Karen Foley
Lynn Raye Harris
Ellen Hartman
Diana Holquist
Samantha Hunter
Shirley Jump
Dee Tenorio
Jeannie Watt
Back In The Saddle
Hello again. :)
It's sort of been a while since my last blog here on Cigars and I'm a mite bit rusty. I wanted to start out, first, by thanking everyone for their so very kind condolences and their support over the last month. As some of you know, there was a death in my family and it's very much changed the direction of my life. So many of you, from my Smokin' Sisters here on Cigars to the readers who come visit us and read our posts, have sent your kindness and your prayers and I can't tell you how much that has meant to me.
So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
But, as most things do, life is going on and whether we're ready or not, we've got to move forward with it. Bills must still be paid. Clothes must still be washed. Dishes---darn them---must still be done. In the particular case of writers, deadlines must still be met. Which is the topic of this particular post.
When life changes---for good or bad---it's really easy to lose your momentum or your focus. Getting it back is enough to make a girl somewhat superstitious. Somedays, it's not so hard to write, at least for a few minutes, and if you're lucky, your writing becomes like your clandestine lover. Stolen moments that are sweet and total escapes from your day to day life. If you're not so lucky, it's like the ex-boyfriend who won't go away and still owes you money. You sure as hell aren't about to beg for what's yours but the lazy git and coughing it up either.
You find yourself feeling a bit like Kevin Costner in "Tin Cup"---you've got the shanks and you'll do just about anything to make them stop. Every possible way to connect with your writing comes out of the closet---I'll write better if I'm eating chips while listening to this one song and sitting under my favorite blanket. The words will drip off my fingers like hot butter if I have some Juju Bees! All my best ideas come when I'm jogging! If there was ever anything that helped break a block, you'll try it.
As for me, I'm on option #22: It's not me, it's the transition scene. Once that's over, I'll be fine.
I'm pretty sure that now that I've carved my way through said transition (I'll have almost 3 hours in the van today, riding into and out of Riverside for an appointment), I'll need option #23. Which is where y'all come in.
How about you share with me your best tip for getting back on the work saddle after a major disruption in your personal life? Or just to get you out of a funk. Give me a few options to select from. Go crazy and feel free to be over the top. And to make it even more interesting, I will randomly select a winner from the comments list---must be a registered Cigars poster!---for a free electronic copy of any of my books!
So tip away, gang, and I'll see you this afternoon after I make that left turn in Albequrque.
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Safe travels, Dee
You have a lot going on, so the first issue is time. Having been through a few losses of my own, I can tell you all things level out, given time, normality returns. Whatever that is. ;) But it's worth living life in the meantime, because if nothing else, life keeps moving so we might as well move with it. I remember going in to teach classes on days I can't even remember... but I think doing it gets us from A to B then to C... and so on.
But in the meanwhile, you just do it. You take the 10 minutes or the 3 hours and you write. You do what you have to do to get it done, because you have a full request and you need to get that in, for yourself, because you have been working for this for too long to let it slip now.
hugs,
Sam
You're so right...
In the end, I got four very important paragraphs done. More tonight, I think. Tomorrow having a special day out with the kids...then back to work and I think I'll be able to get to it. You're right about A to B to C. We're going to Race to Witch Mountain...I'll go anywhere with Dwayne. :) Maybe even a step closer to D.
getting your groove back on
Reading other author's works can give me the boost to work on my own story. So maybe try reading a fave author for a few minutes and tell yourself "I want to do that" and then work on a scene or two of your own story.
Also, prayers are with you and your family.
I like this
Yes... when we think of the happiness someone gets from reading...I sometimes have gotten that from writing in hard times.
Sam
You know...
I picked up my Nalini Singhs again, and wouldn't you know it, there is relief in being a fangirl. :)
Positive Vibes and an Award for Love is an Exploding Cigar
Hi, Dee!
Lots of positive vibes are heading your way :)
You're absolutely right about life. Been through some major changes myself this year. Changes that, at times, seemed capable of getting the best of me. But, like you, I persevered and am on the path to happiness again.
After a disruption in my life, I take time away from my creative endeavors. Treat myself to something affordable yet special. Most importantly I resist returning to my fiction writing when my mood is experiencing the most upheaval. The stories and characters will always be there. Waiting for me to champion their goals and love stories :)
Recently we authors at Fierce Romance were awarded the Premio Dardas by our peer bloggers, Petit Fours and Hot Tamales. As we believe your blog, Love is An Exploding Cigar is also deserving of recognition, we present you with a Premio Dardas.
This award acknowledges the values that every blogger shows in his/her effort to transmit cultural, ethical, literary and personal values every day.
The rules to follow are:
1) Accept the award, then post it on your blog together with the name of the person that has granted the award and his or her blog link.
2) Pass the award to another 15 blogs that are worthy of this acknowledgment. Remember to contact each of them to let them know they have been chosen for this award.
Thanks for hosting a terrific cyber community!
Shawna Moore
Thanks for the vibes...
And the award, lol. Oy ve, 15 blogs? I don't read that many! But I agree, Cigars is a singular place and full of warmth. Who said smoking was bad for you?
How to get going again...
Wouldn't it be nice if it were easy? A pill to take maybe. A tonic to drink down. Some magic incantation. Instead, like everything about writing (about life?), it's hard. I say go with the candy and the jogging (not in that order...) and don't push it too hard. Sometimes, there's a good reason to take a break.
Thinking of you and yours.
--Diana
Thanks Diana
I like the candy answer. The walking...well, it's nice fitting into my pants. It's not quite a break--too much laundry for that--but you're right. Time to think isn't a bad thing.
:)
Dee
A change of scene?
Hi, Dee,
Hugs to you and your family--life does go on, but it's still hard to get back into the swing of things. Maybe a change of scene (although not sure if Riverside's doing it for you ;)) can help you take a step back and then step back in where you need to pick up. Or taking a reflective kind of "moment"--journaling, if you do that sort of thing; or making a point to choose a something to get back into the routine--a special meal? A commemorative trip to a favorite restaurant? Jogging to the park? To the laundromat? ;p Sometimes it's a combination of head-clearing and zoning out that might do the trick.
Best wishes in any event, and it's great to see you again!
LOL!
Riverside doesn't quite tug the heartstrings, I admit. (Where the heck is the RIVER??)
We're doing the special thing tomorrow. Going to see a movie with the kids. Stroll the mall.
Glad to see y'all again too. Nothing like hugs from friends. :)
Dee
Okay, I love your descriptions
of the bargaining your doing. Very creative. See? You're writing! Big hugs on you loss. I've been going through some (very minor by comparison) upheavals and I'm finding that Cadburys chocolate eggs (the little ones with the hard candy shell) are good for a few paragraphs. Does that help? And if you eat them you have to run every day to keep your girlish figure, and that helps too--oxygen to the brain and all that. Or you could be like me and just indulge yourself all day and say, "I'll get to the next bit tomorrow." I've written enough books at this point to know that even though some of them seem like they'll never be done, if I keep plugging away, I'll get there eventually. How long do you have 'til your deadline? Just use it all. I usually do :-)Oh, and green tea is good, too.
Hope you find some motivation and mojo soon.
http://www.jenlewis.com
Thanks Jen
I'm all about the Ruffles and the White Choco PB cups! Food works for me. I'm all about the bribing.
Dee
LIFE GOES ON
HI DEE,
HOPE EACH DAY BRINGS YOU MORE AT PEACE AND A LITTLE EASIER TO BEAR YOUR LOSS. MAY YOUR GOOD MEMORIES COMFORT YOU.
Thanks Pat
They do help. Nothing like laughter and stories to heal us all.
Many hugs,
Dee
gald to see you back Dee!
We've missed you of course.
As for me after my fahter passed away it was hard, i couldnt write for a while, and then after a good crying spell and hating myself for not getting published while he would have been alive to see it, i joined a writers class. didn't hesitate, took the plunge and jumped in head first. Then after i'd been at the class myabe a week or two everyone was crazy over NANOWRIMO. i had never heard of it, frankly i thought they were talking about some new star trek book, boy was i wrong. So i joined with the others, who held me accountable and started making myself write. Nano was very freeing, to be able to write total crap if i needed to. Well unfortuantely i never finished nano, by PC died a slow tortuous death. So after i replaced it i jumped back in and relized that i had some good stuff there.
Now i dont write every day like i should, but i'm doing better. it does get easier, eventually. just hang in there.
But for me to ge my muse going and ready to ramble, A 20 ounce ice-cold CocaCola, and frozen reesee cups. works wonders for me, not to great trying to sleep later, but oh well.
good luck.
bribery works sometimes too, let your mind wander of pics of Hugh Jackman and then get to work! lol
jody lynn
Yes, the daily word count goals
are a big help. After Friday, I'll get back to my 2k a day goals. The deadline is April, but a week or so after that won't hurt. :) It's a personal deadline. :)
Yum, Huuuuuuugh.
Dee
No advice
Dee--I don't have any idea how to get back in the saddle. Sigh. I struggle with that all the time. Sometimes watching a movie helps me. (How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, for some reason, is very inspirational to me.)
I really just wanted to say I'm thinking about you and welcome back.
getting back...
in the saddle of life. First Dee, my prayers to you and your family. A loss is never an easy thing to accept. I went through this in January and we have to allow the grieving process to happen. Life finds a way. So will the manuscript and your muse. Be patient with yourself. Music, walks, being with family, all of it helps the healing process.
Then little by little, step by step, the desire to write again, to tell that story, to brush shoulders with that character you were so thrilled to meet at first--comes back to you like an old friend.
And suddenly you discover you can enjoy life again.
Whether its loss, illness, or other changes that we cannot control in out lives, eventually we find ourselves seated in front of the computer or a notebook, looking to find the release of emotions on the page. Its our therapy.
I am entirely confident that you are on the path where you are supposed to be and that book will be brilliant!
All the best & hugs,
Pamanda
Pam/Amanda McIntyre