« moving on | Main | Fire Along the Sky - audio »
we really are nuts, as a group
In addition to killing a couple of morning hours, jogging so regularly lends me a bit of respectability otherwise sorely lacking in my life. When someone learns of my early morning regimen, I like to think that they say, “Wow, Kevin’s really got his act together!” Of course they’d be mistaken, but sometimes I even fall for it myself. At the end of a day spent watching too much television, surfing the Internet, or otherwise procrastinating when I should be working, writing, or doing something of some value to myself and others, I can tell myself “At least you went for a good long run. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”I don't jog or run or even, if I can help it, walk fast. But I do lots of other things that serve the same purpose as jogging in Kevin's life. And why? Why do we do this? Because we all feel like we're faking it. Five novels in print, three under contract, lots of other stuff published, and I still have panic attacks thinking, but what did I really do today? I can't say for sure but I'll bet the most published people go through this. Stephen King, Joyce Carol Oates. When somebody asks them what they did today, what do they say? Maybe: I did some writing, and then I did three television interviews and spoke to the annual meeting of the authors' guild. I can't imagine either of them saying: I rewrote the same paragraph six times and then, miserable and alone, I turned on the television and talked back to Mr. Rogers. Except he went away and then I had to make due with Barney Fife -- but in fact, I bet they do have days like that. It's just the nature of the beast.I employ the same strategy when I tell someone I’m writing a novel. It seems to have the same effect. When someone learns that you’re writing a novel, it’s not so much important that you actually finish it or do any real writing. The simple fact that you have this mammoth project looming large in your life is impressive enough and often comes off as rather admirable. So after a weekend of spending far too much money on drinks and ultimately making an utter fool of myself, when asked about what I did, I can honestly say, “I got together with friends and went running…oh, and then there’s the novel….” A winning trinity: the impression of friends, health, and the solitary labor of the writer.
I have been writing reasonably well the last few days, and hope to keep doing that.
On the subject of the first chapter of Queen of Swords for all of you bright, forward thinking, open minded people who watched Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars or who promised to watch four episodes, I'm hoping to get things organized enough to send you what you need by the end of today, or at least tomorrow. The offer still stands for those who catch all four episodes (a few emails I got don't seem to have done this, as they emailed Sunday night rather than Monday night) this coming weekend when they are re-aired.
October 19, 2004 08:03 AM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.tiedtothetracks.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-t.cgi/257
Comments
Thank goodness I'm not the only one who does this. People are duly impressed whenever they hear I'm working on a novel. None of them have ever asked how long I've been working on this novel and where I'm at with it (two years and counting and I'm still doing research and writing around the research). Thank goodness or then they'd know that typically when I say I've written the night before (or the the previous weekend), little do they know I've rewritten one paragaph at least 14 times, and spent the rest of the time doing the following: I've written for my blog, I've written an email to my mother, I've played games on Pogo.com for 14 hours in a row, I've watched Saturday morning cartoons (without my kid), I've had my nails done, I've surfed the 'net for at least four hours, I've watched the countdown on MuchMusic, I've done housework, and I've worked out at least twice. I guess that's where the redemption comes in - I've worked out. So, yes, when people at work ask me if I've written recently, I can honestly say I have. Boy, the process is daunting at times. Glad to know I'm not alone in this. Oh, and I couldn't watch Farscape because I'm in Canada, but I sent you an email promising I would watch other episodes (which I've done) and I'll be emailing you later this week with dialogue. Thanks for getting me hooked on Farscape and thank you for the chapter from QoS!
Posted by: Jenniferanne C. at October 19, 2004 01:07 PM