I Need A Room of My Own
“You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.” ~ Ray Bradbury
Lately, I’ve had a lot of people tell me they want to write a book – or at the very least, that they have some grand idea that would make a bestseller. Hmmm. I suppose they confide this in me because I am a writer and somewhere in their minds they think I’ll be receptive … maybe even give them some advice worth following. Again, hmmm.
The fact of the matter is, writing a book is hard work. Really. I know some folks think it’s nothing more than compiling one’s thoughts with a few stokes on a keyboard, but I’m telling you – it isn’t that easy. Especially when you have other things going on in your life and can’t afford, literally, to seclude yourself to a room of your own – as Virginia Wolf once said …
For me, fiction writing is challenging because when I do find the time, my mind is often unprepared. Between taking care of my family, myself and writing for the paper – you know, the gig I get paid for – I often find myself unable to switch gears and wander off to the creative side. And then, once I arrive in my own Terabithea and sense the words ready to explode, alas … Something Wicked This Way Comes …
“Have you seen my car keys?”
“Mom, what’s for dinner?”
“Mom, tell Max to get out of my room.”
“Did you schedule the dog for his shots?”
EGADS!! The pen is put to rest, the laptop shut down, and my brain returns to tackle all that is going on around me. I get it Mr. Bradbury … really, I do.
Do you? If you’re a writer, how do you separate your reality from fiction? Do you have a room of your own to go to? And if you’re one of those that has asked me for advice on writing a book, take heed in Mr. Bradbury’s words.
The early bird gets the worm? I always thought that it meant “F *^# you! You are late for dinner, again! or something like that.
That’s funny … I like your take!
Currently I am putting together an entry for a writing contest with deadline of thew 31st. My wife is collaborating with me so I try to put in an hour of work each night. It is about 2/3 through the rough draft.
WOW Your wife is collaborating – that’s very cool … will you ever post it online? Is it a short story?
It is just under 5000 words. Titles “A Pinch of Sugar”. Has a bit of sexual references that might be too much ofr posting here.
Ah … like the name :)
I need to check the Word Press guidelines before I post it.
There’s a reason for the old adage by Red Smith, who was asked if turning out a daily column wasn’t quite a chore. …”Why, no,” dead-panned Red. “You simply sit down at the typewriter, open your veins, and bleed.” (credit to another blogger, http://quoteinvestigator.com/2011/09/14/writing-bleed/). How writers who live with other people get anything done is a marvel to me. Kudos for getting the job done any which way you can carve out time, space and the illusory peace to do so! Best ~ Huntmode
This is great – and so true … how do writers live with other people?!
I write for ten or twenty minutes at four thirty in the morning every day. It’s not much but at least it’s something.
YIKES … I am sooo not a morning person – I know, sometimes you have to be to get stuff done but I just cannot get up that early – wish I had that kind of discipline!
I worked at 6am for seven years so it’s just something I’ve gotten used to. I used to HATE mornings. Funny how things can change.
Yes it can be very difficult to do all that is required to work and keep all the day to day issues in check.
Hmmm … that’s why someone should invent the 36 hour day – or maybe I’ll just ask my husband to buy me a room of my own :)
I have always lived by the saying, “the early bird gets the worm” the best time to have your thoughts about you is when no one else is Wake!