December 11, 2011

Left and Right Distractions: ROW80 Check In

I think my work has to do with a sense that we are attempting, all the time, to create a logical, rational path through the day. To the left and right there are an amazing set of distractions that we usually can’t afford to follow. But the poet is will to stop anywhere . . . And it’s that willingness to slow down and examine the mysterious bits of fluff in our lives that is the poet’s interest. William Collins

Distractions can be fun, and the fun ones do make me a better person as well as a better writer. It’s the other distractions that overload my brain and put a stranglehold on my creativity.

Decorating the Christmas tree, watching Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and making cookies for my daughters cookie swim meet are the wonderful distractions. I enjoyed each one, and never thought for a moment that I should be anywhere else.

The evil dust bunnies hiding in all areas of my house, laundry that keeps coming back like a bad dream, and monitoring homework for three kids are the distractions I could do without. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Seriously, I do much more homework now than I ever did when I was actually in school.

My older girls have had several papers due lately, and they know Mom’s a sucker for taking their sweet thoughts and making them purr. I don’t rewrite them, but I show them the way… little Mommy nudges in the right direction.

As the craziness of the holidays intensifies, the distractions will only get more and more tempting. I have no intention of turning away from the special moments, memories and family are too important. But I might have to let some dust bunnies live to see another day.

*****
ROW80 update

Writing: The distractions have simply been too great. Plus, I have some end of year editing deadlines I need to meet. When I wear my editing hat too much, I find it hard to write because I edit the whole time I'm writing. It doesn’t flow, constantly stunted by my need to fix it. My goal this week is to write a chapter on our Depression Cookies follow up. Just one chapter. I'm challenging myself to write until it's done without one single edit.

Blogging: I’m so enjoying writing about gifts, this month's NaBloPoMo theme. It’s a nice reminder what this time of year is really about. And I have two reviews for Mom in Love with Fiction coming up. One 4 star and one 5 star. Not a bad reading week.

Miscellaneous: Editing is going well and leading to more freelance jobs. I’ve been wanting to get into this for years, so it’s exciting. Now I’m really considering looking into a MFA in Creative Writing program. Thoughts?

Exercise: Doing great. I’m hoping if I keep it amped up, I can indulge a bit over the holidays.

*****

Photobucket

Don't forget... from December 10 through December 22, fellow ROW80-ers J.R. Pearse Nelson and Nadja Notariani are hosting the 12 Days of Christmas Reading Gift List on her blog, An Author’s Adventures. A new title will be featured each day, so be sure to visit all twelve days.

Our novel, Depression Cookies, will be the featured book giveaway on December 20th.

7 comments:

Wendy Jane said...

Sounds like you are once again very busy! But it seems to be a good busy. Keep up the good work!

P.S. I would be very much interested in editing services :)

Anonymous said...

Oh I love your description of The evil dust bunnies hiding in all areas of my house and the ever filling laundry basket. I would love to take an undergraduate course in creative writing or failing that go to a writer's retreat for a week.
I hope you get your writing wish.

Anonymous said...

Laura says:

I agree with Madeleine, a writer's retreat for a week would be a dream come true for me! I just finished taking an on-line writing course and have mixed feelings about it. The instructor gave me some good comments/advice about my work, but I felt like the only one taking the course. There was no interaction with other students/writers via the class message board or critique board,which was something I was looking forward to.

Natalie Hartford said...

Sounds like you are busy busy busy - this time of year it's hard to get anything else by Xmas stuff done, isn't it. Here's to getting your chapter written and staying on track. You can do it! :-)

Tia Bach said...

Wendy, It is wonderful work. I get to read great stories and add some changes to make them a tad bit better. It's an honor. Shoot me an email to tiabach at depressioncookies dot com and we can talk editing.

Madeleine, I spell my Maddie's name that way, too. I think I may take a couple of courses toward an MFA and see what I think. Great idea!

Laura, I agree. I want to take courses and learn but I also want to have a supportive writing community. I am building a great one online, but sometimes a little personal interaction is nice, too.

Natalie, Working on the chapter today!

Thanks everyone for stopping by and lending support. It means so much!

alberta ross said...

evil dust bunnies are best left well alone - with any luck they will gather together under a heavy peice of furniture and live out their peaceful lives there - like weeds if they are chopped up in any way they will multiple like a locust plague - keep away!!!

all the best for this week

Tia Bach said...

All the best to you, too, Alberta. Thanks for stopping by, my ROW80 friend!