Saturday, August 22, 2009

Trying to kick the doldrums to the curb...

Happy weekend, all. Sorry I haven't blogged much lately (and some of you have mentioned it...you know who you are!)

I'm attempting to fight the doldrums today. Life threw me a curve ball this morning. I'd been looking forward (all week) to attending a writing seminar on Sunday. I'd made plans to check into the hotel early today (Sat) and have a mini-writing getaway without distractions, then attend the seminar all day tomorrow.

Enter reality: the instructor had a family emergency and had to cancel the event. While I still enjoy mini-weekends away (even if in my same city) to write and relax, I wasn't up to doing it this time unless the seminar happened. It's a quiet weekend around our house, and I could just as easily write here (without paying $ for every Diet Coke I consume, which, when writing, is a lot).

Financially, all money will be refunded so I'm not worried. It's just that I'd been super excited about this one, and now it won't happen. He's booked for the next year w/seminars (none of which come back near my area) so it may be a long time before I get to attend this one workshop.

Nuther sigh. Well, let's just say it right now. BIG SIGH. Whine. Sigh. Whine some more.

But this moan-and-groan post is serving one purpose: I am disappointed that I will not be spending 9-10 hours on Sunday sitting in a writing workshop. What's the plus side of this? I am a person who actually would enjoy giving up 1 day on my weekend to do this. Which is another stroke of reality that writing is my calling--whether publication happens or not.

I've had to attend all kinds of snore-fest seminars for my day job(s) over the years. If one of those got cancelled, I would be doing cartwheels across America. But one which I *want* to go to gets cancelled, and I'm suddenly Mrs. Eeyore. (and yes, some of you say I can be stubborn as a mule too, so no jokes!)

So...it's 1:40 pm. I have time left today to write/edit my mess of a current manuscript, and that's what I intend to do. The Eeyore part of me wants to crawl away and hide somewhere, but I can't let life's curve balls stop me. Got to keep moving forward, yanno?

The last few days have been quite productive (as I anticipated the weekend, of course!) but I need to keep up the pace. Always take time to relax and lick the wounds when needed, but always continue the work.

Nuff said. Now go write!

Elaine

5 comments:

David Hunter said...

I feel the same way, got the doldrums. Maybe it's the rain.

You are really lucky, I can't seem to get away long enough to GO to a writers conference...if there ever ARE any here in this little backwater town I call Toronto.

Keep your chin up and keep writing, it's all we can do to keep sane.

Take care.

Anonymous said...

Hi checking in on you . . . hope you're writing away and being a Tigger by now !! And remember:

You won't finish it, if you don't begin it.

Terry

The Writers Canvas, Author Elaine Calloway said...

Thanks David. Helps to know other writers face the same thing.

You're right. I heard somewhere that writing is an act of courage. And we all just need to keep showing up at the keyboard to get those words on paper :)

Thx for commenting,
Elaine

The Writers Canvas, Author Elaine Calloway said...

Thanks for commenting and checking on me, Terry! I'm less of an Eeyore now and more toward Tigger. Not in complete bounce-mode yet, but getting there :))))

Thx!
Elaine

Willena said...

Do you feel better now that you got that out of your system?

How did the re-writes go? Were you able to write all day?

I'm torn between writing and grading the homework of many lazy students, so I'm in the doldrums myself.