Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Chicken Salad - Because Marnee Needed a Reminder This Week
If you've checked out our Fore & Aft section to the left (that would be <--- that way, ladies and gent) you've read our bios. Though we've been a bit slackerish about updating them recently (we're PIRATES), there is a reference to chicken salad in mine.
Maybe you just thought I loved me some chicken salad. If you did, you'd be right (what's not to love?) But, that isn't the real reason. Hellie was referencing the blog below. I wrote this blog over a year ago and it was posted on my very very neglected personal blog. Please read, then I shall continue.
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So, I was bashing my head against the monitor of my laptop yesterday.... No, I lie. My laptop was an expensive purchase. I was really bashing my head on the table top in the kitchen. Anyway, I digress. In the midst of my self-abuse, I was ranting about how I was never going to finish, how hard it was to get this out, and worrying obsessively about whether it would even be any good.
My husband, in his infinite wisdom, squeezed my arm, and said, "Honey, you know how I always tell you that you can't make chicken salad out of chicken sh!t?" As this is a common phrase in our household, I nodded pathetically, unsure of where he was going with this.
"Well," he said. "You also can't make chicken salad out of an invisible chicken." Then, after dispensing this tidbit worthy of Confucius, he went off to watch ESPN. I sat in stunned silence. This made it so clear to me! He was right of course. I can't fix something or make it what I want if it's still in my head. It was his nice way of telling to quit whining and write the darn thing down.
My husband is brilliant.
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This week, I've been again banging my head against my table and wondering what the heck happened to the words of my story. I know the damn thing's in my head someplace but I've been a bit paralyzed.
This was one of those am-I-any-good/will-this-story-suck-it/I-swear-I'll-never-finish weeks. *le sigh*
Clearly, I needed a little chicken salad.
Anyone else got stuff that gets the lead out your brain? Has anyone ever had these moments of clarity? And where did they come from? If not, has anyone out there had a day when they realized again why they married their spouse? Anyone else having a "Crap, I suck" week?
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38 comments:
Ugh...this sounds like me! I know it's in there somewhere. So why is it all I hear is an echo?
Gimme some chicken salad! God that looks like a good sandwich!
I was thinking it looked like a damn good sandwich.
I have a crap day every week. I'm constantly in the world of doubt. But I fight through them because I have to. I'm a writer. That's all there is to it. Who am I writing for? The agent I don't have? The editor who has no clue I exist? The market that is constantly shifting? I write because I have to, for me, and for my characters who won't shut the hell up if I don't tell their story. I write for my kids, so they'll chase their dreams too, no matter how out of the park they are. I write for my husband, because there are always bits and pieces of our love woven within the words.
So it doesn't matter right now if I write crap, because it's fixable, but I can't fix it if I don't write it.
Invisible chicken. I love it and will remember it and your husband, Marnee! Tell him he's now my mentor.
I've actually been having an excellent week*ducking*, but it's been filled with some uncertainties which have distracted me from writing as much as I should. This is my summer vaca, so I'm supposed to be chained to the computer pouring my crusty little heart out.Instead I've been playing FreeCell. The good/bad news is that's it's supposed to rain here for the rest of the foreseeable future, so I will not be lured outside.
Renee, I think everyone is full of doubts, but I love your reasons to overcome them!
What a timely post, Marnee!
I have been struggling with my WIP for over a week. Partly because my kids are crazy busy this week (football camp and VBS the same week) and partly because I, well I don't know if I care enough about these characters to keep writing their story. Oh, that sounded awful.
I started this story for a novel writing class I took at my local college, and this is the story I was working on for class. However, as I'm trying to write this contemporary story I have found myself going back to my regency story characters.
what do you think, do I keep plugging away and finish it? That way I have one that is complete. Or do I set it aside and tell the story that is resonating in my brain?
Di
PS, Mags, you writing under Margaret Rowe? That's an awesome name! :)
Christiana - *HUGS* I completely can relate! Hang in there. I think the way I got over this the last time was that I just wrote some crap. That greased the wheels and I started moving again. I'm not sure if it'll work this time for me though. This story is really intricate and if I veer off too far I'll end up Hanzel and Gretel like, with some woodland animals eating my breadcrumbs.
:)
Renee - I love your reasons to keep going too! What a great way to say it. And I agree that I want my kid to follow his dreams too. Wonderful!
Maggie - It's been raining nonstop here too. Many an ark comment has been made. But yay summer vacay! I loved that first week of summer vacation when I was teaching. Like a giant weight off your shoulders. :) And good luck writing this summer.
Di - I'm a firm believer in following your muse. If you've got characters talking to you, don't waste that. :) But that's just me.
Oh, and I just saw that Paradise is now Tempting Eden! What great choices, Maggie! So exciting!
I always have "Crap I suck" weeks.
I've always loved your chicken salad reference. Matty's inspirational words of wisdom to me are, "I don't know why you worry about it. You're not going to finish. You're not going to get published. It's a waste of time."
Wonderful, right?
Sometimes I think you just have to follow your heart regardless of what your mind is telling you. My words of wisdom, "Where there is a will, there is a way."
Thanks, Marnee. I've actually become a split personality this past week---I'm writing under both Margaret Rowe AND Maggie Robinson. If I wasn't confused before...LOL. Ms. Rowe is the badder girl. ;) And I really do like Tempting Eden. I never thought of it until the night before the editorial meeting when they picked a new name, and I'm so happy they liked it. It's kind of unusual to get to pick your own title, and if I couldn't keep Paradise, this is even better.
Sin - he says that? Huh. I always suspected he was smarter than that....
:)
And I always love when people say that something's a "waste of time."
According to Nielsen (http://www.cedmagazine.com/Nielsen-Average-TV-viewing-up.aspx) the average person spends more than 4 hours a day watching TV. Yet some of these folks are also the first to tell me that I'm "wasting my time." *eye roll*
Where there's a will, there's a way is great wisdom.
Tempting Eden is a very awesome title, Maggie!!
I do love Tempting Eden. That's a really good title. And picking your own title is awesome. Though I can't ever come up with good titles so maybe not the best idea for me. :)
Mattycakes is pretty to look at, sometimes not so smart. He underestimates me, which I enjoy. It's a game of wills.
So, we will remember this day for when and if I get published so we can rub his nose in it. :)
We're a hateful pair. LOL
And he watches TV from the time he gets home until he falls asleep. I'm a firm believer that TV rots your imagination.
Sin, I'm still all upset that anyone tells you you're wasting your time. I hope you don't ever stop wasting your time. I love reading what you write. :(
Well, at least he's pretty then. :) That probably does make up for it.
And I think it will be fun to rub his nose in it. :)
We can make a blog party of it. I don't mind. hahaha
LOL!
I think we'll have a seperate blog party to rub his nose in it. I suspect when any of us get published, it'll be weeks of blog parties. :)
I get upset sometimes thinking that I'm wasting my time. I feel like I'm wasting my time when I'm sitting at my computer and I can't write anything or my mind refuses to spit it out. And sometimes I get to the point I want to quit. I can't figure out if it's worth the heartache to keep going and all the self doubt. But I like to torture myself, so I keep trying. Eventually I'm going to have a breakthrough, and well, if not, then I need to keep lying to myself.
I speak for the whole crowd when I say that you're not wasting your time.
And, I'll throw myself out there that if you ever get to the point when you want me to read for you, I'm here. (oh, the sacrifices I make.... *dramatic sigh* LOL!)
Well thanks to you pirates...I had my first moment of clarity from the brain fog of "don't start because you will suck" last weekend when I did the 500 word challenge.
It wasn't "the book" I'd had in my head for years that I wrote, but seeing what I could come up with out of thin air and so quickly was an "ah-ha" moment.
Personally, I'd say goodbye and walk away from anyone who said I was wasting my time writing. They were not only wasting my time, but my life. I have better things to spend the hours of my life as they tick by on then someone so negative and that wouldn't support me.
Sabrina - glad the challenge got you going! And it's cool if we veer off. As I told Di, I think we've just got to follow our muse. :)
Interesting Marnee!
I don't really understand the attraction of chicken salad, but if you replaced it with a scotch bottle I would understand perfectly.
So much of understanding has to do with perspective. If you can find the right view point, then everything will fit into place.
Did someone say Sin's writing is a waste of time?
Don't listen to them Sin!
I have refereed literally hundreds of manuscripts over the years. Most send me to sleep. An occasional one makes me sit up with interest. Only one had me jumping up and down with excitement and that turned out to be one of my own that slipped into the pile!
When I'm not reading my own stuff, nothing fascinates me more than your efforts Sin, unless its Marnee or Terri or Hellion on a role or .... OK you've got stiff competition round here but stick with it lass. I think you have something unique thats worth working on. 8)
This is why Q is my babycakes.
I want to capture the magic Sabrina has. I remember when the small stuff was the stuff that fueled my fire hotter. I've lost that somewhere along the way.
I need to stay away from here today because I'm feeling rather pathetic and whiny and I'm never either of those things.
Marn, this was a great reminder blog babe. Don't be offended if I don't come back today. *hug*
Ah, we all have I-suck-days. Mine tend ta be more centered around other aspects of me life than the writin'. Not that I think I'm the bees-knees wit' the writin' stuff, but after tossin' most of me inner critics ta the Krakan last week...it's sorta quiet on that front right now.
I suspect they all jus' be lurkin' and plottin' and will jump in the minute I get movin' on a real writin' roll. Been a bit slow right now. Me weekend was exhaustin'! (I know, I know...it be Thursday, get over it!)
Sin, some writer's need a gate ta hammer at. It yers be named Matty, then why not!? I'd sneak around that gate and look fer another route...
First off, awesome blog!
Second off, WAY busy at work so sorry I'm late.
Third off, I"m going to defend Mattycakes. Just a little. I haven't met the legend or anything *rolls eyes* but I know enough about him and the dynamics of this relationship to be pretty sure he's just trying reverse psychology. From what I hear, he RAVES about Sin and her writing....when she's not around. So if he's telling her she's never going to make it, it's because he KNOWS she'll do it just to prove him wrong.
That's my take anyway. Could be wrong. Wouldn't be the firsts time. Won't be the last. :)
Maggie - I haven't gotten to blog surf at all today so I've missed your title announcement. GREAT new title. And you got to pick it. Someone mark this on the calendar. LOL! Fingers crossed you'll be as lucky with the cover. Great new name too. Makes me think of Mike Rowe and that makes me smile. (That is the dude's name on Dirty Jobs, right?)
Sabrina - So excited that we got you moving. You need another shove...errr...boost, just let me know. LOL!
Di - I say if it's early enough, go with the story that you really want to write. The one that is really speaking to you. Keep us posted!
Marnee, clearly your husband is a man of great wisdom and wit. :)
I'm having one of those periods when hitting the delete key and erasing the whole book seems the smartest choice. I'm listening to Martina McBride for an infusion of perseverance.
"You CAN chase a dream
That seems so out of reach
And you know it might not ever come your way.
Dream it anyway."
I love when Q gets out the pom poms! Well put, dear dear Englishman. Chance, send him a drink, please. :)
I agree with Ter; I think Matty knows what our Sin needs. I would never suggest he doesn't. And I say whatever motivates her is good for me. :)
Chance - If your weekend's so exhausting that you need til Thurs to get over it, go you. LOL! A gate to hammer at, huh? I'd never thought of it that way.
Janga - I love Martina McBride. My daddy and I danced to her "In My Daughter's Eyes" at my wedding. I saw her in concert when I was younger, her Christmas show, and she sang an a capella version of Silent Night that made the hair on my arms stand up. She's this little bitty thing, seriously. I have no idea where she hides that voice.
And hang in there. I think we all have those "I swear, I'm going to delete you, Story" periods. I'm certain it will pass for you.
Great and timely blog, Marnee.
I seem to have the same problem you do and my DH has the same advice yours does! LOL Every time I get a little smile on my face or a faraway look he shakes his head at me and says "Write it down! Whatever is going on inside that head of yours - get it on paper!"
I decided to go open my ms and read over what I put down so far and I'm always amazed that those words came out of my head. It's so funny. I read and read and think to myself I don't remember writing that!
Irish - I love that, "yay, I wrote that!" feeling! :)
And I think writing it down is the best advice ever. My DH doesn't quite understand how my brain works with this stuff, but he just kinda rolls with the punches about it. And he tries not to let me catch him with that confused/scared look on his face. LOL!
Oh, yeah, Marnee. We all know folks who must have a bonifide villain ta raise the cutlass 'gainst. The challenge of provin' themselves 'gainst a specific voice works as motivation.
Mayhaps that be why I name me inner critics...?
An actual person shoutin' me down would work ta me disadvantage... I admire those who can use that as fuel though.
Aye, were a grand weekend, and it did start on Friday and last till mid Monday...
Now, where'd I stash that bottle a' scotch fer Q...
:) Yeah, my inner critic is enough too. I'm quite the virgo perfectionist. Though I find the older my kid gets and the more busy I become, the less I hear that IC. Maybe keeping it busy and tired helps to stifle it's annoying nagging.... Something to think about. Maybe if I were to go to the gym, that'd work the steam out of her.
Maybe I shouldn't get hasty....
Ah! Any excuse to get to the gym is good! I prefer throwin' me inner critiques to the Kraken. 'e needs a job!
But if sweatin' works fer you, than go fer it!
Oh, trust me. Sweating doesn't work for me. LOL!
Sorry for the late chiming! Sick day--asleep all day and woke up to find that both Farrah Fawcett AND Michael Jackson had both died. WTF.
The invisible chicken story is the best story ever. I adore your hubby, Marn.
And I agree with Terri (don't faint, Terri) that Matty is doing reverse psychology on Sin. The man absolutely doesn't believe in "coddling" so this is his way of getting a fire under her ass so she'll support him in the lap of luxury he thinks he deserves.
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