Toil and tedium and maybe a little whine

Sunday afternoon.

Outside of the obvious—family, friends, good health, etc.—I love writing more than any other single thing in my life. If there was a fire or flood at my home and everyone was safe, I’m a little embarrassed to admit that the first thing I’d rescue would be my laptop. When I travel, it’s the last thing in the car before I leave and the first thing out when I arrive. In the same vein, what I’m writing is often the first thing I think of in the morning and the last thing every night. It fills my mind, and often my heart, for hours of every single day. I am more grateful than I can adequately describe that writing is my “superpower.”

Which is why I feel particularly unsettled by what I’m about to say.

I’m sick of it.

I’m working on revisions I’m positive my editor will not like (because I’m always positive he won’t like them--sigh), I’ve turned in a novella that I’m sure will be the only book in the boxed set that everyone will hate, and I’m writing another novella that I love but in truth has no plot. Or conflict. (In its defense it has a cool setting and great protagonists—now if they’d just tell me their story already...)

When we had our anniversary a few weeks ago, Duane and I talked a lot about the hard days. The rough weeks and months and even a couple of years we wouldn’t want to repeat. We decided we wouldn’t give up those stints because they helped to shape the good times that have been in the great majority.

Writing is the same way. I learn more in the harder times, which means they undeniably make me a better writer. This is a good thing, one I’m sure I’ll feel better about...soon. Because for today, I’m sick of it.

Monday morning.

I'm no longer sick of it. The Winter of Letting Go is going to be my favorite book ever--well, close, and I'm so proud of Summer in Stringtown Proper. I'm getting to work with such great writers in the Christmas set that it can't help but be a good experience.

What a difference a day makes. Have a great week!

Comments

  1. Yeah, a day makes a lot of difference...it's the getting through that day that sucks. Glad you're back on track, and again love what you're doing. We, your readers, do, too!

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    1. Thanks, Judith. I think my track's still a little twisty, but I am indeed on it. At least for today. :-)

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  2. So glad you got your groove back, but I totally get where you were because I've been in the same place...well, not exactly the same address, but at least in the same neighborhood. I've had avalanche of editing gigs, which is always a great thing because then the bills get paid, but working this much puts me off my writing game. When you spend 8-12 hours a day in front of your computer dealing with other people's work, it's hard to get back there to be creative... Welcome back!

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    1. Feast or famine--everything about the writing business is that way, isn't it? I just read where an author had 13 contracts--13 at one time! Can you imagine? My admiration goes out to Laurie Alice Eakes.

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  3. That was a peek inside the mind of every writer I know, including me. At least the feeling passed quickly for you and didn't linger for days and days and days, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera, hehe. And there's nothing better than the rush you get when the story is just pouring from your fingertips.

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    1. Silly as it sounds, I am so relieved when someone else says they feel the same way. I like to think I'm confident, but there's still a little bit of baby-writer in there thinking, Oh, no, is it just me? Thanks, Luanna!

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  4. LOL....the family has laughed about me dying in a house fire while trying to carry my laptop, 3.5 floppies, all my CDs, and the desktop hard drive, plus my records and out-of-print books:)

    Seriously, I'm in the same place...I'm on deadline, yet my characters are dragging their collective behinds. Hoping they decide to cooperate soon:)

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    1. It's a Catch 22 type deal, isn't it? I hate it if I DON'T have deadlines, because it takes away my direction, but when I DO have them, I get overwhelmed way too easily. Oh, well, back to the whining, huh? Thanks for coming by, Molly.

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  5. Great post on the universal angst of those of us truly addicted to our writing! Write on.

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    1. Thanks, Terry. We've seen the enemy and they are us! :-)

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  7. Hi, Liz! I was sick of revising my second book. Sick. Sick. I do take breaks from writing. And I can only do so much a day then my head starts wanting a stop. I divert to other things I enjoy and come back fresh. A good thing.

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    1. I do, too, Vicki--it's when my best sewing gets done--but yesterday, nothing was working on any level. Thanks for coming by!

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  8. Yay! for you on getting your groove back. Sometimes the most difficult ones to write turn out to be the best.

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    1. Thanks, Roben. The groove comes and goes a lot more often than it used to!

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  9. Liz--glad that particular feeling only lasted a day ;). I'd hate not to ever read anything by you again. It'd be like when LaVyrle Spencer retired. NOoooooo....

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    1. Lol. I have still not entirely accepted that!

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