I have no idea what to write about today, so I guess I will
write about writing, and more to the point, the fact that I have worked so hard
at my writing, not just over the past year with my next novel, but over the two
decades since I decided that I did not want to go to meet my maker never having
tried to get something published. It’s
been a long journey from those early days when I jumped for joy to get an
article or essay published, through the excitement of being asked to write on
assignment for a couple of journals, to the point where I knew I had a story
that I wanted to tell in a novel. Ten novels later, and one in the hopper, I
feel I need a rest. As the saying goes: Fat Chance! But I will take a rest where I can.
I’ve always believed that, as a writer, I should write every
day, even when I’m not working on a specific project – and I’ve done that ever since I can remember. Keeping at the writing even when there’s no
actual project in hand is a bit like turning over the engine when there’s
nowhere to go – you want to know the oil’s reaching the right places and
that the car is still tuned up, ready.
But lately I threw in the towel on that one, trusting that when it comes
time for me to knuckle down to writing the next novel (around January 1st –
I like to start a book at the beginning, so to speak), the vehicle of
creativity will spark and everything I have ever learned about writing will be
brought in to support the story I want to tell.
Fingers crossed.
There are writers who will tell you, in holier than thou
terms, that even when sick, they will write a few paragraphs. It’s essential, we are told, not to let yourself go, if you want to be a good writer. I’m darn sure my dentist doesn’t feel the
need to drill out a few fillings when she takes a break, or my hairdresser snip
away at some long hair, just to keep her hand in. So the heck with it – next week the copyedits
for my next book will arrive to be checked (in a scary five days to meet a
deadline), after which I probably will write nothing until after the holidays, except the odd post here
on Naked Authors. That’s it. I’m giving my writing hand a rest because,
you know, I’m tired. Done in. The well
needs to be filled full again and it’s not as if I don’t have lots of things to do that I usually don’t have time for. Cleaning the house comes to mind.
Having said all that, a new novel has to be
started on January 1st and in preparation I have a lot of background
research to do, which means I’ll be reading through all manner of material,
making notes and scribbling a few lines on a scene here and paragraph of
dialogue there. And I’ll be catching up
with my recreational reading too. A bit
like the hairdresser sharpening her scissors.
But for now, I really don’t want to write. I don’t want to think I have to do X amount
of words in a day. I want to take my
break from that part of being a writer – you know, the actual writing part.
did my note get through a minute ago?
ReplyDeleteDiana
Jacqueline, how embarassing! I thought I sent you a note because it disappeared. I clicked the "preview" then it disappeared!
ReplyDeleteFirst, thank you for several leads on finding the "Lord Mayor". Yes, they are like royalty here because Americans do not have a royal family.
Second, thank you for sharing your thoughts today. Creating and writing stories are A LOT of work! We love Maisie Dobbs. She has spunk! We Americans have Nancy Drew. The English have Maisie Dobbs,
Third, your comment about the hairdresser reminded me of a teacher I had in the 5th grade. She taught deaf children. She used Sign Language. She could hear and no one in her family were deaf. She told me that she had no one to Sign with during the summer so she would sign to herself in public just for the practice.
Fourth, I wondered what professional writers do when they are not writing.
Have a wonderful Restful weekend,
Diana
Diana, thanks for your comment. The business of being a professional writer has many facets to it, so writing is just part of a broad-spectrum job, some of which is done alone, and some of which is teamwork - it's a job, a creative rewarding job. But that doesn't mean it's easy - like any other job, there are the good days, the bad days and the ho-hum days. And there are the days when you would rather not have worked, but you have to - because you're in a business, whether you like it or not!
DeleteJW.
ReplyDeleteIt's called 'recharging the batteries' and you have to be off line to do that. Sometimes, it's just a simple cat nap in the afternoon or dinner and a movie. Sometimes, it's a two week vacation to some place you've never been or maybe someplace revisited. Sometimes it lasts for a month or maybe even six months. It doesn't matter whether it's in front of a cozy fire or on a beach with a chill wind blowing through. Down time should enable one to come back fresh and bursting with energy - if not, then perhaps more down time is needed.
South Jersey Dave
I feel the need for some of that downtime, Dave! Thanks for the reminder - makes me feel better about it! ( I'm one of those people who feels guilty about taking a rest).
DeleteI feel your exhaustion, Our J. I consider anything I do that contributes to the novel as "writing." For example, I'm currently working on a scene in my WIP that takes place on the beach near Pacific Palisades. I've been there many times before, but my memories have lost freshness. I need to go there and feel the wind on my face. I consider that writing.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Patty - thank you! Even when I am not writing, I tend to be thinking about whatever the project is all the time, so I'm never far from the work - and sometimes, I have several of those trains of thought belting down the tracks to the same station - no wonder I want to derail for a while!
DeleteIt's the holidays! I believe that there are all sorts of ideas out there, but it's like a kettle of soup that gets put on the stove; things will swirl around, and then some will burble to the surface. Ideas are like that, I think. When they're ready, up they come.
ReplyDeleteMy breather turned into a break, which turned into down time, which turned into a hiatus, which turned into a sabbatical, which turned into semi-retirement. And I know I have an itch for murder. The literary kind. Mostly. paul levine
ReplyDelete