Buffalo Gal

I'm grinding away brutally at $6,000 of orthodonthia every time she reopens her mouth.
I've told her several times it would not be practical to keep an "Open House" sign pointing to our place at all times during the day. There is more than a semantic difference between writing from home and being home.
But she's a real estate agent and it's her job to sell the house. I'm a writer and it's my job to... what is it writers do?
The simple answer "write" doesn't seem to be doing it. She can talk on the phone, drive and write her grocery list at 30 m.p.h.. I can't get up from the computer to answer the door?
Thus I am an alleged professional wordsmith unable to find the most basic terms to communicate this concept to her.
I explain it's not like needlepoint, you can not pick it up and put it down at will. I don't think either of us has ever done needlepoint.
I explain I have an aggressive chapter delivery committment over the next six weeks. But her next sentence starts with "since you're home during the day."
I literally growl when she later calls me with a paperwork question in the middle of the morning. I'm not sure whether I'm more miffed with her for calling or myself for picking it up.
I marvel at novelists who can set rigidly structured production periods and easily maintain the rhythm. I'm only half way there. Too many years of daily and weekly journalism deadlines have wired me for instant completion and gratification.
The first book came easily from years of pent-up dreaming. Family and health problems completely derailed everything for almost a year. I need a false, but inflexible, structure to build these new habits upon.
So she thinks I'm a bitch.
And I probably am.
But I am a bitch who will have these chapters delivered by the end of October.
Copyright 2004 Judi Griggs

Buffalo Gal Judi Griggs I'm a communications professional, writer, cynic, mother, wife and royal pain. The order depends on the day. I returned to my hometown in November 2004 after a couple of decades of heat and hurricanes. I can polish pristine copy, but not here. This is my morning exercise -- 20-minute takes without a net or spellcheck. It's easier than sit ups for me. No guarantee what it will be for you. Clicking on the subscribe link will send you an email notice when each new entry is posted.
:: HOME :: The New Buffalo Gal :: Buffalo Rising :: The Buffalo Bloviator :: Buffalo NPR Station :: SABAH :: More Buffalo Weather Reality :: West Village :: Mary's Blog :: The Truth About Snow in Buffalo :: EMAIL ::
Previous Entry :: Next Entry Read/Post Comments (3) Share on Facebook		2004-09-17 9:51 AM But you're home during the day... I'm grinding away brutally at $6,000 of orthodonthia every time she reopens her mouth. I've told her several times it would not be practical to keep an "Open House" sign pointing to our place at all times during the day. There is more than a semantic difference between writing from home and being home. But she's a real estate agent and it's her job to sell the house. I'm a writer and it's my job to... what is it writers do? The simple answer "write" doesn't seem to be doing it. She can talk on the phone, drive and write her grocery list at 30 m.p.h.. I can't get up from the computer to answer the door? Thus I am an alleged professional wordsmith unable to find the most basic terms to communicate this concept to her. I explain it's not like needlepoint, you can not pick it up and put it down at will. I don't think either of us has ever done needlepoint. I explain I have an aggressive chapter delivery committment over the next six weeks. But her next sentence starts with "since you're home during the day." I literally growl when she later calls me with a paperwork question in the middle of the morning. I'm not sure whether I'm more miffed with her for calling or myself for picking it up. I marvel at novelists who can set rigidly structured production periods and easily maintain the rhythm. I'm only half way there. Too many years of daily and weekly journalism deadlines have wired me for instant completion and gratification. The first book came easily from years of pent-up dreaming. Family and health problems completely derailed everything for almost a year. I need a false, but inflexible, structure to build these new habits upon. So she thinks I'm a bitch. And I probably am. But I am a bitch who will have these chapters delivered by the end of October. Copyright 2004 Judi Griggs Read/Post Comments (3) Previous Entry :: Next Entry Back to Top