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Yetzirah

Where's the Wizard of Oz When You Need Him?
Sat Nov 15 2003

This novel writing business is the wildest ride I have ever been on.

One day I absolutely hate what I am writing. I can’t see the story coming together or making any sense to anyone else. I think the premise is shaky and I definitely do NOT have the skills necessary to tell any kind of story.

The next day, (usually in the bathtub) I figure out some problem in the plot, or find the motivation for certain actions. And get a glimpse of the big picture and think.….this MIGHT actually work! I start to like the story again, and go off to make some notes for the next day’s work.

So I think I have writer’s schizophrenia. (It took me 5 minutes to figure out how to spell that word.) That’s how people GET that mental disorder. One day they try to spell it . . .then they get it.

I love it, I hate it. But I keep writing it. Even though I am practically a tea totaller, I can see now why some authors drink. It’s to get past the scary part where you want to throw the whole mess in the wastebasket and get on with your life as a failed novelist right away. It’s just too agonizing to work toward the end of the story thinking you might end up running it through the shredder so no one ever sees the drivel you wrote.

As a matter of fact, at the end of one of my dialogs yesterday, I typed in the word DRIVEL in caps at the end of it. (Shameless word padding?)
So take a word off my word count on the NaNo site, be my guest!

Yes, yes. I am a little grouchy. And it’s beginning to feel like labor pains writing this story ! All women get a little grouchy when they are in labor. Don’t mess with her in the last phase, she is a dangerous woman right then.

But since I don’t drink, I have no handy dandy stress reliever around.
So I write this stuff here instead and subject you to all my insecurities.

Sorry.

But hey, look at it this way. You are keeping a woman on the straight and narrow and out of the liquor cabinet!

Just think, you are a “good deed doer!” (The Wizard of Oz couldn’t spell filanthropyst either.)

[album 65561 infofrankmorgan.jpg]

Where’s that Grapefruit soda? I need a good stiff belt right now.


10 Comments
  • From:
    Sambam427 (Legacy)
    On:
    Fri Nov 14 2003
    I love the wizard of oz!! it's my favorite movie :)...but ya i was wondering how you add pictures to your entries?? like the one of the wizard? also do u know how to add links to the menu bar? im kind of new to this whole journal thing. thanks.
    *sam*
  • From:
    Sambam427 (Legacy)
    On:
    Fri Nov 14 2003
    I love the wizard of oz!! it's my favorite movie :)...but ya i was wondering how you add pictures to your entries?? like the one of the wizard? also do u know how to add links to the menu bar? im kind of new to this whole journal thing. thanks.
    *sam*
  • From:
    Pragmatist (Legacy)
    On:
    Fri Nov 14 2003
    I can't relate to your labor pains because I've never aspired to be a novelist. An essay now and then, and I'm really good at putting reports together. Y'know, gathering data, and making sense of it all. But a novel? Nah.

    But write on, Kiddo. Dr. Rubber Duckie is a pretty good consultant.

    Shabbat Shalom
  • From:
    Rainee (Legacy)
    On:
    Fri Nov 14 2003
    You're doing great! Keep it up! You can do it! Yay! **Rainee cartwheels away**

    Seriously, I do think you're doing a good job. You're keeping right up with the word count, and that's what counts right now. (Or so I keep telling myself!)

    I'm the same as you -- one day I HATE HATE HATE my story, and the next day I love it. We all go through those labor pains, I guess.

    Anyway, I'd better get back to my novel. I just hit 20,000, so I still have some catching up to do.

    Rainee, who is currently not stressing out about finishing
  • From:
    AeolianSolo (Legacy)
    On:
    Fri Nov 14 2003
    You're doing fine. But... um...>>ahem<< it's actually spelled "teetotaler". Apparently it's from the Temperance Movement of the 19th century and refers not to tea but to the total abstinance from alcohol. But (not wishing to incur the wrath of the Great and Powerful Yetzirah) pay no attention to the man behind the dictionary!!!

    --Solo
  • From:
    RealmOfRachel (Legacy)
    On:
    Fri Nov 14 2003
    You do make me laugh Yetz, especially the part about schizophrenia. I think you have a viable theory on why authors alongside doctors and teachers have the highest rate of substance abuse. It's too true, folow the yellow brick road Dorothy! Never surrender you may not be hppy with what your writing but I think a big part of that process is the fact that you recognise that which is sometimes more important than getting it right first time.

    You can do it!
    Rach xxxx
  • From:
    BillyTeabags (Legacy)
    On:
    Sat Nov 15 2003
    That sounds like quite the series of ups and downs. It's normal to second guess yourself with these sorts of things. Especially during something as massive a scale as a novel.
    I can't do anything creative when I drink. I usually get all tired and sulk on the couch.
  • From:
    DeirdreGail (Legacy)
    On:
    Sat Nov 15 2003
    Very cool that you're writing a book! I think writers tend to drink because the alcohol relieves inhibition, so they write whatever comes to mind instead of agonizing over it (like you are!). lol.

    Good luck with the book!
  • From:
    Bookworm (Legacy)
    On:
    Sat Nov 15 2003
    You *know* you sound perfectly normal to me. Ha ha, he he. ;-)
  • From:
    Sezrah (Legacy)
    On:
    Sun Nov 16 2003
    hehe, you're doing so well, i know i couldn't handle that kind of pressure!

    sez