Peeves

I wonder if the person who wrote the directions for using shampoo gets royalties? If I think about all the times I have read someone refer to the step one, step two, repeat directions, I have to wish the original author got some type of kick back. I mean he came up with it and now everyone uses that for everything. I understand it's a simple way to explain how to get started on something. Most things are a process of repetition before you get a feel for it or get better at it.

So in that case, if you don't want to be original, that's a good way to describe a process. But it isn't a very good way and it isn't a great way. It doesn't inspire you to do any more than say, washing your hair. Don't you just feel terrific after reading an article you think will help you along and all they've got is step one, step two, repeat? You don't think I might already have gotten to that point and beyond and I was looking for more than directions on how to wash my hair?

But that's me, and maybe it's my responsibility to find articles with more depth. Believe me, my hair is clean.

Which brings me to another comment that can be irritating.  When you mention a run to some people and they take on a body language to actually puff up and look bigger as they say it.
"I don't run unless someone is chasing me."
Right. Of course you do. Happen to you often? Am I supposed to hold myself back instead of playing along and saying, "You are so original. Do you pay royalties for that?"

Then I go for a run, because if that kind of stuff is getting to me, I know I need one.
TT

Distracted

If you stare at a blank page long enough it can get awkward. You can see the blinking curser ready at the far left hand side of the top of the page. You avert your eyes, take a sip of coffee, look at the clutter on the far side of your desk, and then glance back to that blinking curser. It's at the top of the page, left hand side, of a completely white document.

If there were two people sitting across from each other it would be that time in the conversation that lulled. You look away in the silence and your mind starts to wander. You're distracted by the things you see but can't catch hold of anything that is really passing through your mind. The thoughts are just drifting until you glance back and realize the silence is pulsing while you've been distracted. And it's a little awkward. So you check the clock for something to do.

Time's up.
TT

Action over analysis

I spent two hours yesterday afternoon writing. Well, okay, maybe it was editing and not actually adding new words but it's an entire first chapter. I can only remember thinking about writing for that long and longer but not actually sitting down and doing it. I don't have any recollections of when the last time I actually sat down and worked on writing before yesterday.

It started when I got a review request from someone on the writing.com site. Someone wanted me to take a look at their first chapter/intro. I took a look. I gathered my thoughts and I sent back a review. Since it was a public review (most are visible in an specific area of the site) someone else read my review and gave me good feedback on it. I had to thank them on the acknowledgement but then I got a thumbs up on a review I had given a book I read on a different site (goodreads.com). I had to take a moment to tap down the excitement of getting a nod for anything, especially reviews. Somebody, somewhere, took the time to read them and actually thought they had some value. I'm talking two in one day which was reason enough to try to tap down anything.

I couldn't help thinking how I'm able to give out others meaningful feedback and yet not able to find the errors of my own ways in my writing. That isn't entirely true but I pretend. I found myself in my upstairs office and opening the document I have of the story about the young woman with the imagination. It's the one I just started writing without any idea of what the story was about or where it was going. The working title so far is Imaginary Lines and I started by giving it the same type of review I gave to the others. It was merely a piece of work that I was going over as if it belong to someone else and by the time I was feeling like I needed to get up from my desk, two hours had blown by and I had the entire first chapter drafted.

I woke up extra early this morning and knew I had some notes on this same story. I got to looking and sure enough I found some really organized ideas about this story. Somewhere, at some point in time, I put some thought into where this random bit of writing was supposed to go.

So, I am working to assemble these notes to have a clearer picture of how I am going to approach the progress on this story. I already have some clear cut ideas worked out and even have a frame of where I might proceed through chapter three.

This was a throw-away piece. I started putting down words that I had no idea where they might lead. I've even avoided working on this because I have the first draft of a completed novella I have stopped and started revising and thought I should work on that. Let's not even mention the entire novel that needs serious rework - no serious, serious rework - we won't mention that right now and how I keep thinking these other completed works should be the priority.

But maybe because this is a throw-away piece I can approach it from the place of the outside reviewer. Maybe it's because I've gotten past having any sentimentality about all these words that spill out and I can try to organize what I want for this particular piece. Maybe I just got past all the trappings of having to tap down the feelings that something is more than it is and just go for the things I'd rather spend time on doing. Does it matter if I work on this piece over the others or is it still a matter of what would I rather be working on instead of thinking about what I should be working on.

Because, who cares? Why try to figure out if I should work on this or that. I'm going to work on this and then maybe that and not waste the brainpower on trying to figure it out. I'm simply glad I got that boost of motivation and now I can take it wherever I want to go.
TT

Rain, rain

The chances of rain were so close. It was closing into evening and the skies were darkening prematurely. You could hear the growling of thunder in the distance and the air had a stillness filled with promise. Wait and it will let loose it's downpour at any time. Let it rain. Heavy and hard was the growing expectations. With more grumblings from the skies, it was sure to spill down at any time. Wait.

It didn't happen. It lightened up to it's normal for that time of day. Any traces of a growing storm vanished just as the hope for even the slightest of mists. It was a story without a plot, a play without a curtain call. The rain passed us by as if it couldn't perform for such an undeserving crowd. It didn't know how much we wanted it to happen. It didn't know the standing ovations its would have received. The idea of breaking through the dark clouds and pouring down with all the force it could muster was all we wanted to hear and see. But it wasn't destined to happen and all the pretend dark growling played out to nothing in the end.

I like the rain. We came so close yesterday. Please come again another day.
TT

Better

Better. Whatever physical distresses I had seems to be moving along. There is no more sore throat, no more constantly runny nose. I crashed out early yesterday and slept a little later this morning. It seems to have worked because I am feeling much better today than yesterday.  Thank goodness! Small things, when they are of this nature, can sure take the wind out of you. I'm lucky to have shaken it so quickly.
TT

Drip

I have to say I'm dragging a little today. I came down with a drip that might be an allergy that is more irritating than anything else. It's only a sore throat and that drip but it's gotten me worn out and who needs that! I'm not up to quality standards but I do feel as if it's starting to go away. At least I hope that is case because I don't have the patience to wait around for this right now. I'll take it easier today and let it ride out it's course. I'll hold off on anything strenuous and will try to sit still a little longer than usual. I should be good to go, back to normal, by tomorrow.
Hopefully.
TT

Do it

It's time to get back to the routine! After a long weekend it can be a bit of a let down but I have it squarely under control. I've put in a couple of hours already to get a head start on this four-day work week and it should be a breeze.

Routines are those things that can be good or bad. There is a comfort in some and a dread in others. I guess the best way to tackle it is to take them as they come and don't give the bad any more thought than they deserve. If it's something you can't change for now, go with it and get it done. You can always think of ways to change it up later. Getting myself going goes a long way to getting past thinking about the stuff I don't especially enjoy.  By the time I realize it, it's done, and I'm doing something I'd rather be doing.
TT