Came from teaching my second day of classes this fall, after rushing to pick up daughter an hour and a half after her school gets out because it's too hot (really) for her to walk home almost 2 miles, so she waited in the shade until I could get to her. Arrived at same time as husband who picked up younger daughter from extended day at her school. Glanced at mail and found a thank you card from the owner (we have become friends because of the store over the many years - she is older and sort of mothers me a tiny bit when I visit the store) of the only independent children's book store in town for an article I wrote about her store in the local alt. paper I write for. I have been wandering around avoiding tears ever since. She was all mushy about the article, which was just a simple "local treasure" sort of thing. She wrote that I needed to write, write, write. That I have a talent and it needs outlets. That I need to find them and the time to pursue them.
This while my own family tends to say things about me "being on the computer" and such. Sometimes...
5 comments on The Loneliness
Thu, 09/03/2009 - 7:07pm
Isn't it great to get positive feedback? Good for you! (and good luck with the one essay per week goal!)
GEMINI Mama
Thu, 08/27/2009 - 12:00pm
It's hard to find time to work when you have a job and a family to take care of. Do you do all your writing on the computer? what really helps me is to also write in a notebook...I carry it with me and can jot things down in bits and snatches of time. it really helps me keep the flow going and feel connected to my work throughout the day. then when I do get on the computer, I know right where I'm at and can get straight to work.
another thing is a schedule. I find get much more done when I treat my writing as a job and keep to a schedule. I'm finding it hard these days to set one up, but I'm going to have to do it because I'm way behind on several projects.
just wanted to let you know I understand what you're going through. How is the Baby Moon book going?
Positive Emergence Zine | Seed & Flame
Sat, 08/29/2009 - 1:53pm
I do carry around a notebook and it really helps me capture ideas and just stay marginally happier, but I don't much enjoy making myself just type something I've already finished in a notebook so I work directly on the computer a lot too (if you could even call my writing "a lot") - the notebook is probably most helpful to me in terms of idea-catching and poetry. A schedule would be good, but never seems to make it to the top of the list.
Baby Moon is not going, of course, but thank you for the nudge! Just what I needed! See - my husband and children probably couldn't even say that I am working on a project called Baby Moon, and it's been 5 years...
Mon, 08/31/2009 - 12:24am
the only reason my husband and kids know anything at all about my writing projects, is because I'm so insistent that they be involved. I figure hey I'm all about their stuff, all about being a mama and wife and taking on the the things that are important to them, they can learn to stretch a bit inside and be inclusive of my stuff. Plus when our big girl moved out and I turned her room into my writing room (with a lock no less! joy!) and they couldn't just barge in and interrupt me, they started getting real curious about what I was doing, what I'm working on.
for Baby Moon: challenge yourself to write a page a day on it. doesn't sound like much but in a year you'll be done. Less than that because you have some of it done already. Then you'll have to edit and stuff; prune. You'll have a fine book ready for publication!
Positive Emergence Zine | Seed & Flame
Mon, 08/31/2009 - 2:22am
My goal is one essay per week, which I haven't met, but am going to try to do. I could easily finish in year if I did that. Thank you!