Caution: Writer at Play

Truths and consequences of being a writer - in no particular order:

  • I have a thing for alliteration. I'm working on it.
  • Writing is the hardest job I've ever had.
  • My quirky side gets to come out and play every day.
  • I get zero time off.
  • It's often more difficult to make decisions In Real Life because more possibilities present themselves automatically without me trying to think of them.
  • I have no idea how characters get in my head.
  • Writing is the funnest job I've ever had.
  • My intuition about people I meet face-to-face has become nearly spot-on. At times, it's scary. Then to keep things real, I'll be way off on someone. Or two in a row.
  • I love learning the story.
  • If I go too long without writing, I get really cranky.
  • Writing isn't work as long as you love doing it.
  • I often stare at people and don't realize I'm doing it at first.
  • When I'm researching, my tangents have tangents and those take me to some amazing places. They also take me offtrack. I love research because I love learning new things.
  • I'm a top-notch procrastinator. I could teach a class.
  • Writing keeps me sane.
  • I've learned to trust that when it's time to write, the words will come. They may need changing, but the thought will be there.
  • Being the quiet girl always reading a book turned out to be a good thing.

What have you learned from writing?

In other news:

Secrets of Honor will be on sale for 99 cents from Monday, June 17 through midnight Sunday, June 23.

Kat Marengo never imagined the government would teach her to be a thief. But that's just what happened when she joined Homeland Security. Even so, she had no right to possess for even a short time the two diamond rings now resting in the hidden pocket of her dress. That was a problem. The next morning, she wished the problem had stopped there. 




I'll be back here on Monday, July 1.



Comments

Alex J. Cavanaugh saidā€¦
We could teach that procrastination class together.
Natalie Aguirre saidā€¦
Sign me up for the procrastination class too. Awesome that you still love writing. I do agree with you that it's a hard job for many reasons.
Leigh Caron saidā€¦
LOve your list. All, so true. And me too on procrastination
Rachna Chhabria saidā€¦
Wow..you have learned quite a bit from your writing. Alliterations are my favourites too. And I'm quite good at procrastination :)
H. R. Sinclair saidā€¦
Awesome list. I too love alteration. I don't understand how people cannot like it?! Yup, writing is one of the hardest, most fun things to do.
Carol Kilgore saidā€¦
Alex - Cool. We can talk about that later :)

Natalie - I do! I like playing with people in my head.

Em-Musing - The great thing about procrastination is that you can do it whenever you want, LOL :)

Rachna - Procrastination must be a favorite writer pastime :)

H.R. - I know! Free, fast, and fun :)
cleemckenzie saidā€¦
This is an absolutely perfect list for writers. It's a keeper.
L. Diane Wolfe saidā€¦
Zero time off! That applies to publishers, too.
Elephant's Child saidā€¦
I am a procrastination queen. I have few talents, but that is most definitely one of them.
And huge thanks to all writers. You enrich and educate my world.
Great list! I have a feeling most of your bullet points apply to all of us. I like the research end of things so much, sometimes I think I enjoy it more than the actual writing. :)
Liza saidā€¦
I love finding out the story, too!
Carol Kilgore saidā€¦
Lee - Cool :)

Diane - I'm sure it does!

EC - Your WEP piece today was powerful. You're one of us, too.

Susan - Research is a love/hate relationship for me. I don't enjoy it at all when I try for hours and can't find what I'm looking for, no matter the search terms I put in. I think Google does that at times just to infuriate me, LOL.
Carol Kilgore saidā€¦
Liza - Your post appeared while I answering everyone above! The story is all-important to me, but I have to have framework to drape it on.
Jan Christensen saidā€¦
Writing keeps you sane? Ha Ha Ha!
Janie Junebug saidā€¦
I adore alliteration.

Love,
Janie
Michelle Wallace saidā€¦
"Being the quiet girl always reading a book turned out to be a good thing." Ha! Me too!
A hearty toast to all quiet girls always reading a book!
"I have a thing for alliteration. I'm working on it." Ha! Me too! I love, love, love alliterative writing.
Carol Kilgore saidā€¦
Jan - I know, I know :)

Janie - Creating custom copy :)

Michelle - Raising my wine glass in a toast to quiet girls!
Murees DupĆØ saidā€¦
I love everything you said. And it is scary how spot on we can be with people. Like always, I think you are brilliant, and I always enjoy your posts, Carol.
Carol Kilgore saidā€¦
Murees - You think I'm brilliant?! Would you please tell my husband :) I'm glad you enjoy my posts. I enjoy your visits and visiting your blog.
I had a giggle at getting cranky if you've not written anything in a while. Me too!! lol.

What I've learned is that reading improves my writing, so sacrificing reading time to write is a mistake.
Carol Kilgore saidā€¦
Lynda - I agree. FYI-the first of the Templar books is now on my Kindle :)
Jemi Fraser saidā€¦
Lots of similarities here! I disappeared down the research hole the other day and couldn't remember what I'd started trying to find out! :)
DMS saidā€¦
I can relate to SOOOOOO many of these! I often am staring and don't realize I am doing it. I also fall down the rabbit hole of research a lot. :) The list goes on!
~Jess
Carol Kilgore saidā€¦
Jemi - Sounds like me :)

Jess - I think all writers are alike in a lot of ways.
Julie Flanders saidā€¦
I feel the same way about research. I love it for the same reason you mentioned, but it also can be a problem for me because I end up down so many rabbit holes I get too distracted to go back to writing. I need to find some sort of balance LOL.
Fun list! I hope your sale is a success and June is treating you well, Carol!
LD Masterson saidā€¦
I can relate to a lot of these but I don't need your procrastination class. It turns out I'm a natural.
Carol Kilgore saidā€¦
Julie - Thanks for the good wishes. So far, so good!

LD - LOL! Perhaps we should co-teach :)

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