Writing

Must All Artists Be Mad?

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Let’s begin deconstructing the stigmas and stereotypes about artists. Here’s one – not all artists write all night. Many sleep instead.

Nor are most people able to write a novel while on their lunch break at their 9-5 job. In fact, most artists are better off working hours that are not 9-5.

To back me up I direct your attention to the article below, “Why Creative People Shouldn’t Work 9 to 5”

http://www.mnn.com/money/green-workplace/blogs/why-creative-people-shouldnt-work-9-to-5

*Please note, I do not agree with this article’s use of the term ‘creative people’. I firmly believe that everyone is creative. This article, however, is talking about the artist, a specific kind of creative person.*

When The Internet Seems Unhelpful

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I haven’t been on my schedule lately because, as with most people, a holiday, even one you only sorta celebrate, brings a whole lot.  A whole lot of people, food, board games, social outings, talking, hiking, and drinking.

This is just a pop in to say that when the internet seems unhelpful or unfriendly or full of terrible comments and ads, I like to read the Chicago Writer’s Conference Facebook page.  Whoever they have running it is a beautiful curator of writing and reading related information.  I am so glad I found their conference by chance and continue to be apart of their goings on.

https://www.facebook.com/ChicagoWritersConference

Off the Grid, Just a Little

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I spent the weekend without wifi.  Is this even possible you ask?  Well I was house sitting and had forgotten to get the password.  Rather then be a pest, calling to ask for the wifi password, I decided to go without, thinking it might help me write.  Which it did, sort of.  What I really did was:

  • Checked my phone every ten minutes out of habit, even though nothing had refreshed.
  • Had the constant feeling I was missing something important.  What if my friends were getting together and talking about it on facebook?  And I missed the whole thing because I couldn’t log on?  What if they didn’t think to text or call me but instead decided I didn’t want to be friends with them any longer?
  • I tried logging on every seemingly open network.  They were all password protected at some point or another.  What happened to the days when one could easily mooch wifi because no one thought to have a password?  Now everyone watches their broadband, not wanting anything to slow up their Netflix streaming.
  • I felt bored and a bit listless.  I couldn’t research anything.  I couldn’t post blogs entries or check my email or look for job postings.  I couldn’t sell clothes online or tweet or put filters on Instagram photos.
  • I read more, wrote more, went to bed earlier, and didn’t watch terrible TV.  I felt a refreshing distance from the outside world for the first time in a long time.  My phone sat quietly.  I left it out on the balcony and forgot about its existence for a couple of hours.  I was ok.

Sometimes What You Need is a Kick in the Pants

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I’ve been working on this being-a-serious-writer thing for a few months now.  I tell everyone to leave me alone!  I have to get some serious writing done! (Serious meaning committed here.  I write comedy).  Only I haven’t actually been writing, apart from blog posts, journaling, and an occasional book review.  My novel languishes, the first chapter written to death and the rest in desolate neglect.

What I need is a kick in the pants.  Something to jump start this whole novel.  CPR for half finished books.  And, while zoning out on the internet (“working”) I found just that thing!  A writing convention.

Of course!  It’s so simple.  Every conference I go to leaves me rejuvenated, refreshed, and ready to churn out some pages.  Only this isn’t a two day conference near my hometown.  Oh no, this is the big time.  The Romantic Times Booklovers Convention in Dallas – almost a full week of workshops, parties, pitches, and more parties, some with costumes.

I gleefully took the first step and registered. Apparently I am super late and the main hotel is sold out and the backup hotel only had one option left but I am staying positive that it’ll all work out somehow!  My writing won’t know what hit it.