Sunday, August 18, 2013

Waiting Strategies

I discovered something this week: It's a little unsettling the things I will do to take my mind off the waiting that is such a huge part of the writing business.

I started querying last week. We all know the best thing to help counter the waiting anxiety is to work on your next project, right? And I have a perfectly enchanting story all started. Chapter three is just waiting to be written. But, I didn't do that. Instead I watched this video. Obsessively.



And also: I watched the "How it was made" video (just as obsessively.)



I ate M&Ms before 9 A.M.

I read like a fiend. (Reviews coming next week.)

I even joined Twitter. (I told you. Unsettling.)

Of course, there's nothing inherently wrong with these things, (except maybe the M&Ms before 9 A.M.) But I am hoping that this week I can finally concentrate and get back to work.


27 comments:

  1. Sometimes, making sure there is a healthy time-lapse between the launching the querying on one and the writing of another is what the writer's doctor would order. Other times, this is the way it goes. Get back to that yummy chapter, Ruth. Your MC is calling.... Hear?

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  2. Been there done that -- know what distractions I create or procrastination. Once I get into a story, I can't stop -- it's just getting down. Good luck this week!

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  3. Sounds like me. Good luck for this week.

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  4. Ruth, where are you on Twitter? I'm @CynthiaSociety. Feel free to follow me, and I'll follow you back.

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  5. I start to play Spider Solitaire at times like that. It must be something to do with the repetition that calms my brain down. Saw you on Twitter. Looking forward to tweeting with you.

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  6. I understand the obsession with this video. I have now watched it twice, researched the term 'red hands', and am wondering where I can get a drum and some powder to recreate the drum-pounding dust sequence. It's now 6 am...hmmm...do I have any M&M's?

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  7. Well, now I have a video to procrastinate with in the future. And M&Ms before 9 AM? Doesn't sound too bad! Good luck with the querying and welcome to Twitter. :)

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  8. M&M's before 9 is nothing new here. It doesn't help that I have a candy dish that is always stocked full of them. I get up in the morning and have been know to snatch a few on my way to shower and brush my teeth. Its a sad thing.

    We all need ways to take our mind off the days and weeks it takes during the query period. I read. I write new things. I get on FB. I read some more. Why does it take so long!

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  9. Now, now, Ruth. Chocolate in the morning is even better for you than say... Mini Wheaties. Yeah, so that's a total lie- but it's what I tell myself! ;) Best of luck to you w/querying, I'm sure you'll hear some good news before you know it.

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  10. Think of this as a mini vacation for your nerves! All will be well.

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  11. Wait a second? There's something wrong with M&M's before 9am? I need to go reevaluate my life now... ;)

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  12. Good luck on the waiting. I feel as if I'm always waiting on something. Isn't that the way it goes?

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  13. Hey, there is nothing wrong with m&ms before 9. When you get up at 5-5:30 nine is pretty late.

    Looking forward to those reviews.

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  14. Waiting is never easy or fun... distractions work best:)

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  15. Woohoo! Welcome to Twitter, Ruth! I'm on there as well. Let's connect. :)

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  16. I like to get to the next project, but not without at least a few days in between to do something fun and unstructured. :)

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  17. So is querying another euphemism for procrastination?

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  18. You'll go crazy if you don't get back to work. Querying can be mind numbing. Good luck!

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  19. Sometimes we need to take our mind off of things by doing mindless things. :) Decompressing is important. Good luck with chapter 3!
    ~Jess

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  20. Sounds like you needed a bit of an unorthodox break. :) Hoping the query period bears great fruit!

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  21. I take breaks like this all the time (no M&Ms before 9am, but I've had a Pina Colada at 10+am). Best part of all was reading like a fiend. Looking forward to your reviews, Ruth. And best of luck with Chapter 3!

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  22. Yes, starting another project when I'm waiting for feedback on a previous one has been very helpful to me as well. And, sometimes I like to sit back and just let myself experience the anxiety, and turn my attention toward it rather than away from it, which actually tends to lessen the anxiety quite a bit.

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  23. What? M&M's before 9 am, what's wrong with that? We cope in ways that we must. So glad you are up to making the sacrifice. :)

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  24. I can believe it all - except the M&Ms before 9AM and the Twitter! Woo hoo!

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