It still doesn't feel real!
I used to get most of my writing done during lunch breaks and the occasional downtime at work. For many reasons, writing at work was a great thing for me. I had no choice but to sit at a desk in front of a running computer all day, and if I didn’t write during my breaks, I wouldn’t have anything else to do.
I used to get most of my writing done during lunch breaks and the occasional downtime at work. For many reasons, writing at work was a great thing for me. I had no choice but to sit at a desk in front of a running computer all day, and if I didn’t write during my breaks, I wouldn’t have anything else to do.
There were a few embarrassing downsides to writing away from home. Some of my writing habits seem odd if you don’t know what I’m doing.
For example, when I have trouble describing a character’s expression, I make the same expression on my own face and describe what I did. I do the same thing with gestures. While writing at work, it was very difficult for me to keep from shrugging, gasping, or raising a skeptical eye brow at my computer.
(Oh my gosh, I totally just raised a skeptical eyebrow as I’m writing this.)
I was friendly to my co-workers, except between 12:00 and 1:00. If someone ever tried to interrupt me during my oh-so-precious lunch hour, heaven help them.
When I ran image searches, I couldn't always predict what kind of images would come up. Many times I've run what I thought was an innocent search and had to close the browser, look over my shoulder to see if anyone saw, and delete all browsing history.
When I ran image searches, I couldn't always predict what kind of images would come up. Many times I've run what I thought was an innocent search and had to close the browser, look over my shoulder to see if anyone saw, and delete all browsing history.
The worst was when a scene in my book made me emotional. I’ve choked back tears at work on more than one occasion. When I finished the rough draft to Sacred Fire, I was so happy that I walked around the office with a huge grin on my face all day long. I also get mad at my book sometimes, and no one knows why I’m suddenly so grumpy.
From now on I can be as odd as I want. I can't wait.
Only eight days before the Inspiration Collage Blogfest. Don't forget the sign up!
Only eight days before the Inspiration Collage Blogfest. Don't forget the sign up!
I also make the facial expressions and gestures that I struggle to describe. But I can't write at work so it's only the cat I get disparaging looks from!
ReplyDeleteI write at work on very rare occasion too. And I do exactly the things you're describing. I always try and hide it really fast when a coworker walks by right as I'm laughing or gasping or making faces when my characters are.
ReplyDeletebest of luck with the move, and enjoy the full-time writing thing ^_^
Good luck with your move and congrats on being able to write full-time!
ReplyDeleteI do that! I make the expressions. I make the gestures. I thought I was the only one. I'm so happy I read this!
ReplyDeleteHahaha, I second Annalisa's thoughts! We are not the only ones. Oh, I wish I could be a stay-at-home writer too! Maybe someday...
ReplyDeleteYay, I'm not a crazy person! Or at the very least, all writers are just as crazy as I am!
ReplyDeleteThat is so exciting that you will be able to write full time. And I completely know what you mean. Sometimes when I am writing in public, my face will be inches from a page where I am writing madly....only before I stop and scratch out everything I just wrote!
ReplyDeletethe-creationofbeauty.blogspot.com
Congrats, you're going to be a full time writer!
ReplyDeleteI don't write as fervently as you seem to do with all the various facial expressions and gestures that come on, but I've been told that I do make some odd facial expressions when I read, write and watch films, which makes people think that my expressions reflect my mood when they actually don't. Haha.
Sounds both exciting and scary, but then I guess all big changes are both rolled into one! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteHi,Alot of times I may be thinking about soemthing else. Maybe a scene in my book and someone else might read my facial expression as I'm angry or upset.As soon as I finish grad school I hope to get a job as a professor, then I'll be closer to being a fulltime writer. Nicolas Sparks said he started writing one page per night, at the end of the year he had a book. I've written 300 pages on Hillary Hermes and I started it last June.
ReplyDeletehttp://hillaryhermes.blogspot.com/
http://hillaryhermes.blogspot.com/
Guard that time zealously. You'll be surprised at how distractions and other people encroach, like dust
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