Welcome
readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!
We're
glad you're here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we
celebrate IWSG Day in the form of a
blog hop featuring members and guests of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you,
Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a comfortable place
to share views and literary news as we record our journeys. Check out the May newsletter here.
The awesome co-hosts for this month’s posting
of the IWSG are Victoria Marie
Lees, Kim Lajevardi, Nancy Gideon, and Cathrina Constantine!
Today’s
entirely optional question: How do you deal with
distractions when you are writing? Do they derail you?
May is
“Get Caught Reading Month,” and I don’t mind that at all. I’ve already read 18
books so far this year, though that’s a little behind the norm for me ;-) How
many have you read so far?
I don’t
get derailed, per se. But I do get distracted. Especially when a scam caller
calls back after I hung up on him – to apologize for being disconnected. Or
when the washer gets off-balanced and threatens to waddle noisily out of the
laundry room like it has someplace else to be.
Part
of my process is writing quick paragraphs about characters, scenes, or the
storyline in general to expound on and refer to as the story comes to life. With advanced notice of a pending distraction (not to be confused with disaster, like that time the dog dragged the garden hose in through the dog door – while the water was on), I sometimes have the foresight to jot down my train of thought before I dash away from my desk. Once, I drove myself crazy for more than a
week, wondering about the significance of five letters strung together in a
desperate attempt to spell something. “Foonk” remained a mystery until my
daughter reminded me she used that “word” for a plastic spoon/fork combination
she used for meals in her highchair way, way back in the day. Of course! Where
I left off in the story, a member of a homeless camp had been ‘caught’ with a
camping tool that had every utensil a person might want to use at mealtime at
your fingertips. One man’s dangerous weapon is another man’s foonk ;-)
So,
how’s your journey going?
 |
| I love springtime! |
Yes, it's important to get ideas down so we don't forget them when we run off to so something else. And I'd run off immediately if my dog dragged a hose into the house. Yikes!
ReplyDeleteIndeed. I hadn't described the "weapon" yet and could have gone anywhere with the idea, but I didn't want to lose the one I already had ;-) Have a wonderful May, Natalie!
DeleteFoonk would really confuse me.
ReplyDeleteFunny story about the dog and the hose!
Lucky for me, I was there when the word was introduced to the universe ;-)
DeleteSilly dog still loves a garden hose, but we boarded up the dog door - post haste.
Happy May, Captain!
I loved your stories. Thanks for telling them today.
ReplyDeletehttps://cleemckenziebooks.substack.com/p/writer-derailed
Aw, thanks Lee. Good to see you!
DeleteOMG ~ the dog and the hose. I can just imagine the disaster! I'm sorry, but I'm laughing! Your whole post was funny! I love spring too, Diedre, and lilacs are my favorite flower. Happy spring toy you!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed, my dear! Thank you for coming by.
DeleteIt wasn’t a dog, but my son angled a hose into a window well. The water ran for hours before I noticed the inches on water in the basement.
ReplyDeleteOh no!
DeleteAs old as this house is, I'm still glad you can tell (hear) when water is running anywhere on the property. Finding out where the water is on is sometimes a challenge ;-)
Thanks for co-hosting!
What a great post, Diedre! So funny. And love "get caught reading" month. What a great idea. The lavender color flowering tree is beautiful. All best to you!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Victoria. I'm glad you enjoyed. The picture is of my pride & joy Jacaronda tree. I wasn't even sure it would flourish here in Arizona as it is native to Africa. So I am delighted every time it blooms ;-)
DeleteThank you for co-hosting!