I'm not a coffee drinker, but I've developed an addiction to chai tea lattes from Starbucks. Aside from the fact that they're like a sweet and spicy cup of hot chocolate for grown-ups, the combination of caffeine and sugar wakes me up when I need it and/or gets rid of the headaches I wake up with sometimes. I suspect the headaches come from a lack of sleep, among other things.
Normally, nighttime is my time to write. Sometimes I sneak in some writing when I get home from work, either just before or just after I make and eat dinner. Most of the time, I write after my son goes to bed. I stay up until 11 p.m. or so and still wake up at 4:20 a.m. to go to the gym. That's the only time I can go, since I work all day, come home and take care of my husband and kid, and write at night.
But, lately, I've been really sleepy. I'll spend a half hour dozing at the computer, staring at the same paragraph, before I decide to go to bed early. And then, in the morning, I convince myself that my third chai latte this week won't hurt anything. (And vow that next time I'll get it with nonfat milk and skip the cranberry orange scone.)
I don't know what to do. I can't quit my day job, or stop caring for my kid, or ignore the chores that need to get done, or forego grocery shopping. (God, I'd hate to see what my husband would bring home.) I could cut out the gym or my writing, but I see both of those as essentials. As much as I hate exercising, my body needs it. It's my brain that needs the writing. *Sigh* Maybe I just need a vacation.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
The Upside to a Sick Kid
I drank a venti chai latte from Starbucks at 9:45 tonight so that I can stay up until 1 a.m. or so on a work night and write, because my son is sick and I'll be staying home with him tomorrow.
I hate to see him suffering -- he's had a fever, cough, sore throat and congestion -- but there is an upside to the break from work: more time to write at home. The downside, besides the obvious that my son is sick, is that I'll have a lot of catching up to do when I get back to the office on Wednesday.
Fortunately, my 4-year-old's fever seems to be gone. Now, if we could just get rid of the hacking cough and regain his ability to breathe. One more day at home and he ought to be germ-free enough to go back to preschool.
And then I'll be back in the office, cleaning out my e-mail inbox, getting back to news articles that I'm in the middle of researching, and planning for my next round of deadlines. It's a vicious circle.
I hate to see him suffering -- he's had a fever, cough, sore throat and congestion -- but there is an upside to the break from work: more time to write at home. The downside, besides the obvious that my son is sick, is that I'll have a lot of catching up to do when I get back to the office on Wednesday.
Fortunately, my 4-year-old's fever seems to be gone. Now, if we could just get rid of the hacking cough and regain his ability to breathe. One more day at home and he ought to be germ-free enough to go back to preschool.
And then I'll be back in the office, cleaning out my e-mail inbox, getting back to news articles that I'm in the middle of researching, and planning for my next round of deadlines. It's a vicious circle.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Disappointing Book
Today, I started reading Jennifer Egan's "A Visit From the Goon Squad," and so far it's pretty disappointing. The description of the story on the book jacket made me want to read it, but two chapters into the novel, I'm ready to give up.
The first chapter is about the main female character and the second chapter is about the main male character. Maybe I just need to keep reading, but in their introductory chapters I have seen absolutely no redeeming qualities for either of these people. The writer has given me no reason to care what happens to them, other than to see how much more of a mess they make of their lives.
However, the most frustrating issue that I have with this book is the way the writer meanders in and out of the scene. She keeps hopping around in time with both characters flashing back to various memories, including several different sessions they had with their therapists. I can't figure out if I'm in the present or the past and I can't remember where the scene she started writing left off when she brings me back to it.
It seems like my brain shouldn't have to work THAT hard to follow along. But, maybe it's just me. The writer did find an agent to represent her and a publisher to print her book, so she must've done something right. Does that mean I should keep reading and see if it gets any better?
On a happier note, I finished reading Helen Simonson's "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand" last night and it was really good. Supremely well-written with characters that I cared deeply about, with a satisfying ending. After reading something that good, it's hard to start in on a book that's less well-written. I might just get back on my YA kick and read Laurie Halse Anderson's "Wintergirls" instead.
The first chapter is about the main female character and the second chapter is about the main male character. Maybe I just need to keep reading, but in their introductory chapters I have seen absolutely no redeeming qualities for either of these people. The writer has given me no reason to care what happens to them, other than to see how much more of a mess they make of their lives.
However, the most frustrating issue that I have with this book is the way the writer meanders in and out of the scene. She keeps hopping around in time with both characters flashing back to various memories, including several different sessions they had with their therapists. I can't figure out if I'm in the present or the past and I can't remember where the scene she started writing left off when she brings me back to it.
It seems like my brain shouldn't have to work THAT hard to follow along. But, maybe it's just me. The writer did find an agent to represent her and a publisher to print her book, so she must've done something right. Does that mean I should keep reading and see if it gets any better?
On a happier note, I finished reading Helen Simonson's "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand" last night and it was really good. Supremely well-written with characters that I cared deeply about, with a satisfying ending. After reading something that good, it's hard to start in on a book that's less well-written. I might just get back on my YA kick and read Laurie Halse Anderson's "Wintergirls" instead.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Two Weeks? Where Did the Time Go?
When I started this blog, I intended to write something here everyday. Now, I try to check in a few times a week. But, as of today, it's been two weeks since I stopped by.
The good news is that I've been reading and writing like crazy. I finished reading my completed novel, but I need to go back and make some cuts in the first half, I think. For my other big work in progress, I've been writing like mad, so I'm about two-thirds or maybe three-fifths of the way through the story. I know how it will end and how I'm going to get there. When I do, that's when I'll go back and fix all of the big glaring problems that I didn't notice the first time through.
I've been reading lots of other things too. I finished Carrie Ryan's "The Forest of Hands and Teeth," which was extremely well written, but very dark and depressing. It's almost hard to believe it's a YA novel. I can't imagine a 14-year-old girl reading it.
I've also been slowly reading Anne Lamott's "Traveling Mercies," which is basically a series of essays about her non-traditional path in the Christian faith. It's not the kind of book I would typically read -- I was baptized Methodist, confirmed Lutheran and now probably would describe myself as an agnostic -- but I do appreciate her often touching and frequently funny prose, as I did in her book on writing, "Bird by Bird." Now I want to read one of her novels to see what she does with fiction as opposed to memoir.
And then, this weekend, I got lucky when I went to the library and found the novel that my book club is reading, Helen Simonson's "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand." It's one of those books that I can only check out for a week and can't renew, so I'm rushing to read it by next Saturday. I also picked out "A Visit From the Goon Squad," by Jennifer Egan, which is due on Saturday as well. I don't think I'm going to read be able to read both books before they're due, unless I don't work on writing my own, but I'm going to try.
The good news is that I've been reading and writing like crazy. I finished reading my completed novel, but I need to go back and make some cuts in the first half, I think. For my other big work in progress, I've been writing like mad, so I'm about two-thirds or maybe three-fifths of the way through the story. I know how it will end and how I'm going to get there. When I do, that's when I'll go back and fix all of the big glaring problems that I didn't notice the first time through.
I've been reading lots of other things too. I finished Carrie Ryan's "The Forest of Hands and Teeth," which was extremely well written, but very dark and depressing. It's almost hard to believe it's a YA novel. I can't imagine a 14-year-old girl reading it.
I've also been slowly reading Anne Lamott's "Traveling Mercies," which is basically a series of essays about her non-traditional path in the Christian faith. It's not the kind of book I would typically read -- I was baptized Methodist, confirmed Lutheran and now probably would describe myself as an agnostic -- but I do appreciate her often touching and frequently funny prose, as I did in her book on writing, "Bird by Bird." Now I want to read one of her novels to see what she does with fiction as opposed to memoir.
And then, this weekend, I got lucky when I went to the library and found the novel that my book club is reading, Helen Simonson's "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand." It's one of those books that I can only check out for a week and can't renew, so I'm rushing to read it by next Saturday. I also picked out "A Visit From the Goon Squad," by Jennifer Egan, which is due on Saturday as well. I don't think I'm going to read be able to read both books before they're due, unless I don't work on writing my own, but I'm going to try.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Done ... Sort Of
I finished reading my completed novel for what was going to be the last time for a while, but I determined that I need to go back and make substantial cuts in the first half of the book. It still feels like there's too much going on up front and it's taking too long to get to some of the big scenes toward the end. It did feel good to get to the end again, though.
On book no. 2 (It used to be book no. 3 or 4 until I stopped working on books 2 or 3 for a while. Actually, book no. 1 was the third book I started, but the first one I finished. I think.) my momentum is slowing. I know where I want to go, but I'm at a midpoint where I'm struggling with connecting the first half to the second half. I'm building up to my big turning point, so I'm thinking about that scene and having a hard time focusing on what leads up to the big event. I know I'll get there eventually. I just have to keep at it.
I also started reading my library book, "The Forest of Hands and Teeth" by Carrie Ryan. It's good -- dark, sad and depressing, but good. I'm anxious to get through the dark and sad part to what I hope is a somewhat happy ending. It's one of those books where you feel like, "Man, isn't this girl ever gonna catch a break?" Speaking of ...
Somehow I made it through college as an English major (with a writing emphasis, however) without reading Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre," but I saw the movie recently. As good as the movie was, it was so depressing that it kind of put me off reading the book. I've been reading so many dark stories lately that I've been looking for something good and light.
Fortunately, my book club has chosen to read "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand" by Helen Simonson, which looks like a nice, light selection. Relatively, anyway.
On book no. 2 (It used to be book no. 3 or 4 until I stopped working on books 2 or 3 for a while. Actually, book no. 1 was the third book I started, but the first one I finished. I think.) my momentum is slowing. I know where I want to go, but I'm at a midpoint where I'm struggling with connecting the first half to the second half. I'm building up to my big turning point, so I'm thinking about that scene and having a hard time focusing on what leads up to the big event. I know I'll get there eventually. I just have to keep at it.
I also started reading my library book, "The Forest of Hands and Teeth" by Carrie Ryan. It's good -- dark, sad and depressing, but good. I'm anxious to get through the dark and sad part to what I hope is a somewhat happy ending. It's one of those books where you feel like, "Man, isn't this girl ever gonna catch a break?" Speaking of ...
Somehow I made it through college as an English major (with a writing emphasis, however) without reading Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre," but I saw the movie recently. As good as the movie was, it was so depressing that it kind of put me off reading the book. I've been reading so many dark stories lately that I've been looking for something good and light.
Fortunately, my book club has chosen to read "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand" by Helen Simonson, which looks like a nice, light selection. Relatively, anyway.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Temptation
I know I should be using every free minute I have to write and edit, but today I picked up the book I put on hold at the library -- "The Forest of Hands and Teeth" by Carrie Ryan -- and I'm dying to read it.
The problem is, it's a series. So, when I'm done with the first book, if I love it I'm going to have to read the next two books, "The Dead-Tossed Waves" and "The Dark and Hollow Places." Aren't those great titles? I wish that titles and headline-writing were strengths of mine, but I digress.
I got in a few hours each on Saturday and Sunday to edit and write this weekend. Progress of any kind is always good. Especially, in the case of my finished book, since I cut several pages. I feel like I need to cut another 30 pages or so. I'm probably going to have to go back to the beginning to really make some more sizable cuts.
My second book is humming along nicely too. Still feels like it's pouring out of my fingertips. I keep writing little bits for later in the story in the journal I keep in my purse.
It seems like I go for months without putting anything in my writing journal and then all of a sudden I'm writing something in it every day. I need to go back and read some of the book ideas I've written down. I haven't done that in a while, but when I do I look at some of them and wonder what I was thinking. At least it's entertaining, I guess.
The problem is, it's a series. So, when I'm done with the first book, if I love it I'm going to have to read the next two books, "The Dead-Tossed Waves" and "The Dark and Hollow Places." Aren't those great titles? I wish that titles and headline-writing were strengths of mine, but I digress.
I got in a few hours each on Saturday and Sunday to edit and write this weekend. Progress of any kind is always good. Especially, in the case of my finished book, since I cut several pages. I feel like I need to cut another 30 pages or so. I'm probably going to have to go back to the beginning to really make some more sizable cuts.
My second book is humming along nicely too. Still feels like it's pouring out of my fingertips. I keep writing little bits for later in the story in the journal I keep in my purse.
It seems like I go for months without putting anything in my writing journal and then all of a sudden I'm writing something in it every day. I need to go back and read some of the book ideas I've written down. I haven't done that in a while, but when I do I look at some of them and wonder what I was thinking. At least it's entertaining, I guess.
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