemporary romance, a romantasy idea I have, and a possible cupcake mystery spin off series.
Bonus task: Prepped a print version of I CAN'T EVEN, which comes out on 4-8-24 (Oops! I meant 4-8-25- thanks, Edith for catching) for the readers who demanded it. You're welcome :)
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So, those are my top working tasks this week. What else did I do? Had a long chat with my agent that boiled down to this:
Amazeballs Agent: Jenn, we've talked about working smarter not harder over the years--
Me: That's never gonna be me. It just isn't.
Amazeballs Agent: LOL. I know.
(I think I wore her down, y'all)!
And lest you think I don't have a life, I also took care of my critters every day, worked in my garden, continued training for the upcoming Pat's Run (4.2 miles!), celebrated my birthday with the fam by seeing the musical WICKED, and tried to keep up with the news (oh, horror)!
So, Reds and Readers, are you a "work smarter not harder" sort of person? Or an incurable workaholic like me?
I have no idea how you manage to do all that, Jenn . . . but thanks for doing all those books; we love reading them . . . .
ReplyDeleteThank you, Joan!
DeleteJenn, how many hours are in YOUR days? Holy moly, I can't manage to get half of what you do accomplished.
ReplyDeleteSince my husband retired (partially) in September, I'm definitely thinking about working smarter, not harder. I want to be able to spend more down time with him. It hasn't yet, but it's a goal I'm working toward.
And before anyone criticizes my early morning sentence structure, this is the best I can do before my second cup of coffee.
LOL. I, too, require coffee!
DeleteGeez, Jenn! That many pages/day in TWO series PLUS copyedits and a personal life thrown in? I've been writing three books and a couple of short stories per year for nearly a decade, but I can't even come close to matching that. And I've started to cut back, not increase my workload.
ReplyDeleteAs for working smarter - I don't think there's any way to get smarter in the writing. I mean, you have to get the words on the page. You can work in sprints/set a timer for focusing, but you still have to write the story. Which you obviously do! Congratulations on the new books.
Also, I think you lost a year: "which comes out on 4-8-24" - I'm pretty sure we're in 2025.
DeleteEdith, I was just going to give Jenn credit for time travel and accomplishing in the past. Insert wink and giggle emojis here. Elisabeth
DeleteJENN: Ha!!! Thx, Edith! I amended the release date!
DeleteGetting the words on the page is key!
DeleteJoan expressed exactly what I was thinking, " We love reading them." I will add many thanks for being busy. Your books always lift my spirits! Belated happy birthday wishes.
ReplyDeleteI am very excited to hear that you are writing another book in the Cupcake Bakery series. The outcry from fans on your Facebook site when they thought you had ended the series was heart-rending, indeed. Now if you could just find a little time to marry off Scarlet and Harrison...just saying.
Your women's fiction stand alone romances are among my favorite books every year. I pre-order all your books, either in print or eBook form. I have many of your stories in audiobook form, too. You rock!
Thanks, Judy! Yes, I have to wrap up cupcake and I'd love to marry off Scarlett and Harrison (they might be my fave couple).
DeleteJenn, the government would be crazy to fire you! And happy belated birthday! you're amazing xoxo
ReplyDeleteLOL, Lucy!
DeleteAfter reading all that, I need a lie-down, as now I am tired!
ReplyDeleteSame here!
DeleteLOL, Margo!
DeleteJenn, belated Happy Birthday! I’m exhausted just reading your post! Yikes! Looking forward to the new books. Now for my next cup of coffee.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Suzette!
DeleteHappy B-day Jenn! Glad you got to do something fun. You always amaze me, juggling so many projects. Definitely not a workaholic here.
ReplyDeleteSomeday, I'll downshift. Someday.
DeleteJenn, you are amazing! The more you do, the more you accomplish--all those creative sparks just flying through the air! And I love your cover mock-up--practically doing the art dept's work for them. ;-) Easiest workday ever for them. "Just clean it up a little, will ya?"
ReplyDeleteLOL, Flora. I suspect they will come up with something even more fabulous and I will be humbled.
DeleteOhhhhhh fainting! You are incredible! Happy happy birthday! And work smarter not harder—definitely means different things to different people. It’s a brilliant concept, but it’s actually difficult. Working harder is a concept that is more familiar to us—working smarter takes more than thought and prioritizing .
ReplyDeleteBut yeesh Jenn, whatever you’re doing is working! Xxx
Thank you, Hank!
DeleteJenn, the time has come for you to come clean and admit the actual truth. I have finally figured out that you are not just one person, but at least three! Maybe triplets, I'm not real sure about that, or maybe there are two clones to the original one, the one we sometimes get to meet. Still, that's a lot for even three of you. Now, how can I get at least one of my own?
ReplyDeleteHa! If I'd been triplets my mother would have runaway!
DeleteAt this stage of my life I am more “if I don’t get to it today, there’s always tomorrow”.
ReplyDeleteI really don’t know how you are not just totally exhausted, Jenn. I agree that you may be more than one person.
It looks like you had a great time celebrating your birthday! 🧁
LOL, I do sleep like the dead. Seriously, nothing wakes me up. Nothing.
DeleteThat is a talent I wish I had. Good rest is so important.
DeleteI'm exhausted just reading about your output, Jenn! Does your mind ever shut off?
ReplyDeleteWe are glad you have that kind of energy, though. Happy belated birthday!
Thank you, Karen. I do have a busy brain but at least it's crafting plots instead of crimes. LOL.
DeleteWow! I'm worn out just reading what you do never mind trying to execute it. It sounds like you are the type of person who works best with multiple projects in the fire. I wonder if working on one project opens your mind to ideas for the other projects? I'd say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. You do you. We will continue to reap the benefits of your hard work. -- Victoria
ReplyDeleteThank you, VIctoria!
DeleteJenn, if you could just send some of that energy my way!!!! You are absolutely astounding.
ReplyDeleteHappy to, Debs :)
DeleteI was definitely a workaholic, but since retirement I’ve happily eased into the slower lane. Now I have no idea how I used to keep up that pace! So glad you’ve got such a productive way to harness all of your energy!
ReplyDeleteLISA: We could have been twins, lol. Now bring retired for 9 years, I am shocked at how much work I did at Environment Canada. I got paid a very good annual salary, but received no overtime pay. Did I stop work at 40 hr/week. Of course not!
DeleteAnd yet so many people think government employees don’t work hard. Big eye roll.
DeleteMaybe we are the outliers? SNORT.
DeleteHappy retirement, Lisa and Grace. It sounds lovely.
DeleteWOW - you are a dynamo. Of course, it's your readers who reap the benefits of all that energy. I'm a harder rather than smarter worker, too. The problem is, I often think what I'm working hardest at is auguring myself into the ground!
ReplyDeleteI feel that, Kait. We should start a club. LOL.
DeleteToday is Sunday, day of rest, but I'm tired reading your post, Jenn.
ReplyDeleteHa, I wish I did rest today but the Hooligans needed to moved and their "3 hours tops" turned into 9. :(
DeleteI am more on the slothy end of workaholicsm. Jenn, as always, I am in awe. (Your agent sounds like a gem.)
ReplyDeleteShe really is!
DeleteJenn, I think you’re just a tad bit crazy with all you do (not to mention the FYI “projects” you do around your house). I’m not complaining because we the readers reap the benefits. But I hope you don’t wear yourself out. (And yay for another cupcake mystery!) Happy belated birthday! — Pat S
ReplyDeleteI got from very active DNA.
DeleteJenn, first I want to comment on you book cover. I love the yellow house and perfect blue sky. I hope you don't change that. I do think seeing just a tiny bit more of the woman would be good and maybe changing the drab color of her top. I like her expression. The guy could be a little less smiley, but it depends on what his personality is in the story. I also think maybe his shirt color is too much of a contrast to the other blues, as in the turquoise maybe should be changed. Of course, I have no suggestions for what color their shirts should be changed to. Like the yellow house and beautiful blue sky, I'm in love with the dog.
ReplyDeleteYour work productivity always amazes me. That you have any time for a personal life makes me think that maybe you're a smarter worker than you claim. On whether I'm a harder or smarter worker, I think these days I'd have to go with a third option of non-worker. However, when I do actually do something, I like to have all my materials at hand I'm going to need while husband likes to start a job with what's at hand and make several trips to Home Depot.
And, Happy Birthday, too!
Thank you, Kathy! Love your input on the cover! I fear I'm like your husband - several trips to Home Depot...sigh.
DeleteJENN: You are amazing! I cannot multi task! Not sure what “work smarter, not harder” means. If I tried to do everything you did, then I would not get any sleep. Perhaps that is how my brain is wired.
ReplyDeleteSo look forward to reading ALL of your books when they are published.
And HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JENN !!!!
DeleteThank you, Diana!!!
DeleteHappy Belated Birthday!
ReplyDeleteLike the others, I’m worn out reading about all that you do! With my remaining energy, I want to say “thank you” for another Cupcake mystery.
Now I’m going to take a nap!
DebRo
LOL. Thank you, DebRo!
DeleteContinuing on my the reply I made to LISA IN LONG BEACH's post, I finally knew that I was working too hard when I switched jobs after moving from To myronto to Ottawa. I officially stopped doing climate change research and worked as a strategic planner for a division of 130 staff (mostly water resource engineers & technicians). That meant overseeing a lot of real-time programs. But there was a 3-4 month period when I also was Acting as directorate planner for 900 staff. And still finishing off some climate change journal articles I co-authored. I must have been working a 70-80 hr/-week. I remember writing/responding to emails at 3:00 am to the shock/dismay of my academic colleagues. And falling asleep on my couch since I was too tired to make it to bed!.
ReplyDeleteLooking back, I think it was hard for me to " say no" given my type A personality. I was also single with no kids, pets or caregiver responsibility.
As a retiree, i did not slow down until my second year. Then I got long COViD in 2020-21, 2022-2023, and again in 2024. Those three bouts permanently reduced my daily productivity. And I have had to learn to accept this changebin my physical & mental condition & learn howvto enjoy life!
Ugh, obvious typo in line 3. Should be "Toronto" not "To myronto".
DeleteYeah, between COVID and menopause, it’s been an adjustment to the reduced amount of adulting I do on a daily basis.
DeleteOh yeah, menopause effects can be nasty.
DeleteP.S. sorry for the typos while I comment using my tablet. My recovering perfectionist personality cringes at some of these typos. The keyboard app sucks!
But if I turn auto-correct on, it incorrectly changes words.
Covid kicked my butt, as well as menopause. I think I'm in a brief resurgence of energy before I calm down. Then I look at Rhys and think "Nah".
DeleteMenopause is definitely kicking my butt too
DeleteHa! Work smarter or not at all!
ReplyDeleteA better turn of phrase!
DeleteHappy Birthday, Jenn. Please don't work any harder! I've been thinking about how I can work smarter since I read your post--not so easy to figure out. How can I be more efficient? Good question.
ReplyDeleteExactly! I'm never really clear on how to do that.
Delete