Top Ten Things I Learned About Being a Writer--Courtesy of Demon Baby
1. You may THINK you need peace, quiet, candles, and a nice sonata on your iPod, but you can write with oatmeal on your shirt, a naked kid doing a breakdance in your office, and the Clash on the stereo.
2. When all else fails, a break to blow soap bubbles will cure what ails you.
3. Be thankful for the little things . . . like the birds in the nest outside your window and the worms in your garden that are now on your desk courtesy of a naked kid. It keeps life in perspective. Writers need perspective.
4. Make-believe is a rockin' way to go through life.
5. Embrace life. Gulp it in. That way you'll have lots to write about.
6. Work hard. Play harder.
7. When you've had a lousy day writing, get naked. [Aside. . . sometimes it does help.]
8. Naps are for wimps.
9. Save your work. Often.
10. Never let a Demon Baby with a peanut butter sandwich close to your CPU. Same for a Demon Baby, a glass of OJ, and your keyboard.
Thoughts? What has someone ELSE taught you about being a writer?
27 comments:
I think Demon Baby is teaching us all a thing or two about writing.
Hi Stephen:
He teaches me a lot about life, that's for sure.
:-)
E
Naps are the bomb! You kidding me????
Jude;
He gave them up by 18 months old, hence I cannot take them. I used to mourn my naps. But now I just relaize I have to suck it up. Hence . . . naps are for wimps, dude. (But when he goes off to kindergarten in a year and a half, I will gladly bring them back into my life!!).
E
Don't be afraid to put a sign up on your front door that says, "I love you, but back off. I'm working on the book that will move me into a gated community." My next door neighbors love that one. :-)
Marcia:
I LIKE that! LOL!
E
This is such a cute post. Kids teach us so much.
I especially like #9...humm...wondering about the story behind that one.
Lauren:
By choice, I have my office it what SHOULD be the dining room. No doors, so I am within earshot and visual all the time. It's somewhat distracting, noise-wise, but it means I am accessible. Which also means my COMPUTER is accessible. So I save OFTEN.
:-)
E
Very cute! I have two under 6 that have added to my list. I'd like to add.. The ability to finish a sentense during a chorus of whining.
Ahem.. sentence. ;)
db at his best, i see ;)
when mine were young, i worked as an electrician, so missed most of what they did... today, i have to work around a 9-week-old pup's wants ;) lol
Things work better when it's play. Thank my kids.
Getting pissed off at the world can be motivating. My wife.
Think more, write less. Former agent.
A little optimism can go a long ways. Erica Orloff.
Tukey:
I finish sentences under all sorts of strange circumstances. :-)
E
laughingwolf:
OHHHHH!!! Nothing like puppies!!! What kind did you get?
E
Mark:
Like your list! Yes, being pissed off can sometimes make me write mean and lean. :-)
E
My four year old has done wonders for my time in the 40.
Ah - kids! Ah - three dogs! I can write with dogs barking and dropping toys at my feet and then giving me that pathetic I-love-you-you're-the-best-human look. I can write with a dog behind my chair, one under my feet and one snoring on the chair across the room. Truly the snoring is what makes me stop and realize that life is better than any book, ever.
John:
They sure have a way of keeping things real.
E
Oh gosh, it's just I try to be like a sponge, sucking up everything I can learn from everyone. To pick one person or one thing... ack!
If I had to pick one, I'd pick little kids, probably under 2nd grade (wow, we teach this out of them right quick, don't we?), and their 24/7 joy and love of learning and discovery. That unending curiosity from the moment they open their eyes until the second they fall asleep.
And another thing: that implicit trust that if a parent or teacher says they can do something, they believe it just because, and go for it until they can.
With just those two mind-sets, one can achieve a whole lot.
That daydreams and stories are not the same. Daydreams are like colorful butterflies in a flowered meadow. Stories are made up of hurricanes that change the face of the meadow so that the surviving butterflies are more beautiful for their scars than their scales.
spy:
While I was recovering, a friend came to check on me and found Demon Baby, naked, jumping on his bed like a trampoline, sheer joy on his face. Kids know how to be in the moment. They are so in touch with it.
E
Richmond:
Wow . . . deep and so true.
E
My friend, Ms. Marcia, taught me to not let criticisms kill my drive - just "write the damn story" the best I know how.
I've learned I *can't* write with Tom in the house.
(let alone a demon baby. :P)
You are not like we mere mortals.
Kath:
That Marcia is a wise one. :-)
E
Zoe:
LOL!!! It's publish or perish--Demon Baby or not.
E
I'd say I've learned from my husband that if I don't have faith in myself as a writer, no one else will. We've had many arguments about whether or not I'm wasting my time, and for me to convince him this is worthwhile, I have to actually believe it.
I have to comment on the bubbles -- I was told it's a good technique to calm an anxiety attack (something about controlling your breathing) so I totally buy that!
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