Did I get
your attention with that title? You know I did.
Over the
past few years we word wranglers have found
different ways to wax on the analogies of the writing life. Whether it was
gardening (me), horses (D’Ann), quilting (Liz), swimming (Kristi), and now I’m
going to have to search to see if Shawn ever did one of these posts.Oh, heck, Shawn, just let us know in the comments if I missed your analogy.
This past
month I’ve been taking part in Cupid’s Blind Speed Dating
Contest.
http://www.cupidslitconnection.blogspot.com
I got into the first bouncer round (#6) and got some good
feedback, but didn’t get a call back for the agent round. Now, I’m doing
Cupid’s blog hop with a kissing scene that can also earn me an entry into the
agent round. Check out my kissing scene at www.rgsenechal.com
and feel free to leave me a note. And in a couple of weeks, I’ll be up again
for a final shot in round 6.
Oh right,
you’re still wanting to know about the drug addict analogy, aren’t you? A bit
impatient this morning, aren’t we?
Okay. So,
whenever I have something “new” posted online, whether it’s my Thursday blog
here, a contest entry there, a kissing scene over there—I become a compulsive
computer addict. I need a hit.
Has anyone
commented? What did they say? Did they like what I wrote? Did they get the
joke?
And when
someone does comment—especially when they seem to “get” what I wrote, a feeling
of quiet euphoria falls over my soul. It’s just the best feeling and makes
going back onto the floor to deal with the public--the day job--so much easier –at least for
a while, until I have time to sneak away and check my phone yet again.
Seriously, when I’m in one of these contests, my phone gets quite the workout.
Sometimes I even have to recharge it at work so I don’t miss a chance to refresh
my page.
Am I sick? I
am addicted to validation via the written word. I love that I can go back at
any time and reread those words of encouragement and cheer. Is that
narcissistic or just a normal writerly thing? Please tell me it’s a normal and
that I don’t have to seek out an intervention somewhere. Because between work,
family, writing, and checking for comments, I don’t have the time to be
analyzed.
SO, you’d
better leave me a comment, because I need a “hit” to complete my day.
Confettti syringe by Jordan Senechal of ValeeToons.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think it's normal. Comments are like M&Ms, I swear!
ReplyDeleteThat might have been a much nicer comparison. LOL. You can't eat just one, you have to eat the whole bag.
DeleteLOL....going through that myself at the moment! I find myself checking for comments every hour and when I get one, *Bam* Mood enhancer:)
ReplyDeleteRight?? And it's such a time-suck. But it's so worth it for the *Bam*
DeleteI soooo get that feeling. It's a time suck and I know I should be doing something else but I just can't stop checking email (in the case of submissions) or checking comments (in the case of blog posts/contests) ... and sometimes even Twitter or Facebook if I've shared a new pic. It's a sickness... :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so relieved that I'm not an ego-maniac or something. LOL. Because I feel so compulsive and out of control when something's out on submission or out in the world.
Delete"I'll check just one more time and then I'll get back to work...go to the bathroom...fix dinner..fold the clothes..."
hooboy! You hit my on the head with this post, Margie. I'm a complete nutball when it comes to this stuff. Wait until you're pubbed, its the rankings that will drive you insane. Or reviews. Or lack thereof...
ReplyDeleteSo...it doesn't get better, just worse? Oh no----I'm in big trouble.
DeleteYep! You're normal! When you're first pubbed it's awful!! I've had to stop myself from checking rankings, reviews, because it drained all my time. And then came the bad reviews and tore me apart! Now I don't read them. I don't go to Goodreads at all! Don't go to Amazon unless I'm buying something. I do check on occasion, but that's it. It's really hard...
ReplyDeleteJennifer--thanks for the warning ;) I admire your willpower.
Deleteyeah i have definitely had to curb my insistent rank checking because the disappointment of seeing it constantly going down was wearing on me. but see even my writing is a form of addiction i need to do it.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Writing is my favorite addiction. Well, besides chocolate. Or a close tie.
DeleteHere's another "hit" - ha ha!
ReplyDeleteI think all writers are like this. At least, I haven't met one that isn't! I even check to see if my comments are commented on! So yeah, I'll be back... :)
Stacy--I totally do that too! I just forgot to mention it or maybe I didn't want to admit how "hit" compulsive I really am.
DeleteI know what you mean, Margie. I google the hell out of myself for validation. I don't think I've ever done an analogy. Wow. Maybe I need a hobby.
ReplyDeleteOh, good, I didn't leave you out. Phew!
DeleteLOL, great post.
ReplyDeleteAhhhh, I know exactly what you mean. I do the same thing! And you should see me when I get a good review. I'm so full of energy, but it soon leaves, and then I'm jonsing for the next hit, lol.
It's a sickness, I'm pretty sure. But it's good to know it's widespread through the writing community :)
DeleteConsider yourself "hit" again! I practiced my patience by not allowing myself to check e-mail until noon each day during Rd 4 and the Kissing Scene Comp. And it worked. Most days. Okay...it worked one day. But that's something, right?
ReplyDeleteAhh! I forgot to congratulate you on getting into the next kissing scene round! Yippee!
Delete