xerinmichellex: (film: Disney - Hipster Ariel)
...where you say you're going to sit down and untangle a plot that has gotten away from you, strip it down to the bare bones, and keep all the things you started with, because they were really good ideas and made sense, and re-build the plot from there.

But then you spend all day reading the IMDB trivia pages of Disney/Pixar movies.

(Because knowing that it took nearly a decade to make Sleeping Beauty is really important, vital information you need to know RIGHT NOW.)

(Although, that means I've got 7 years of working on The Book before worrying.)

(I don't have 7 years.)

(Psychologically, you could say that I didn't want to face the responsibility of being an adult, who has to do things in order to make a living or be productive in society; so to cope, I escaped into my childhood where I didn't have these responsibilities.)

(The truth: There were a lot of Disney posts on [livejournal.com profile] ohnotheydidnt last week.)

(And I like reading the trivia pages of movies I know.)

(And movies I've never seen before.)

(I think I need to physically remove myself from the house and all internet connections.)
xerinmichellex: (North & South - Girl/Grass)
Things I've Been Doing When I Should Be Writing:

1. Doing Logic Puzzles

For those that aren't cool and don't know what a logic puzzle is, they are the "box puzzles" where you have to match an attribute to a place/thing/person (usually) based on clues listed below. (Here: this probably explains it better than I could.) Back in grade school, these were my shit. (Also: word searches.) Screw board games (except for chess) and jigsaw puzzles, give me a logic puzzle any day. Sometimes I feel like I'm an elderly woman trapped in a 24-year-old's body, sitting at the kitchen table, doing my logic puzzles, while eating my dinner at 5 o'clock.

2. Marathoned Homeland

Thoughts on that to follow later. In a sentence: FNARR! I am going to die waiting for an episode on a week-to-week basis.

3. Following all the Goodreads/Authors Behaving Badly Drama

Every week (although now I think we're on a daily basis) there's something new and I just cannot look away. There's too many incidents to list, going all the way back to January and involving self-publishers and traditionally published authors alike. The big take away I'm getting from this: the safest thing for authors is to never, ever respond for a review. Even if the reviewer got something wrong, authors should not respond as the delicate string between the author and reviewer is stretched so tight. Just no.

(I've also gotten a not-too-favorable view of self-publishers...but I'm not going to stoke the flames of that fire.)

4. Watching the Drew Peterson Trial

We're on Day 20; the end is near. Given the evidence already presented, I believe he killed his ex-wife. (I strongly believe he killed his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson.) He's guilty of something, and I'm glad that I'm not on the jury because I'd convict him solely on that--and that his lawyers come off real slimy. I mean, come on, it's bright in the Mid-West but it isn't like the sun parked itself in the courthouse parking lot. Meanwhile the prosecution keeps getting censured by the judge. I want to shake them and say, "Stop it! You are going to lose this case for us!" I know it's a hard case to prosecute; but seriously, Prosecution, get your shit together. Anyway, I think--and I hate admitting this--it's highly unlikely the jury will convict him. And if he does get convicted, I wouldn't be surprised if the conviction gets overturned for some reason.

5. Research, Research, Research

I'm glad there is no internet police (yet) because I can only imagine the sort of trouble I'd get into when my internet history reads like Anarchy 101: "temperature to keep nitroglycerin" + "locks and lock picking" + "Haymarket Riot, Chicago" + "freight tunnels, Chicago". I've also got "Ada Lovelace" + "Analytical Engine" + "Edwardian fashion" inter-laced between my flirtations with anarchy, so maybe I'm okay. A couple days ago I got ridiculously excited that Google Maps can calculate how long a trip takes in walking time, driving time, and biking time. Currently, I'm living on the Chicago Historical Society's Encyclopedia of Chicago website.

There's a point, I believe, when researching starts hindering the writing aspect. Especially for someone like me who thinks they have to know everything because the fear of getting something wrong makes them break out into a sweat. Sometimes you just need to stop, close down Google, and actually get words down. I think I'm at this point. Which is where the title of this post comes in. All of these things have morphed from procrastination to avoidance. I'm purposefully finding any excuse that keeps me from the computer, from writing. I had this epiphany a couple days ago. Maybe recognizing my habits will help me focus and sit down and actually write. One can only hope.
xerinmichellex: (Default)
I had the sudden urge to clean my room at 5 pm yesterday. Even though my room is messy (actually it is gross; I need to be better about cleaning), the need to clean was a procrastination tool instead of being neat. I am at that point in my manuscript where I know what is next. I just cannot write it. The scene is in my head, and that's the problem. Once I push through, I'll be fine. I may not write straight to the end afterwards; but it will get my fingers tapping again.

Anyway, back to the cleaning. I tackled my desk. Nothing too extreme on the top–my computer takes up most of the space. It was the drawers that were a disaster. Fun fact: I have a habit of writing the plot of a chapter on Post-its and then storing them in my drawer once it's written. I have Post-its from three manuscripts ago--it is that bad! That was the top drawer's issue. The bottom one held all of my paychecks back when I was a Retail Whore. All of my paychecks--first pay stub to the last. $7.00 per hour to $8.20 per hour. Yes, I worked my butt off for two years, almost full time without the benefits, and only reached a dollar and twenty cents more than where I started. Never mind I didn't get my first raise (not including minimum wage going up) three months before I quit. Me, bitter? It felt awesome to shred those suckers-with-a-"F".

I should have taken before and after shots )

I don't feel anymore organized than I did the day before. Quite possibly because I sit adjacent to my dresser that's covered in make-up products and perfumes. That'll be this weekend. Along with dusting and vacuuming and anything else I stumble upon. Also, I have three jewelry boxes and a bag full of coins that could find a home at the bank and in my checking account. I gots to save all my pennies if Emilie Autumn ever decides to publicly release her book.


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