tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post6075020854693496017..comments2024-03-26T23:41:10.319+00:00Comments on Authors Electric: CHAPTER FIVE AND THE PAINFUL TRUTH ABOUT WRITINGKatherine Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17196712319655603442noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-192436638126316112012-07-03T22:07:45.742+01:002012-07-03T22:07:45.742+01:00Thank you so much for your lovely comments, folks ...Thank you so much for your lovely comments, folks - much appreciated!<br />I am greatly relieved that I'm not the only one who has displacement activities! Best, SheriSheridan Winnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-19305383210932199212012-07-03T16:22:03.277+01:002012-07-03T16:22:03.277+01:00This is so funny! I especially like the "bits...This is so funny! I especially like the "bits in teeth". I think I've been trying to distract myself from any work for most of my teenage and adult life, so it is comforting/worrying to know that it will continue.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-33378153128217208592012-07-03T14:10:34.297+01:002012-07-03T14:10:34.297+01:00Days that start all clear and really promising are...Days that start all clear and really promising are almost always the worst - I begin to wonder whether, subconsciously, I mess them up on purpose ...julia joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09773900100240758504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-50750902309642280382012-07-03T12:59:42.886+01:002012-07-03T12:59:42.886+01:00Ah, that's what I'm doing wrong. My writin...Ah, that's what I'm doing wrong. My writing day is NOTHING like this. I g et up at 6 and if I'm writing (not every day) I'll be at it by 7.30am with NO distractions or movement till coffee at 10.0 taken at my desk and then go on till midday. Writing. <br />Then the rest of the stuff. I don't answer the phone. I don't have friends/family to distract. I do dog walking at 6am and after midday and then the rest of the day is spent in the other hideous activities you describe. I wish every day was as I describe. Unfortunately there are too many of the days where I CAN'T write because of the admin or business or emails or all that and if I even begin dealing with blogs and twitter there's no way I can WRITE that day. So as you'll guess, today I'm NOT writing. But the upside is, on the days I write I can get A LOT of words written. I am obviously in a very small minority but I need peace, quiet and no distractions and find that focussed concentration is what brings characters to life - that and having good structures written out in advance! Well, folks, that's the Puritan work ethic for you!CallyPhillipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15481379296340077102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-90066029949704900152012-07-03T11:09:49.526+01:002012-07-03T11:09:49.526+01:00Sounds like my day too. Including the strong coffe...Sounds like my day too. Including the strong coffee followed by frequent trips to the loo! I'm always amazed by how enticing things like hoovering and dusting are when there's a deadline to be met!Catherine Czerkawskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14554969254207924049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-2220727708551256202012-07-03T10:47:21.534+01:002012-07-03T10:47:21.534+01:00but you forgot the instruments. if it wasn't f...but you forgot the instruments. if it wasn't for days like that, i wouldn't be able to play anything at all. this morning, already, i've practised my mandola, baritone ukelele, lap organ and button accordian. apart from this scribble and a couple of bits on facebook about cally phillips's review of julia jones in IEBR (WARNING: The action's so real it'll make you sea sick and the culinary descriptions are so good you'll want to order out for Chinese. So be careful. Chinese food and sea sickness can be a powerful combination) i've achieved three fifths of five eighths of you know what. ah, a writer's life...Jan Needlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15823078224282953782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-22675625812718318292012-07-03T10:46:30.906+01:002012-07-03T10:46:30.906+01:00On the nail, Sheri! That picture of the keyboard c...On the nail, Sheri! That picture of the keyboard captioned 'Speak to me!' really spoke to me.<br />Every first draft is like that: pulling teeth while cutting coal.<br />Rewrites, I find, tend to be faster and more fun.Susan Pricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738737493756183909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-88346206219684341262012-07-03T10:13:30.186+01:002012-07-03T10:13:30.186+01:00OMG! This is just soooo like my days!OMG! This is just soooo like my days!Mark Chisnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10248299206033458004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-58190780871003599792012-07-03T09:51:25.905+01:002012-07-03T09:51:25.905+01:00Ah, I feel your pain, I really do.
Seriously, you&...Ah, I feel your pain, I really do.<br />Seriously, you're absolutely right: a clear plot and a plan of the way ahead are the best cure for creative inertia. Mind you, sometimes displacement activity is useful, because it jogs your brain in ways it won't get jogged if you're just staring at a screen.<br />Of course, my favourite displacement activity is commenting on blogs and...<br />Oh.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-3628966132810440072012-07-03T07:19:03.214+01:002012-07-03T07:19:03.214+01:00Heheh. Sounds dreadfully familiar - except that 16...Heheh. Sounds dreadfully familiar - except that 165 words is a good day for me!<br /><br />Oh wait: writing is <i>easy</i> when you have you plot clear? If only...Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13770069472552779217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-43295243377821665442012-07-03T04:47:01.033+01:002012-07-03T04:47:01.033+01:00It's always interesting to see how other peopl...It's always interesting to see how other people work - thanks for sharing. <br /><br />I very rarely write anything for a first draft on the computer.<br /><br />I take my writing pad with me everywhere and all too often this is when I scribble down the germs of ideas, or solutions to plot problems that I have been trying to resolve just leap into my head. Sometimes I'm sitting in a cafe, sometimes on a bus or in the car, sometimes in a department store whle my wife is shopping and I'm just sitting watching people go by. When I get home I can then start off straight away with an idea and go from there. <br /><br />And for me, music helps a lot - it seems to soothe me.George Fripleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03804403713222710678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-32547784839750962822012-07-03T02:00:15.715+01:002012-07-03T02:00:15.715+01:00Thanks for the chuckles! It gives me hope that wh...Thanks for the chuckles! It gives me hope that when I finally re-commit to writing again, all my deviant behavior will once more be totally appropriate. I loved the little pictures with the captions! JudithAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com