Dwell on Your Three Feet of Space by Vonnie Davis

For the past year, I've been writing non-stop to meet contract dates. A few years earlier, I'd write a book, turn the completed manuscript in and wait, hoping someone wanted it. Now, publishers tell me when they want the manuscripts and those dates are put into the contract. In short, we want three books of a minimum of X words from you on these dates for publication on these future dates.

I have two contracts I'm just about wrapping up. I'm on the last book of six. I'm tired. Burned out. A stranger to my family and friends. I literally write eight to ten hours a day, seven days a week, except for one blessed afternoon when Calvin and I go the matinee and out for dinner. The goal is to give my mind a mini-break. Six books in one year. I will never write for two publishers at the same time again. What was I thinking?

I turned in the next to the last book on April 6th. Had a book release party for A Highlander's Passion that released on the 7th. Slept for a day so my mind could rest to make the shift from Scotland and bear-shifters to firemen in Florida. I began the final book on the 9th that is due in my editor's hands on May 11th. Am I in a panic? Yes. Writing a minimum of 75,000 words in a whisper over a month is a feat I keep telling myself I can't do. There have been crying spells. Fits of blues. Migraines.

Then one evening, Calvin and I saw a mountain climber interviewed on PBS. The person putting forth the questions asked when you look at the top of the tallest mountain in the world, don't you have a moment of fear? That you won't make it?

The famed mountain climber replied he never looked at the top. He went on to say something very profound for me--I dwell in my three feet of space. Three feet to my left, right and up. That's all I think about--keeping safe and secure in my three feet of space. I don't focus on making it to the top, just keep moving my three feet of space farther and farther up. Eventually I reach my goal.

Calvin looked at me. "Did you hear that? Stop dwelling on the turn-in date and focus on your three feet of space, even though it'll change every day."

I have a feeling most of you work on such a routine already. I'm kind of slow to learn. Takes a while for things to sink through my unique, thick head. I'm trying my best not to dwell on my submission date. I just keep my head bowed over my keyboard and my fingers moving.

The book? A Pin-Up Fireman. Not the title I chose, but the publisher, HarperImpulse, decided all the titles of the books in the "Wild Heat" series should have the word "fireman" in it.

How do you keep from getting overwhelmed? What's your secret?