What comes before the work is done …
Scene: small white room, windows on one end, dog curled up on bed under windows. Woman sits at table, hands poised above a keyboard…
It’s freezing in here
What’s that noise
Shut up shut up dammit
No, we’re not going out we just came in
Breathe
Should I write by hand
Maybe I should write by hand
Okay, channel May Sarton. Begin here, it is snowing
It is snowing
Inside I mean
Where are the tissues
Do not get up
I think I’m getting sick
I have to put on some gloves
I should have braided my hair
Okay my hair is driving me crazy
There’s nothing in the world but my hair
You frikkin psych job sit down and write
Breathe
Let’s check Twitter
Oh my God right now I actually hate you
Write write anything
Anything?
Anything
….
I can’t think of a freaking thing
© Margaret Grant and magoffleash, 2012-2013. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.
9 Comments on “What comes before the work is done …”
What Do You Think?
I have always wanted to work at home writing in a quiet, white walled study surrounded by books. Now that I am here, I see there is a lot more to it than time and space.
Bloggers of Note
Visit me on Goodreads…
Oh, dear. Have you read a book called Writing Past Dark? I can’t remember the author, but search for it on Amazon. There’s a really great chapter on ‘Distractions’.
Clearly I shall have to seek it out. Thank you!
Get out a piece of paper. Write any word you want to in the center. Circle it. And now draw a short line and write another word that relates in some fashion to the first. Circle it. Continue on drawing lines from the middle circle and from each circle after it. In short order, a story will come forth like magic. It has always worked for me. HF
Thanks, Harper. I love how you use a visual cue to fire up language. Will try it!
Printing this off and tucking it into my writing inspiration notebook, Margaret. I adore this. Thank you.
Wow, thanks Julie. It really does help to know we’re not alone. It certainly reduces the power of the excuse… BTW I met someone at a writers conference who is new to social media and building an on line presence. I referred her to you as you have built such a strong, professional presence with your blog, Twitter, Goodreads, etc. She emailed me that she was inspired by you.
That is amazing. Margaret, thank you so much! Your words make me giddy. And humbled, because I have no idea what I’m doing.
hahaha!!! oh, how i hear you!
i know that kind of situation so well.
i’m glad you take it with a sense of humor though
thank you for stopping by at THREETIMESYES, so i could find your virtual home.
love from berlin,
julia
Thank you, Julia – so glad to meet you. Humor is my first & last resort. I love your blog’s eclectic nature and look forward to reading more.