Weekend Warrior
Yesterday I wrote. It took me hours to get even a page, long minutes between sentences, during which I thought about the story, wondered about the characters, where they were going, what was going to happen. I did it and I stuck with it until Colin came home. Also, I still had fun doing it. I’m getting excited! Last night in the bath I started reading Elizabeth Gilbert’s collection of short stories, called Pilgrims, which is of course brilliant. I was jealous after the first few sentences. After the fourth story, I turned to the front of the book and read the entire page of endorsements for her book using my name instead. I imagined my published book of short stories. I also read some of Ariel Gore’s How to Become a Famous Writer Before You’re Dead, and while reading about how to submit an ms, I found myself imagining me printing mine out, all those pages, fat and heavy in my hand, smelling of fresh ink, those fantastic words all mine. I can’t wait (for my writing to be fantastic and to have so many pages as to create a fat pile)!
Colin came home early yesterday and we officially started our own version of a long weekend. (Didn’t get one last weekend for Canada Day.) Yesterday we gardened till we couldn’t see and today and tomorrow and perhaps all the way till Monday we’ll be gardening and landscaping.
Thus, instead of posting here, I’ll be dirtying it up in the sunshine, all the while envisioning a completed manuscript. Happy weekend! As Brett so wonderfully said, sometimes we need to draw the line, just take some time out. And that’s precisely what I mean to do.
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Steph,
Enjoy your time in the sun – and keep that vision alive. You’ll get there.
-Brett
Mabye it’s just not that time of year to be productive.
I find it difficult to get creative in the summer. I tell myself I’m going to keep painting, etc…but I never do.
It’s so nice outside after work (and we only have so many days of nice weather). I spend the time outside playing. Really hard to get motivated to sit at a desk and work. I’d rather be swimming or gardening or cycling or drowning worms and catching bass.
Once it gets dark in the evenings in the fall, that’s when I start getting back into the swing of things. I always do.
Friar,
Take your painting with you! Set up outside and paint there.
Well, that is assuming you wanted to be creative… sometimes you just need to goof off. I agree, it is nice to be outside. Every so often though, I do a little writing under my tree.
(Not on the laptop though!)
Brett;
I’d love to paint….but the fish were calling yesterday evening.
“Friar..we’re hungry! Come catch us…if you can!”.
And I did…!
Friar: I totally understand what you’re saying. Summer seems so fleeting after long winters of being almost exclusively cerebral (I’m not a winter person and I don’t play a lot outside then!) Woohoo on catching more fish!! Was it very buggy out in the evening?
Brett: I agree. Sometimes we find that quiet inspiration out there under the tree or, Friar, in the fishing boat, so take along a notebook. It doesn’t necessarily mean thinking so much as spilling over any inspired thoughts. Actually, I’ve been feeling increasingly as though I want space from this office and wouldn’t mind writing things longhand. That way I can sit where I want, too, and just get away from all things technological. I loved ignoring the phone even so far this weekend!!
We gardened for ten hours on Friday! It was wonderful, pulling up sod and turning over earth and planting and such. Then yesterday we ran errands and cleaned the house and car and enjoyed the garden and watched movies. Not sure what’s planned for today, but that’s because we don’t have any plans. Hurray!!
Enjoy today!
Congrats for writing! I hope you liked what you wrote.
As for the jealousy, I hear ya! When I read beautiful words by other writers, I hate them. Petty but true.
Steph, I am so excited for you!
I have been writing too. My story is growing and taking on a life of its own and I am just doing the day by day a little each day aproach as each day more and more of the tale reveals itself to me. I find it interesting to learn that I can’t really be a outline fiction writer. The Muse seems to have too strong of a hold.
Ah I am really loving our summer!
Beth: Actually, it was so little, but yes, I didn’t mind what I’d written, truthfully! Still don’t know where it’s going, though… How is your writing going for that group you’re in?
Wendi: I’m so glad you’re writing, too! If you’re going at it day by day you’re doing better than I. I’m not an outline writer, either, I guess. Right now, anyway. But I actually hate not knowing where the story is going. I’d love to have an idea and actually an outline. I feel that would make writing almost effortless! As I said to Colin today, I think I have some talent to improve on — it’s the ideas I’m lacking. So today I went out and bought an ideas book. We’ll see where that leads me. Also, reading short stories I’m jealous I never wrote is helping tremendously to keep the urge alight as well as the dream to have my own published collection!
I haven’t written a new word yet. I’m bringing some old stuff I never submitted. Just can’t seem to find time to get inspired yet.
Keep writing for me as well…
Beth:
All my stuff here is old, too. In our defence, I hear it’s a good thing to start with old stuff.
You mentioned not finding time. Today I bought a book called Pen on Fire: A Busy Woman’s Guide to Igniting the Writer Within, by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett.
Tell me that doesn’t sound relevant!