Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Circling the Block

Random thoughts on the life of a writer…
I’m staring at my monitor, pondering the ending of my latest novel. It’s just not coming to me. There is no such thing as an original thought, I remind myself, legs stinging and tingling. I wiggle my toes, fiddling with the nail on my pinky. There isn’t enough left of it to nibble. I’d better cancel my manicure. Doris will keel over at the sight… or, charge me double. My gaze wanders, resting briefly on the crisp brown leaves on the one stem left of my wilting plant. Another one bites the dust, I think, looking away, drumming my fingers on the desk. Ending…ending…gotta have an ending.


What’s that in the corner? A cobweb the size of a fisherman’s net has snared a wad of dog hair big enough to make a dust bunny cringe. The wispy fur ball swirls like a tornado when the fan kicks on. My vacuum would make quick work of it. I should clean the house. My mother-in-law’s bound to stop by later, with her white gloves. I glare balefully at my monitor. I’ve got a deadline, darn it! I need my ending. Nothing. Maybe I should shelve it for awhile and do something else. The bottom of the oven’s starting to look like a fire pit.

Any of that sound familiar? I call it the ‘writer’s circle’. It’s where we circle around, rather than getting to the point. That brings to mind one of my favorite life lessons that I learned well…though my figure begs to differ. It goes something like this. Get your butt up and get to work. Avoidance breeds anxiety, anxiety increases hand-to-mouth disease, hand-to-mouth disease leads to Fat-Buttitis (FB) and Flabby-Thigh-Syndrome (FTS), which leads to whining. No one likes a whiner …so get your butt up and get to work.

Snivelers take heed! Writing is not for the weak. It is hard work. The road to success is often paved with insult, embarrassment and heightened vulnerability. The ‘highs’ are euphoric, the ‘lows’ enough to make you so depressed you slump down in your recliner, candy bar in hand, weeping (as your thighs expand to fill up the seat). Well, put down that chocolate! Wipe your nose, crack your knuckles and pick up your pen! I plan to...as soon as I polish off this last chunk of chocolate.

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23 comments:

  1. I love it and having had a very bad day i chuckled my way through it. x

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    1. I'm glad I could make you smile, Claire. I hope your day improves. :)

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  2. Oh, boy! Been there. Only mine is the middle, not the end. I write the end first and then I have to "get there"!

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  3. Love the part about the chocolate. Today, mine was two bags of flight peanuts! I always write the ending first, that way I always know where to write to.

    Fun post!

    Nancy Jill

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    1. What a great idea, Nancy Jill! I'll have to try that.

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  4. Hey! Thanks for the welcome! Amysbucketlist.blogspot.com and @buckeye_gal4

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    1. Sorry amysbooketlist.blogstop.com

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    2. No problem, Amy. I'm so glad you stopped in. I'll drop by your blog in a bit. :)

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  5. Writing is definitely not for the week. I love your blog. Here are my details.Would love to get a book review or exchange posts.
    Website | http://www,anthonycaplanwrites.com
    blog } http://thenewremembrance.blogpost.com
    Twitter | @anthonycaplan1

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    1. You are so right. I keep a set of dumbells in the cabinet, below the drawer that holds my secret-stash of choclate.
      I look forward to checking out your work. Thanks for stopping in. All the best.

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  6. This just made me chuckle as I read it. It's just so true! Following your blog through GFC.

    Adria
    http://book-haven.blogspot.com/

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    1. Hi Adria.
      Isn't it great when something makes you laugh? I think it's so healthy. Thank you (and your buddy) for coming by. :)

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  7. Oh no, I think I have flabby thigh syndrome, and the occasional bout of self-pity. Writing isn't for the faint-hearted, for sure. But the 'highs' are really wonderful. Thanks for bringing a smile through this delightful post!

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    1. You are not alone, Claudine. :) I'm glad you stopped in and smiled. ;)

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  8. There are times when just writing a post is hard. I can only image what you authors go through. I'm returning your follow through gfc.

    Here's my info:
    http://grandmatotwinsplusone.blogspot.com/
    twitter: Grandma2Twins1

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    1. Hi. I'm a grandma too. Isn't it great. Thanks for stopping by. :)

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  9. Made me smile but I'd like to note it hasn't stopped me deciding what I really need to do RIGHT now is make pikelets instead of write...honest... I NEED to do this.....
    Angelique

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  10. A gal's gots to do what a gal's gots to do...
    Sounds like you need a pikelet fix. :)

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  11. Hi, Scarlett!

    Nice to meet you and to become aquainted with your blog! I will be back to become more familiar!

    I am now your follower!

    I'm positing my blogs below and my facebook page!

    Facebook _What Type of Character Are You Hanging Out With?


    My book blog
    http://betty-alark.blogspot.com/2012/05/what-type-of-character-are-youhanging.html


    My poetry blog

    http://bettyalark.blogspot.com

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    1. I'm so glad you stopped in, Betty. Thank you for leaving your blog link. I'd love to check it out.

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  12. i loved that chocolate part,hee hee too good.
    Do visit my blog also maybe u`ll find something interesting.
    bhavyasalujabookaholic.wordpress.com
    do leave a comment.and i love the color scheme of ur blog.
    i have a wordpress account but am commenting as anonymous,am having trouble with this user id and stuff.

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    1. Hi there. Chocolate is the greatest! Thanks for coming by. :)

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Folks who are kind enough to nominate me for blog awards and such, thank you so much, but...please, don't. I barely have time to comb my hair. :)


Blessings,
Scarlett