Don't call it a come back; I've been here for days.
Just not on the internet.
As often happens, the holiday and vacation time came with nearly as many obligations and crises as they did moments of relaxation and enjoyment, and both my writing and my social networking suffered for it.
It's always interesting, though, when I finally get a moment to reflect from a writer's perspective. Of the crises, a small handful were "real." (The transmission on my wife's car failed, for instance.) Most of them, however, were "self-created." (Frustration over lack of getting done things I wanted to, for example, or facing the bleak specter of returning to work.)
Thing is, the emotional hook is far stronger on the latter sort. We still don't have the transmission taken care of and are utterly unsure what we're going to do about that. But we made it home safely, there was nothing terribly frightening the car dying at 55MPH on the highway, and we will figure out how to manage the repair (or not) in due time. I'm worried about it, but there isn't a heavy impact of that worry on my day.
On the other hand, I'm still stressed over how little I got done, and I have to actively stop myself from feeling hopeless about the job, where we're living, etc. That's where the real tension is. That's the stuff that really has me in a bind, that is shaping my character on a minute-by-minute basis and having a direct impact on what I do and how I behave.
So, to all us genre writers: you know those literary stories where "nothing happens"?
That's why.
Because in real life, inner turmoil is often way more powerful than hijinks and adventure in a place filled with wonder.
.Nevets.
Then again, I just got an e-mail that a cousin's cabin in Alaska burned down last night. She, her husband, and her baby were not home and are safe, but really shaken and they lost absolutely everything in the fire.
ReplyDelete...sometimes there's drama in stuff happening, too.
So true, about the kinds of things that tend to weigh us down. And nicely tied to the stories where "nothing happened." Over the weekend, I've been browsing for books and reading reviews. It turns out quite a percentage of the books that attract me has this critique--nothing happens/so slow--given.
ReplyDeleteSorry about your cousin. That sounds traumatic.
You sound really low, Nevets. And I'm so sorry about your cousin's cabin. But I've missed your cheery bloggings (and I'm sure I'm not the only one)!
ReplyDeleteYou're right. Sometimes the most excitement happens when there is no action and just words or thoughts... sorry, I just got distract. I saw a whale shooting water out of it's blowhole out my hotel window. Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteCD
Thanks, everyone, my cousin and her family will be staying with her parents and they will be okay. It's definitely a shock and a hard adjustment, but if anyone can handle it with rugged determination, it's Alaskans.
ReplyDelete@B - Doumo.
@Yat-Yee - It's funny. I often gravitate towards books with a lot going on and then skip or skim all the parts where stuff is going on because it bores me.
@Frances - I probably am low, and will try to dig myself out of that. :)
@Clarissa - haha Well done. :-D
I'm sorry to hear about your cousin! I'm glad she and her family will be okay.
ReplyDeleteLiterary fiction can be an interesting read; I don't mind books where "nothing" is happening, since sometimes a break from the action and plot twists can be a good change.
You describe well the frustrations that I'm sure most writers - the ones that need to do other jobs - feel on a daily basis.
ReplyDeleteI cope by keeping my eye on the "prize" and being zen about the day-job.
@G'Eagle - I once read an entire Tom Clancy novel, skipping everything but the dialogue and inner reflection.
ReplyDelete@Michael - Yeah, I'll post more on how I get through tonight or tomorrow. The problem with vacations is that they break up that whole zen rhythm with the day job.
ReplyDeleteWow, great post there at the end about nothing happening outside of the inner turmoil. So true! I really hope you figure out what to do with the transmission.
ReplyDeleteFunny you mention "nothing going on" because the one story I started writing recently was pretty much just that. I put it aside thinking no one but myself would want to read it because it is mostly inner conflict. But maybe I should have another go at it. Keep on truckin' Nevets.
ReplyDelete@Michelle - Thanks!
ReplyDelete@Scott - Inner conflict is great! Pick it back up! :) And you truck on, as well, sir.
Mister C.N. Nevets, I am alarmed to hear that life is giving you so much flak. Hang on and remember to breathe. That totally sucks about your cousin. About 15 years ago, one of my cousins showed up at my door in the middle of the night. "My apartment building burned down!" She'd gone home after working the late shift, and all her stuff no longer existed.
ReplyDeleteLiterary = nothing going on except inner turmoil. Lol! Thank you for making my day!
ReplyDeleteI had a conversation with a poet at the library recently who told me that my poetry must not be good literature because I had only been published at web-zines and in a college newspaper. Those don't count as "real" publishing credits, according to her. Plus, a "real" poet would never write stories or a blog, or anything mundane.
AAGh! Sorry. Just letting some of my "literary" inner angst out.
I hope your car gets fixed soon, and your living situation gets better. I live in an old house with lots of fixer upper problems, so I get the frustration.
I'm glad that your cousin's family is ok and they have a good place to go during a real life drama.
Hoping your day gets better today.
@Mr. Bailey - Thank you, sir. Remembering that breathing thing definitely does not come naturally. And, yeah, I like to think I'm not materialistic jerk, but I think I'd be in compelte chock if everything was gone, just like that.
ReplyDelete@Tryean - Glad to help make your day! :) Goodness, people and their rules for authenticity. Your poet if you write poems and call yourself a poet.
Anytime you want to let out literary angst over here, you're welcome to. If there's one thing that the Nevetsverse is comfortable with its angst.
Thanks again, Tyrean. I need to catch up on some of your posts and help remind myself of those blessings.
It's also nice to see an L.L. Cool J reference.
ReplyDelete@Scott - I'm that type of guy.
ReplyDeleteBecause in real life, inner turmoil is often way more powerful than hijinks and adventure in a place filled with wonder.
ReplyDeleteYou're preachin' to the choir, my brother.
I too am so sorry to hear about your cousin and their loss- so glad they weren't home and hope they have lots of help from family and friends in rebuilding.
~bru
If there's one thing that the Nevetsverse is comfortable with its angst.
ReplyDeleteSee, I'd call it the Nevetsphere...it just rolls off the tongue (Imagine the marketing..."Visit the Nevetsphere! Now with its own gravitational pull!")
@Bru - hahaha Does have a ring to it.
ReplyDelete