February 16, 2009

Am I the only woman who wants non-traditional gifts, or is it all writers?

For Christmas, my friends wanted clothes, jewelry, trips, and home furnishings. I dearly wanted a cordless mouse for my laptop. My husband (reluctantly) bought and wrapped it. I love it! It has brought me countless hours of help. It has a zoom feature, instantly enlarging the words on the screen (so much appreciated by my tired eyes as the day wears on.) And I can use it with my right or left hand, something which has decreased the pain in my right arm and shoulder already. I think of him every time I use it because it makes my daily life easier.

Valentine’s Day was Saturday. Did I want chocolate or roses or lacey red things? No! I asked for a stand on rollers for my laptop. I’ve been making do with a wobbly TV tray which, hunched over, gives me a back ache and knots in my neck. (I know that sounds idiotic, but I’m of the “make do, wear it out, use it up” generation that doesn’t buy new stuff without a real good reason.) So my wonderful hubby got me the adjustable, tiltable computer stand with attached side table. He put it together Saturday. I love it! I’m using it right now–NOT bent over. When I’m done, I can just roll it out of the way–or into the living room if I want. I will silently bless my husband every time I end a computer session without knots in my neck.

What’s Your Preference?

Other years I’ve asked for writing books, new book shelves, study lamps for the desk, and other writing-related items for birthdays and holidays. My husband and kids used to think that giving that type of present was just too impersonal. At church last week, the men were even warned from the pulpit not to get their wives useful items like vacuum cleaners for Valentine’s Day. I had to reassure my husband several times that I really, truly, honestly wanted the laptop table more than candy and flowers. (We did go out for dinner, though, which was lovely, as was my Valentine.)

What about you? Does the writer in you want non-traditional gifts too?

December 1, 2008

Up until 9 p.m. last night, I wasn’t sure I was going to make it. Everything in me wanted to watch TV and eat chocolate or bury myself in a good mystery (and eat chocolate). But shortly after 9 p.m. I did a quick word count and realized I’d actually gone over the required 50,000 words. I quit in the middle of the scene and cheered. And got the chocolate.

Bits and Pieces, Inch by Inch

Until Week Four, I was on track with my word count, and my plan for Thanksgiving week had been in place since October. I would write three hours Thanksgiving morning, cook my part of the feast and head to my daughter’s for the whole family gathering at 1:00 p.m, then go to my husband’s family gathering that night. On Friday I expected to be in the car eight hours going to see more family, then in the car on Sunday eight hours coming home. My laptop was ready with an extra battery. I’d written volumes on this trip one other time, and I was actually looking forward to it.

The night before Thanksgiving all plans changed. No trip. No driving on Friday and Sunday, giving me sixteen hours with my laptop to finish the final 12,000 words needed to meet the NaNoWriMo challenge. Instead, we’d be home, and someone requiring entertaining and feeding would be here too.

No Way, José!

I could see no way to meet the deadline with the change of plans. I finally decided I would write as much as I could, sandwiching in the writing time between meals and talking and going places. I would get up real early and write also. For several days, I wrote two hours while the rest of the world slept. I snatched bits of time here and there, sometimes up to an hour if they napped or ran an errand. I plotted in my head while I cooked and while on a walk in a park. Then at my next opportunity, I dashed into the office and typed up a scene. I didn’t bother posting the word count for several days, knowing all those bits and pieces couldn’t be adding up to much.

Boy, was I surprised!

By Saturday night when I added up the hit-and-miss chapters, I was within 5,000 words of making the NaNoWriMo challenge! After church on Sunday, I was home by 1:30. Done eating by 2:30, and the house was empty shortly after that. I decided to try to make the goal, if I could do it without killing my neck and back. I wrote (badly), took short breaks, ate a ton of cheese and crackers, and finally finished after 9 p.m.

The Time Lie

Unknowingly, I had fallen for the “time lie,” as Julia Cameron calls it in her book, The Right to Write: An Invitation and Initiation into the Writing Life. “The myth that we must have ‘time’–more time–in order to create is a myth that keeps us from using the time we do have… Years as a single mother, a full-time teacher, and full-time fiction writer taught me to grab for time to write instead of wait for time… Grabbing works.” Later she wrote about living her life with family and friends, filling in the blank spots with writing, instead of the other way around. “I like writing to be more portable and flexible. I like writing to be something that fits into cracks and crannies. I don’t like it to dominate my life. I like it to fill my life.”

I wrote like that for twenty years, when my children were babies and toddlers and as they grew. The family came first, including everything that went into keeping a house and husband happy. But when my last “baby” went off to college in 2000, I finally was able to structure my writing the way I wanted to, writing early in the day in big chunks, leaving marketing or teaching or housework/meals for later. I realized during Thanksgiving that I had become rather rigid. I was delighted that I could still remember how to “write in the cracks and crannies” when I needed to.

I’m glad the NaNoWriMo month is over. I’m thrilled to have finished rough drafts of one book and half of another juvenile novel, which I plan to finish drafting by Christmas. My desk is piled rather high with stuff to attend to. And unlike others who conquered all their Christmas shopping on Black Friday, I haven’t even begun. But I’m really glad I did the challenge in November. I plan to do it again next year. I’d be glad to have some company! Anyone care to join me?