Well it would be so nice to report that I spent my three days off immersed in Plant Kid’s story but alas, that was not the case. I was buried, nose to the grindstone only coming up to breathe buried, in the work-for-hire stuff. I had 8 stories due on Sunday night. It would have only been 4 but I got the bright idea (smack me next time, will you please?) to do two different versions for them. I must be into pain, that’s all I can say. And I didn’t ask for enough money for the project which makes me mad because there is a lot of research needed. Live and learn, right?
I continue to ponder the reasons why I felt so compelled to take on this project. Yes, there are a lot of household projects we want to do (like putting in an actual yard, a new roof, new heating/AC, redo a bathroom, etc – you know – cheap stuff) and money is always useful to have. But I also can’t help but wonder if it was a bit of self-sabotage just when things were getting interesting with Plant Kid.
That idea scares me just a bit.
Well I hope you get to work on plant kid this week.
Thanks. I managed a little in long hand last night. Every little bit helps.
I think it was just life. Don’t worry too much about the underlying. Plant Kid is very much still calling to you, and you’re answering.
Thanks. I do tend to get swept up into the emotion of the moment.
We writers are mighty good at denial, distraction, avoidance and procrastination. But Plant Kid’s not gonna let you get away with it. I assure you 😉
Oh yeah! I’d follow distraction home anytime. Sigh. It is so frustrating because I really thought by the time I was this age, I’d have a little more sense of control and focus. But no. And I don’t think that’s likely to change.
Oh, everybody’s being so damn nice. I’ll just jump in and yell: self-sabotage!
Of course, I can say that since I don’t know your financial reality. So I could be *totally* wrong. But I think it anyway:>)
You are such an emotional writer (I mean that in a good-deep-courageous-honest way, *not* a hysterical-distraught way) that I think it must be appealing when a less emotionally draining (though still time-consuming and exhausting) project comes along. Especially one that might help pay a few bills.
But hey, recognizing your tendency is the first step, right?
Yeah, that’s pretty much the conclusion I came to as well. Though we do need some money. I’m glad the project has turned out to be only a third as large as it was originally and they are hiring someone else for the rest. So I’ll get some money but still be free by the end of June.
Of course the fact that we are putting in a new driveway and patio might make me look for more money jobs real soon.
The hard thing lately is realizing that it has been YEARS since I wrote a novel in straight prose. A new one. Like 15 years.
It’s daunting, isn’t it? I’m trying to get psyched up for my novel in verse later this summer, and I’m scared ____less. Much easier to take on wfh projects and be “too busy.” Hence my two new ecosystems books (though I had already determined I had to find some new assts from a financial pov when those dropped into my lap). But they’re also an easy excuse for putting off the novel in verse a little longer.
Rap my knuckles!
I keep looking at a couple of my potential novels in verse and thinking they would be easier but I know I have to try and write this book.
As of June 26th I want to be all about the novel so let me know if you want to do any “team” knuckle-rapping.
Sounds good. Maybe we could even do a co-blogging type thing? I guess we’d have to be on a similar schedule for that to work, though. Hmm…I’m going to think on it!