Friday, December 16, 2011

What I did today

Today was spent making one Christmas present (and about four attempts of a quarter of another one). Fun, until the second present started annihilating my right hand. This took seven hours.

My mom and I decorated our Christmas tree. Looks cool, but isn't finished until I finish the presents. Sigh.

And we did all of this listening to carols. Awesome in the beginning, but by hour four it started to grate. Still, I can say that for about three hours I was pretty dang cheerful. Maybe it was that second bookmark that ruined it.

So needless to say, I didn't even look at any of my writing. I'm thinking that a few hours of this mind-numbing repetitive motion might just be good for my writing, but darn, I'm starting to feel the stirrings of frustration now, because I haven't written nearly enough.

Does it happen to you at all that you do something that has to be done, that's food for you because you're taking a break, and all you feel is annoyed?  

17 comments:

  1. It happens. I've had times where I just knew I was right to give myself a break from writing, or even blogging, but I had that nagging feeling of "Break schmake! There are no breaks in writing!".

    yeah...annoying.

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  2. Last night was the first time I've written since NaNo ended. It was a needed break, for sure. Good luck.

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  3. I so want to take you up on that offer to come and visit South Africa for next Christmas. I'd love to get some sunlight.

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  4. Sometimes, while we are away from the computer doing other things...this is a time that can be some of our best writing...in our heads.

    As writers, we are always writing, thinking, and constructing next scene in our mind. If I must work on something else, I dream up the scenes in my head while doing other tasks or work, and when I get a chance to sit down at the computer...it all just spills out onto the word doc.

    Don't feel annoyed. Use it to your advantage. I've come up with some of my best scenarios while at work.

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  5. I didn't get to write at all last weekend because of holiday goings on. I was kind of grumpy by Monday. :(

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  6. I've been in the process of selling and moving to another country. The holidays will just have to be patient. I'm still writing but I can't do everything, so I'll give myself a drink and say "ahhh" when the New Year comes.

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  7. I'm in break mode at the moment. I haven't written a word of fiction since Halloween, and while my brain is thanking me for it, I feel a tiny bit unsettled. If too much time passes without writing, I definitely get crabby. I'm looking forward to January!

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  8. I know what you mean exactly! All the time I force myself to take a break to recharge and more often than not I over think it. I end up spending the break wishing I were writing and feeling guilty, which results in a headache.

    Lol, usually I wonder if not taking a break is better! :)

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  9. So much - its like even sleeping can seem like an annoying requirement. I feel myself waiting for the clock to allow me to get up late enough for my husband not to worry, but early enough for me not go insane with waiting :) x

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  10. I take breaks because even writing can become a chore for me sometimes...but it remains at the back of my mind...eating my ears out with accusatory voices of negligence.

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  11. I force myself to take every Sunday off from writing fiction. Other breaks just happen when they happen--traveling, holidays, family requirements, etc. I try not to agonize over it.

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  12. Hi Misha,
    And humble apologies for not gracing your wonderful site with one of my 'eagerly anticipated' comments in many a while :)
    I think that Boxing Day Eve, whoops, Christmas, will be the perfect day for me to do writing.
    I think mundane tasks give one a real sense of inspiration in writing. I enjoy trying to make the most quotidian of topics, almost interesting :)
    Take good care, enjoy, have fun and happy writing.
    In kindness and respect, Gary and a bunch of 'wee folks' :)

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  13. Definitely.

    Sometimes I feel it's like I'm either chomping at the bit to write and I know I can't/shouldn't, or the story isn't working and I don't want to write but know I can/should.

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  14. Yes and no - I do feel badly for not writing, but repetitive tasks are great for following dialogue and story events in your head :-)

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  15. Absolutely! I think the more breaks you take though the better you'll fall into the routine of it and relax. I find I get so uptight i can't enjoy my relaxation time, hubby is the same. It's the same as being too tired to sleep.
    Hope you get to enjoy some quality 'me' time soon.
    BTW it was my 22nd Wedding anniversary on 16th Dec.

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  16. Ha, YES! I get so antsy when I don't write. I know I need breaks, but I'm so glad to get back to it. Good luck finishing the presents!

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  17. I'm probably weird, but when I don't get to write I get an antsy anticipation. usually this happens when I'm obligated to read a bunch of stuff and I get really motivated/inspired to write, but I still have all this work to do before I can. ah well. I kind of like the itch to write :)

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