Procrastinators? Moaning Minnies? Not us IWSGers

Monthly IWSG Corner

I wrote SHASTA: Critical Mass (forthcoming) while still in Scotland; now what?

I woke up and realized it was IWSG time, with no blog up on the net, and Wednesday already half over in New Hampshire, New Jersey and New Brunswick; banks and all sleepyheads dead to the world in Europe, and who knows how many early birds up-‘n’-at-em in the Orient, Singapore, and at least three-quarters of Australia. So that makes me the late bird, with very few worms to catch.

A big ‘thank you’ to those lovelies on this great Alex-led circuit who read my last post and shared their thoughts. As a peripheral here—until my wifi and life rearrange themselves—I do appreciate input from other writers who have gone through major change. Helps to know I may still be on some kind of writing track—though some days I wonder…

One blogger bravely pointed out that living in the Pacific-NW’s beauty is a major issue in her writing. I agree. Ocean vistas squeeze into our awareness amazingly dauntingly stunningly grandiose dreams and thoughts, into a space where they don’t seem like dreams any more: it’s more like manifestation-in-process, where previously ‘stuck’ items start to feel less part of the procrastination process, more physically do-able.

That doesn’t mean I can balance my books or keep track of stuff in the ‘real’ world—I had to be told about soaring Alaskan temperatures, San Francisco gridlock—but I feel more comfortable in my skin, less ‘on the road’ gypsy. If my Muse will just let down her hair a little, then maybe my writing will, too.

With such new energy comes Schadenfreude, though: the Germanic bipolar word for ‘happy-sadness’, some say a longing, for what we left behind. All writers know what I’m talking about. Stressed, hyper, or super-relaxed and cool, we get to write about what moves us. And who could not be blessed by an ocean which stretches half way across the planet and brings new ideas/inspiration each day? But oh, those little whispers of past times, of places been to in a previous existence. Are they to become part of the next novel, perhaps?

Mary, Mary Quite Contrary

Mary changes with Nature and seasons

Mary, Mary, quite contrary
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockle shells
And pretty maids all in a row
Traditional

Contrarily, I wrote ‘SHASTA: Critical Mass‘—forthcoming from AllThingsThatMatter Press—mostly while I lived in Scotland, with occasional visits to California. Now, one of that state’s 38 million residents, does that give me license to wax eloquent on my Caledonian heritage, or, as Mary might suggest, branch out like Alex and… project myself into space? Always a sci-fi addict, I am seriously tempted.

But it seems I have work to do first. And not the fun stuff—the other.

My wonderful editor who held my hand throughout 2012 during ‘Shasta‘ line edits and finals, house move crazies, etc., signed me off while surrounded by packing cases; so I blessed my good fortune and got on with house repair and plumbing permits—wipes brow. Now, several months down the line, it seems my publisher and editor weren’t totally on the same page… Guess who now has to find not only the will but the way to switch back into chop-and-slice mode, instead of what I really want to do, which is WRITE?

Schadenfreude must also mean no rest for the wicked. That, too, has a contrary feel to it. I remind myself that ‘wicked’ in trendy Brit-speak actually means ‘have fun’.

Wish me luck.
©2013 Marian Youngblood