Nan here. Now, I know it's Monday and Monday is Liz's day to blog, but sometimes, real life gets in the way of our life here in the round pen. Liz is handling some other things today, so I'm pinch-hitting, which may mean you'll get a double dose of Nan this week. Y'all will just have to bear up.
The big news at my house is I've been writing today. Really. Seriously working on Book 4 of the Women of Willow Bay. I confess it's been a while since I've worked on it beyond jotting down ideas and making notes of conversations. Life has gotten in the way.
As I was working, I also had a couple of other files open on my desktop--something I was critiquing for my crit partner and a project I'm starting for a client and one I'd just finished for another client. One day I'll take a screen shot of my PC desktop on a typical day--it will terrify you! Anyway, juggling files and answering email and checking on something I'd ordered online and looking at book sales distracted me from my writing. I got up to move around a little and get a drink of water, and when I came back up to my office and plopped back down, I started reading the Word file that was on top, and I thought, "Hmmm, this is pretty good."
It took me a full fifteen seconds to realize I was reading my own manuscript. Now, only other writers will get that this is entirely possible--to sit down and start reading and enjoying something and then be surprised to find that you're reading your own story. It can happen, right? Well, maybe it only happens to writers who also happen to be editors. . . I dunno . . . but it happened to me.
Moments like that are a gift--a revelation. Because when you are in a creative funk or even just unable to get to your writing because life has gotten in the way. and you start thinking that maybe you aren't a writer after all, but just a hack who can't shut up and that you should give it up and stick to what you know you do well, like fixing other people's writing . . . well . . . in those moments, reading a page or two that you really love only to discover it's your own story . . . that feels great.
Liz will be back next Monday!! In the meantime, if you haven't done it yet, you really should run over to Amazon and pre-order her new book EVERY TIME WE SAY GOODBYE, coming from Harlequin April 1.
As I was working, I also had a couple of other files open on my desktop--something I was critiquing for my crit partner and a project I'm starting for a client and one I'd just finished for another client. One day I'll take a screen shot of my PC desktop on a typical day--it will terrify you! Anyway, juggling files and answering email and checking on something I'd ordered online and looking at book sales distracted me from my writing. I got up to move around a little and get a drink of water, and when I came back up to my office and plopped back down, I started reading the Word file that was on top, and I thought, "Hmmm, this is pretty good."
It took me a full fifteen seconds to realize I was reading my own manuscript. Now, only other writers will get that this is entirely possible--to sit down and start reading and enjoying something and then be surprised to find that you're reading your own story. It can happen, right? Well, maybe it only happens to writers who also happen to be editors. . . I dunno . . . but it happened to me.
Moments like that are a gift--a revelation. Because when you are in a creative funk or even just unable to get to your writing because life has gotten in the way. and you start thinking that maybe you aren't a writer after all, but just a hack who can't shut up and that you should give it up and stick to what you know you do well, like fixing other people's writing . . . well . . . in those moments, reading a page or two that you really love only to discover it's your own story . . . that feels great.
Nan, what an awesome feeling to love what you've written! Too often we tend to look at everything (especially our own work) with an eye that is overly critical, and nothing ever measures up. So what a great feeling when it does... and it's your own writing!
ReplyDeleteAva, thanks! It's true we are much harder on ourselves than others, especially when it comes to the writing. So glad you came by!
DeleteNan, Yeah for Women of Willow Bay #4! I can't wait until I get to read it. We are overly critical of ourselves and it is a gift to sometimes read what we wrote and think, "Darn that is pretty good!" Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHey, Carolyn, so happy you stopped in! Hoping to have #4 out midsummer or maybe early fall. Thanks!!
DeleteI *love* when that happens - that's when I know I'm doing my job! :) Thanks for pinch-hitting for Liz today!
ReplyDeleteExactly, Kristi!
ReplyDeleteThanks for covering for me, Nan! And for the shutout. :-)
ReplyDelete