It’s Friday morning. Time to write the blog. And nobody’s home. My head, as Professor Higgins would say, is full of “cotton, hay, and rags.”
Sunshine has come to Seattle if not wholesale summer. The clear skies are beautiful, but that means it’s colder, too. Just ask the goldfish who are hiding out under the rock in the fish pond. At least I HOPE that’s where they are. If not, that means some marauding creature has been sneaking into the yard at night and chowing down.
This is the part of being a writer that is tough. I am working on a book that isn’t quite coming into focus. There is no one else who can wave a magic wand and fix it. It’s the old, “If it is to be, it is up to me” program.
And so, although there’s sunlight outside, the golf clubs will stay in the garage for the time being.
When people say to me, “Being a writer must be SO exciting,” they don’t see this part. They see it as being out in front of people; speaking; signing books; being a star. This is the part that’s all about being at home with my butt in a chair and my fingers on a keyboard. Exciting? I don’t think so.
One footnote to last week’s blog. We went to Spokane for our granddaughter’s gymnastics meet. Ten year-old Audrey came away as the All Around Champion in her age group and was Number 1 of ANY AGE in the vault. We were right in front of the vault station, so we got to see that up close, but our seats were all the way across the gym and cornerwise from the bars, so although we could see some of her bars performance, it was from a distance.
Audrey dismounts at the State finals in Spokane.
Yesterday my daughter sent a photo that the professional photographer took as Audrey dismounted from the bars. She is horizontal and at least ten feet above the ground. Her toes are pointed; legs straight. The expression on her face is serene, as though floating in air is her natural habitat.
In a way, that one captured moment, is a lot like writing. It looks easy. It looks fun. It looks . . . well . . .exciting. But what doesn’t show are all the hours of work and practice that went into it. All the mealtimes that had to get moved around in order to get to the gym. All the parental time and effort that went into making it all possible.
Yes, we were and are very proud of Audrey. Yes, we cheered like crazy, but in the end, if it is to be, it was and is up to HER!
There’s a lesson in that for all of us.
It is fun for me being a grandmother too! I only have one grandson, who is now 14 and I have always enjoyed his company. He is working hard to get his eagle scout achievement, and is earning money to go to the national Jamboree in Wash. DC this summer, and the camp in West Virginia. He has been painted the fence for my neighbor – so she can put her horse property on the market. What a job – using asphalt paint – as it’s a dirty job, and has taken lots of hours. But he is doing a good job. He is also mowing our acre and her so things are looking good here.
I have enjoyed listening to you, and reading your books. I am a friend of Wally and Penny Hume, and I know they enjoy your company. Cheers, Marilyn
So glad I read your blog post this morning. I’m sitting looking out at the beautiful river and clear blue skies, and wondering if the projects I’m working on are ever going to come into focus. It is great to have this reminder that this in-between time is part of the process of writing…and other creative and life processes as well. Thank you for putting it so succinctly. Need to get some energy moving in other areas of my life in order for the blocks to be broken down. Heading off for a yoga class, then a long walk, and trust that, when the time is right, and when I’m patient with myself and just put pen to paper or hands to keyboard, something will begin screaming to get out, and then it will flow. In the meantime, I’m chewing on ideas, jotting down notes, and trying to remember where I left my characters. Enjoy the beauty of your day up north. And thank you again. It feels like too much caffeine, even though I haven’t had any yet. I think Penny Pearce calls it the heebie jeebies…that feeling and energy that is stirring within us before they work their way up to our consciousness. Not so pleasant, but part of the deal. Have a beautiful day.
She’s beautiful!
I would love to be able to write like you do but don’t think I could! I would reach a blank wall or lose the suspense that you seem master so well! I admire your writing skills! Keep on doing what you do! A blank wall for you is just a pause that refreshes!
Hi! I’m brand new to your blog, so this is the first post I’ve read. I love your writing, so am very excited that you’re choosing to put your butt in the chair and write some more! 🙂 It’s a gorgeous day in Michigan, too, and the sunshine and 79 degree weather are calling me outside. Maybe I can make a deal with mother nature — I’ll sit in the chair and work for another hour, then go outside with my camera. Love that you include your granddaughter in your post — is this where Alli Reynolds got her name? — and I can identify with that, too. Love to spend time at the grandkids’ concerts and ball games, to see the fruit of their work. Have a wonderful day, and enjoy the sunshine. Kathy
Your granddaughter is beautiful!! the picture is amazing, one to cherish forever…We were in Spokane last weekend at our granddaughters 14th birthday, and while there our youngest grandson’s tournament baseball team (9 and under) was winning a tournament in Yakima, they won all their games by large margins. spend about 5 days a week at the little league fields watching the 2 youngest boys play. Being a grandparent, and enjoying our grandchildren is payment for all the years of parenting!! plus they keep us YOUNG!
By the way…I really like your new website!
I’ve started watching a crime series on Netflix that is going to start it’s 3rd season on AMC next month called “The Killing”. It is an excellent show following the case each season of a Seattle Homicide Detective named Sarah Linden. Aside from the obvious ties to my favorite series of yours, JP Beaumont, one thing that strikes me every time I see the credits roll is the name of one of the actresses…Annie Corley! Hows that for a coincidence?
Anyway, love your books and blog and check out the show if you get a chance as it is really very good and not like anything else on TV right now.