No Antibiotics Needed
I've been at this writing thing for almost two years now, and in that time I've read countless blogs, emails and comments from other writers who say not writing makes them anxious, or irritable, or antsy. I'm reluctant to say I've never felt that way. I've written consistently for periods of time and gone without writing for long periods of time, but I've never felt like writing was essential to my mental stability. [Note: If you've read my personal blog lately, you know my mental stability isn't as sound as it could be these days.]
I'm now happy to report this has all changed. I've caught the bug and it is really taking hold. I have not been able to open my WIP since before leaving for San Fran. And where, in the past, this would be no more than another prod for my ever-present guilt, these days it's more of an irritation. It's making me anxious and antsy. I finally feel like a member of the club.
I'm guessing this virus was airborne at Nationals. It hovered in the air, lingered in the elevators and manifested in the bar. It passed from chair to attendee as the workshops rolled through and could have even been lifted from the moving rail of the escalators. Heck, I might have even gotten it from the mouse in the business center.
No matter where exactly I contracted this virus, I'm damn glad it found me. I wish it would have found me when I have more time to treat it, but I'm happy all the same. Ideas for scenes emerge in my mind when I'm least expecting it. My characters pace impatiently, giving me flashes of the emotion, humor and angst that is to come if only I'd sit down and type. Three more weeks of school and then I get a break. Then I can begin the treatment. Only I have no intention of curing this ailment. In fact, I'm hoping to keep it for quite a long time.
Do you have this virus? Do you get the shivers and fall into withdrawals if you've been away from writing too long? If you're a reader, how long do you go between books? If you finish one and don't have another to pick up right away, does it make you anxious to get to the store?
Books by the Crew
26 comments:
Visiting a local hospital the other day I found that visitors were required to wipe their hands with alcohol to eliminate germ transfer.
It seems that alcohol kills 99% of known germs. If this works with internal consumption then I think that could explain why I don't suffer this ailment.
For temporary relief I recommend a glass or two of scotch *g*
PS If you read this Janga, I thought your clues for Orlando Bloom were brilliant (after you explained them!). Lots of Brits agonise over the Times cross word. Wouldn't surprise me at all if you were involved with preparing it!
As a reader I identify with the getting antsy between trips to the store. I hate being without something to read. Now putting my writer cap on, I'd have to say that I don't get antsy about writing until a few days have passed. Then I'm a wreck. And I don't necessarily have the thought, "Man, I need to write." But I do start to get anxious more about other things and then wonder what's wrong and all signs point to writing. And then I get the writing euphoria once I come back and it makes me never want to leave it again, though being me, I inevitably do.
Congrats on catching the bug!
I do indeed have this contagion. It can be most convenient and inconvenient! LOL But for the most part if I go a few days without writing, I've ingrained it into my head that I should feel guilty, because I'm cheating myself in the long run. That probably doesn't make a lot of sense, but there it is. Though I usually only go without writing when I'm between books. But it doesn't tend to last more than a week, because when I'm not writing, I'm editing, tweaking and doing research for other books, or the current book.
I really need to write everyday, even if it's just a little. Put me in the infirmary, but if someone can go to Burger King, I'd appreciate the break from hospital food.
I'm also a write every day sufferer. I open my document every day. How much gets written is pretty standard when I'm writing the first draft (between 3500-5000 a week) but I haven't gotten in a flow about revisions yet.
Congrats on joining this club! It is conducive to getting words on paper, that's for sure.
I've never really not written (double, triple negative?) Although, that's not true. There are days I don't get anything done, but it's only when real life intrudes and I don't have any time. But it's almost unheard of for me to have available time for writing that I don't use for writing--or procrastinating, which usually revolves around the writing in some form still, so that I can pretend I've done some work.
Haven't caught that particular bug yet, Terri. My writing is definitely not as urgent as my reading. Ever since I've gotten back into reading I do HAVE TO HAVE a book to read all the time. I try to have several options on hand when I finish the one I'm currently reading.
And Janga, those clues yesterday were awesome. I'm still really brain-dead these days. And even going back to the picture after knowing the answer I still couldn't see it! UGH!!!
Wow! You guys are on the ball today.
Q - I think that explains why I don't feel as good in my 30s as I did in my 20s. In my 20s, I was well preserved with alcohol. I may need to look into this.
Kelly - I can't even remember the days when I'd finish one book and not have a million more to choose from. But I know it happened once upon a time. Cool that you can tell when the anxiety is from not writing. At least you have a cure.
Tiff - you don't know how much I'm looking forward to the day when I can focus more time on the writing. You've been an example of discipline and dedication for a long time now, so I'm not sure I'll ever reach your level. But I can shoot for it!
Maggie - Look what writing a little every day has gotten you?! You're a role-model and I wanna be just like you when I grow up. :)
Marn - You'll get into a groove in revisions, just give it some time. And you are another that has been a great example of discipline regarding writing. You set your mind to writing that book and you did it. It great time too! And your first try finaled in a tough contest. I can only hope some of your talent rubs off on me.
JK - Unfortunately, I have a lot of those days where life intrudes. But things should get back into a rythme soon. Or at least I'm hoping so. Did you find it easier to make the time once you had definite deadlines?
Irish - I'm still that way with reading. I'm really not good when I'm not in the middle of reading something. There are those times when the book you just finished was so good, you want to savor it for a few days. But that rarely lasts more than one and I'm starting something new.
Whooot, whoot...glad you're sick, Bo'sun!
I haven't been feeling anxious for either writing or reading lately. It's weird.
Not even reading, Captain? Have you read Leslie's new one yet? Surely you were anxious for that one. LOL!
I write every day even if it ends up being stuff I don't use or it's revising a scene, but I'm always trying to make sure I write.
Welcome to the club, Terri! It's a wonderful place to be sick. Since I've been writing, IF I don't write my well-being dwindles drastically. Even my poor hubs will recognize this and send me to my room with a look that says go get something done already.
And I can tell you as a reader, before I started writing, I had to devour a book a day to keep my mental faculties in tact. ;)
Renee
Ely - you're another one who writes like crazy. I admire you guys so much that have two and three (or more!) MSs complete. And keeping that momentum going is probably a huge help.
Renee - I can tell you, I'm liking it so far only the timing really does suck. I have a research paper (two really) due soon so that's all I can write on right now. Then again, writing is writing I guess. But homework never feels as fun as the other kind. LOL! Good for your hubbie for being so perceptive.
I am THROWN OFF right now and I have been for months. Lately I can go ages between books. Not that I like it, in fact, I'm bothered by it. I thought I'd never understand people who didn't have a book in their hands at all times and now I feel like I'm one of those people. It's taking a lot more for me to get hooked and I'm craving the day when it all comes back to me!
As for writing, it always makes me uncomfortable to hear about how people can't live without writing and if it isn't this way for me then I must not have a passion for it. I DO have a passion for writing. Not that you're saying people who haven't found the itch don't have the passion...but some people do say that. Anywho, I'm always thinking about my WIP and looking up things, it's just the actual getting in the chair that I don't always have the itch for.
Steph - I know EXACTLY what you mean. That's what I worried about too. If it didn't bother me NOT to write, should I really be writing? It's a tough thing when you hear all the time about others getting so much done. But just as it's taken me this long, and a huge conference to get to this point, that point will come for you. And don't let anyone tell you you're not a writer or don't have the passion.
We all handle things in our own ways. That's what makes us unique. Nothing wrong with that. You keep letting that WIP simmer and keep doing that research and the butt will find its own way to the chair. All in good time. (Or at least that's what I tell myself. *sigh*)
I wish I belonged to the write-every-day group. I try, but my pattern seems to be days when I do little more than shuffle a couple of sentences around and days when pages pour forth. Now reading is different. I honestly don't think there have been more than a handful of days in my life since I started reading when I was four that I haven't read something. I usually have several books going on any given day.
And Q and Irish, you are both dears, but I don't think I'll be auditioning for the Times. :)
Oh, Janga, you just reminded me about some books Kiddo brought home from her summer. When I was young, someone bought my sister a box of these condensed classics that had a picture on every other pages. I tore through those books and that where I fell in love with Sherlock Holmes and Little Women. Turns out, Kiddo picked up two of the exact same books (reprints obviously..lol) over the summer. She brought home The Hound of the Baskervilles (my fav!) and Wizard of Oz. I'm so excited for her to read them.
Now, back from the tangent. I think the point is that you have a pattern, Janga. And you have a finished MS which means you did something right. Now, if you'd only let me read it. LOL!
Just as soon as I finish revising, Terri. Nobody reads my $#%$#% first draft! :)
Janga - Point taken. LOL! I feel the EXACT same way. About mine, not yours. You're first draft is more like what my third or fourth might look like.
Sorry I'm so late today.
I fall into patterns which is not too weird for me since I live and breathe routines. My off patterns usually happen when there is too much of everything else going on in my life. I don't like to be stressed out while writing since writing is my escape and stress bleeds over into that part of my life when my cup is overflowing.
I haven't been reading either, which is very strange for me. I don't know what my deal is. Maybe I've caught the complete opposite kind of bug.
Speaking of reading, I just read the four book in Colleen Gleason's Gardella Vampire series and it was wonderful. :) And I found Gena Showalter's Lords of the Underworld series. I read the first one with Maddox and it was phenomenal. Anyone else?
Sin - you're like the fourth person I've seen lately say they're having trouble finding something they want to read. Must be a totally different bug going around. Hope you get back on track soon.
Marn - I haven't read any of those but it's fun to see you embracing the paras.
I, too, have gotten the writing bug but don't have the time to sit down and write. Or at least I thought I didn't. I keep the writing up by writing down notes about scenes and chapters, so I don't leave anything out.
The cure for my bad case of writing blues is to make the time and say no to so many other things that are asked of me and sit down and write.
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