Waste Not, Want Not
I’m a time hog. There I said it.
The first time I admitted being a time hog to one of my friends, she gave me a shocked look and asked what I meant. I thought the term was self-explanatory, but apparently people who are not time hogs do not understand the affliction. What I meant, of course, is that I hate to waste time. That doesn’t mean that I’m not perfectly happy baking myself on a beach. (Well, actually, I’m not, and I’m probably the only part Finnish person in existence who cannot handle saunas because they’re hot.) But I’m quite happy doing “nothing” if I’m at a point where I need to recharge. Most of the time, though, I have to be doing two things at once—knitting while watching TV, writing an outline while sitting at the beach (wishing I was somewhere else because it’s hot). And sometimes I’m forced to do things that are an obvious waste of my time--like attending educational theory workshops, where people who haven’t been in a classroom with real live students in at least a decade...or two decades...or ever, but they have seen photographs of students in classrooms...are trying to tell me how to teach. I usually take copious notes, though, that look oddly like the outline of a new book.
Because I’m a time hog, when I first started writing, I had a hard time throwing away words, scenes, entire chapters, because, well, I’d spent a lot of time creating that stuff. If I threw it away, wasn’t that time wasted? I tried storing the stuff in special files on my computer, but I found that when I tried to jam the scenes into another story, or twist them around to keep in the current story, it usually didn’t work.
I still store the unused words and scenes, because I’m a time hog and can’t help myself, and every now and then I retrieve some of them, but, when I do, I find that my writing has changed. It’s...well, better. I guess that’s because practice is not a waste of time, and just because something isn’t usable, it doesn’t mean I didn’t learn while creating. I am honing my voice, developing my craft. But wouldn’t it be grand if I could just save time and get it right the first time?
So, any fellow time hogs out there?
Kindred Spirits
Oh, Jeannie, you're a lady after my own heart! I was laughing out loud over your post, because yesterday I attended a mandatory training session on how to populate our pricing and negotiation database...and the training was being conducted remotely via telecom, with overhead charts...boring doesn't even begin to describe it. But...I took copious notes that bear a strange resemblance to a synopsis ! I also have two files entitled "Deleted Scenes" and "Possible Scenes" which I continually add to because...who knows? Someday they may come in handy! I listen to RWA workshop tapes during my commute, and bring my laptop or notebook with me when going to pick my daughter up from practice (because she's always late and why waste the time??). So here's to you (raising toast), my fellow time hog!
Returning the Toast!
Karen--I do all those things, too! So good to meet a fellow TH!
Me, too!
And not just about writing. Yesterday I was meeting a friend for lunch in a small town about 30 minutes away...or maybe not because a different friend called to say she was driving to my city from 2 hrs away and could I get together? Oh, a scheduling dilemma, so rare in my life. Could my other friend reschedule? Yes, she could, but we didn't get the details quickly enough for my satisfaction. So I left the house at 8:20 a.m. with the following:
1 small child + lunch (to be left at school)
laptop and power cord (to write)
iPod (RWA tapes, tarot podcasts)
digital camera/journal/pens (might feel creative and/or angsty)
knitting project (scarf)
1 craft book
2 novels
Utne and Yoga Journal
2 tarot books + tarot deck (I had to do a reading for someone and might need reference materials)
1 swim suit (workout prior to lunch)
toiletries (post-workout preparation)
1 banana
3/4s of one chocolate chip cookie (must have snacks)
Why was I lugging my entire life to what was basically lunch with a friend? Because without all that stuff, I might have five minutes of downtime and NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO!
But I have gotten better about ditching stuff from my stories; sometimes you have to go down a road to know you're lost. What's the phrase - kill your darlings? I probably wouldn't kill them, just lug them along, LOL.
Margaret
I had no idea others lived
I had no idea others lived my exact same life. When my husband and I get to school, he's carrying his travel mug. I have a huge tote bag, my laptop, my purse and my travel mug. I look like a one-man band with all this stuff draped all over me.
And Margaret, I understand the fear of a few extra minutes and nothing to do. You are not alone. Sometimes I feel like my head will explode if I don't do something to fill those idle minutes, lol.
Time hog here! Though now
Time hog here! Though now I've gotten better -- I keep a book in the car to read with downtime, because otherwise I don't read enough. Though I do sometimes take my Alphasmart with me, I'd rather read than try to struggle with a paragraph if I only have a few minutes. I can read faster than I can write, therefore, get more "done" and therefore, waste less time.
Right?
M
Read in bed!
www.meganhart.com
You know, Megan--bringing a
You know, Megan--bringing a book is a good idea. I've been doing less and less of this. I find I read less as I write more, but when I do take time to read, my writing improves. I'll have to toss a TBR into the tote tonight, lol.
Good point....
This is so true. When I'm reading more, I write more smoothly, but somehow reading ends up last on the list. I used to read 2-3 books a week...now I'm lucky to read that many in a month. Not good. I'll add another book to the bag. ;)
Good plan. I'm right with
Good plan. I'm right with you in that I now read about 2 books a month. That's not nearly enough.
Time hog
I never leave home without a book(you never know when you'll be waiting/standing in line. I also have a steno pad and a pencil, because it never fails that my characters will give me good stuff while I'm driving and I write it down ASAP. One time I was on the way to a romantic dinner with my dh and got inspired. There was a frantic search through the car for something to write on. All I could find was a brown paper sack. Reduce, reuse, recycle, right?
LindaC
Linda
Since you were searching for paper, then you are obviously familiar with the phenomenon called ideaus evaporatus. I cannot tell you how many times I've had a brilliant idea late at night, told myself it was so spectacular there was no way I would not remember it....however....by morning....
I'm ambi-slackerish
I swing both ways. *G* I like to be busy, and I have times when I can do ten things at once and love it, but I can be a complete, braindead slacker with the best of them... I like to putter... sort of work my way through things at my own pace -- sometimes it's fast, sometimes it's not. Sometimes there is no pace. LOL
I actually don't bring things with me so I have stuff to do all the time... sometimes I'll just sit and stare, and think, or watch whatever's in front of me, or if I am in the car, listen to the radio... Like when I pick up Mike at the airport, I usually mean to bring a book, and inevitably forget, so I always think of the beginning of Love Actually when Hugh Grant is talking about watching people at the airport, so I do that...
But when I am in task-oriented mode, I am very efficient and get things done pronto.
Sam
I actually don't bring
I actually don't bring things with me so I have stuff to do all the time...
Sam, I'm so impressed. A lot of the time I never touch the stuff I've brought, but I have to have it with me. Just in case. I love watching people, though, and airports are a great place for that.
I just don't like carrying stuff...
That's the basic idea -- I have only gone back to using a purse recently, but there's not a whole lot in it, because I don't like carrying anything heavy...
Sam
I guess I am a time hog too.
I guess I am a time hog too. I can't just sit and do nothing. I have to be reading, knitting , or cross stitching while I am watching sports on tv.
Welcome fellow TH...
Knitting is great during television. I hate to just sit and watch. The hands much be busy, lol.
You are a maniac... LOL
Yup, I am in the opposite. I only sew when I'm watching TV if I have to, and with shows that don't demand my whole attention... LOL Although is knitting one of those things you can do while not looking at it? I can't sew and not have my eyes on the sewing... so it's not possible to sew and watch TV at the same time...
Sam
Sam--we are definitely
Sam--we are definitely opposites on this one, lol. I have to have the television on when I sew, but I rarely watch it--I listen to it, just glancing up when necessary. I hate it when my husband watches foregin movies with subtitles because I can't visualize them.
I might as well confess
... to the beach thing, too. I can definitely sit on a beach for long periods of time and just sit there and watch the water, the people, and soak up sun. Ideally with a Rum Runner. One of my favorite things to do -- I will bring a book, but sometimes it's just too hard to read, the sun, or the glare, the sand, etc. It's like God made it inconvenient to do anything but just sit and sleep or relax on a beach... ;)
Sam, the slacker
Sam--You purposely stay
Sam--You purposely stay where it's hot and hold still? Okay, I'm good for maybe half an hour in the 80 degree temperature range. I can go work outside in the heat, but I cannot sit in it. But--my husband is a lizard. He soaks up the sun, lives in the sauna, enjoys hot tubs, so I have witnessed this phenomenon, lol.
Hmmmm
I think I just had a lustful thought about your husband... LOL
Mike is a beach bum, too, so that helps -- it's fun if we can sit there together, which we do, on vacations. When someone asks him what he wants to do with his life, he always says all he wants is to hang out on the beach and drink margaritas. So, you know, we have these common goals, LOL. And yet we're both very driven in other aspects of our lives, which is interesting.
I like heat a lot -- it makes me feel good, all my aches and pains go away, and I get rid of the winter white skin...I've been trying to think of how I can scam a weekend to FL in June, and I don't think we can do it, but I'd like to... I have to admit, when I sit and just blank out like that, it's really good for my story brain -- that's when ideas pop, or things get written... but I can't, like, go sit in my yard and do it -- too much distraction, etc. It has to be a real beach...
Sam
When I could still crochet...
(had to give it up thanks to chronic Tendonitis), I only looked down at corners or when I was doing shells. Otherwise, I'd crochet in the dark.
It's virtually impossible for me to sit and do nothing. I suck at it. I actually get snippy, lol. I always carry paper and pens, at least to take notes. Now my son carries a notebook and pen for his plane designs, lol. Good thing I have big damn diaper bag. When the girls get bigger, I imagine I'll be carrying three notebooks, lol.
Dee
(who is so grateful to have a name now for what I do. Oink!!)
Oink back at you, Dee :)
Diaper bag! I'd forgotten the wonder of the diaper bag. I think it's great that you are passing along the notebook gene.
Knitting and TV
I don't watch when I'm knitting - just listen, so it's perfect for rainy afternoons and movies I've seen a gazillion times, hands moving, ears half-listening, plots spinning in my head. I do think continental-style knitters can knit and not look more easily. I knit "American" and need to keep my eyes on my work, which sounds very domestic but is just prevention against some ugly cursing and a trip to the yarn store to beg for help fixing a tangled mess.
Time Waster...
Wow, I'm in awe--all of you extremely productive people going about being even more productive!!
I think I'm a Time Hog wannabe, but not too much, because I don't often try to multitask (except for with the whole TV watching thing--THAT I get--in general there are very few shows that merit my undivided attention). I do try to bring stuff to do, but mainly snacks for the kids and a book or magazine (the ideal waiting reading--easily interruptible). I find it hard to do things like make phone calls, etc., because unless I know it's going to take thirty seconds, I won't have time to finish it. Argh! Can't stand that!
I'm trying not to cringe thinking about all the time that I'm wasting just today!
Fedora--I think being a Time
Fedora--I think being a Time Hog wannabe is probably easier on the blood pressure. No stressing out about whether you're carrying enough to keep busy, lol.
After reading all the
After reading all the comments I've decided I've turned into a very limited time hog. I never go anywhere (other than the grocery store) without a book or two or three (you get the idea).
Boy, do I. I have to start
Boy, do I. I have to start packing more books!