My writer finally comes through the door to her writing office. I have to make a show of checking my non-existant watch. “Where the hell have you been, love?”
She grimaces at me. “I know, I know. I worked at the library two nights this week, and I’ve still been writing every night, so …” She trails off into a grumble.
“Watch your language. You’ve been distracted.”
“Duh!” Julie grabs her laptop and plants herself in one of the recliners in the corner. More grumbling. She’s wearing her NaNoWriMo hoodie, but it doesn’t seem to be helping much.
“Would you like to talk about it, love?”
“I have to write.”
She’s so grumbly I can feel the creative energy being repelled. Sigh. I settle next to her in the other recliner. “Tell me.”
“You already know. Why should I tell you?”
“Because by actually saying it you will feel better. And yes, I can feel the energy shift. When is your daughter supposed to be home?”
“Soon.” She chews on a knuckle. “I didn’t get as much writing done last weekend as I had wanted to. I worked at the library and tried to write. I did write when it was slow, just not enough. I even wrote every day this week, and I still didn’t hit my word count. And I’m not going to get that short story done to submit for the anthology.”
“You could, love. That’s the one with a hard deadline. Your draft doesn’t have a hard deadline.”
She looks over at me, her face flushed. Frustration, I think. “I don’t know how to write it. I’m stuck. You know what? I think I need to write something different. I want to work on the Spring Brook story. Or I could revise my police procedural. Or maybe work on that urban fantasy you keep pinging me with.”
The urban fantasy would be a nice change of pace, but now is not the time. “Tell me what’s distracting you, love.”
She bounces her head back against the recliner. “Everything. Do you realize Thanksgiving is next week already? And my daughter is home this weekend, then coming home for the Thanksgiving holiday two days after she goes back. The energy is,” she rubs at her eyes, “different. Harder to work with. And I have housework to do, even if it is the bare minimum. And I have to get my new computer set up. And damn it, I need to be writing.”
“Yes, you do. So what do you need to do to get there?”
“Stop talking and start writing. Go finish my blog post. Please.”
I try another test. Most of the creative energy is still not sinking in. Bloody hell. “I’ll call Wander in. Maybe she can help.” There’s something about dragons that helps my writer open up.
“Fine. Whatever. Let me try to hit my word count tonight, alright?” She glances at the clock on the desk and groans.
I lean over to her. “Relax, love.”
“Easy for you to say. Finish the post, then help me with this transition.”
And I expect that’s how the weekend will go. If I can get her to hit double her word goal over the next two days, she’ll be on track to hit 50k by the 30th.
Wish me luck!
November 23, 2019 at 7:28 am
Well, I certainly respect you, Muse, for trying to help Julie get through this time. I like your idea of focusing on things with hard deadlines. Having a list of priorities is important. But it sounds as though Julie is writing (even if not as much as she wishes), and that’s what matters. Stay supportive of her, and you know, pouring her a glass of wine (or whatever else she prefers) would be a nice gesture!
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November 23, 2019 at 2:45 pm
Margot, you are so right. She is writing, and sometimes that is the biggest battle. And I like to use the good wine–and the good chocolate–as a reward. It’s amazing how well it works š
Write well, write on!
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November 23, 2019 at 9:30 am
Good luck on our final week!
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November 23, 2019 at 2:46 pm
You too, Jacqui! Write on!
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November 23, 2019 at 10:09 am
Muse, you have excellent taste in Zoey pics. And, maybe I shouldn’t point this out, but when you moved closer to your writer, I’m sure that didn’t help her with her concentration. Good luck, Julie! Have a great Thanksgiving. And if you haven’t already figured it out, this is Betsy using Paul’s computer. I didn’t want to log him out b/c I’m pretty sure neither one of us remembers our log ins. š
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November 23, 2019 at 2:51 pm
I’m glad you approve, Betsy. *Julie pushes her Muse aside* Yeah, yeah, whatever. I knew it was you using Paul’s computer, because the Vikings have a bye week this week, and he only comments on your posts anyway š
I still feel so far behind, and even though I have a hard deadline for the short story, I feel like I need to get my Book 2 draft done first. So I miss the anthology. I’ll finish the story later so I have one to pull out next time š
Have a great weekend and Happy Thanksgiving!
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November 23, 2019 at 8:58 pm
If the Vikings are off, one would assume I have more time to make comments… I filled Betsy in on your comments. You have a happy Thanksgiving as well. š The actual VikingsPaul.
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November 23, 2019 at 12:57 pm
Best of luck on the final week! Happy Thanksgiving:)
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November 23, 2019 at 2:52 pm
Thanks, Denise! Happy Thanksgiving to you as well!
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November 23, 2019 at 7:50 pm
November is the worst time for a month of writing, isn’t it? The holidays are stomping their hooves at the gate and there’s no way out of them. What about February?? Anyway, keep going, Julie, just keep going. You may not make 50k, but you’ll catch up quickly in December… until the holidays. ā¤
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November 25, 2019 at 6:53 am
I’ve done a self-imposed nano in February, and hit 50k words (that’s how I drafted Murder in Plane Sight š ) And of all the months, November. Like we have nothing going on. How about January, cuz the holidays are over and nothin’ happens until Valentine’s day. Hmm.
Have a great writing week, Diana!
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November 25, 2019 at 3:45 pm
January-March is writing heaven (or in my case, editing heaven). I can’t wait. See you there!
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