I once dated a guy who told me he couldn't marry me because I was a little bit too crazy.
I did what any nice Jewish girl in NYC would do. I told my shrink.
And my shrink said something that I never forgot. He said, "You're not as crazy as you pretend to be."
He went on to say that my "boyfriend" was actually a lot crazier than I was. He's the one who dated someone for five years without ever telling his orthodox parents (because she wasn't Jewish). Yes, I dated some real winners.
Why am I writing about this? Because it recently occurred to me that I pretend I am a writer. I sit at my desk all day reading and commenting on blogs and researching agents to submit to, but I don't actually WRITE!
This is a problem. The question is... what am I going to do about it?
14 comments:
This was my other realization I had last night in the rocking chair! I decided that I will only blog (read and write) 2 or 3 times a week until I can buckle down on my writing and get some worthy manuscripts completed! What are your plans? blogging is addictive!
Been there, am doing that....I know EXACTLY what you mean! For me, it has something to do with the fear of failure. If I wasn't afraid I might fail, I'd be diving right in.
I think you're being a tad too harsh on yourself. Okay, so you've mastered the art of doing writer type things without actually writing, and you've taken time off in the Caymans, but didn't you just go through the picture book equivalent of nanowrimo?
You are a writer. Write.
ah yes, you've hit the nail right on the head. As soon as I figure the exact same thing out, I'll get right back to you.
What are you going to do about it? Start writing! Simple as that.
...also: I totally admire that shrink--that is very perceptive. I see that a LOT in my students. He's pretending to be a partier, she's pretending to be popular, etc. That would be a great concept for a story, actually....
Write!
Daydream. Away from the computer. Then, when a great conversation, dream, or idea hits you, write it down. Maybe a great story about a Jewish shrink that single-handedly saves the dating world! Go ahead. Run with it. ;)
Do whatever you did to get your three little pigs story cranked out.
I totally relate to this. I think the internet is a blessing and curse--we can connect in ways unheard of in the past, we can find facts in seconds instead of days, but we also can lose hours from the Web Sirens, who call and promise such wonders. I need to make certain hours for writing only and that doesn't count blogging. Otherwise, I, too, feel like a great pretender.
So glad many people can relate :)
Karen, ha! Hasn't Woody Allen done that yet?
Beth, interesting. Teaching high school must give great insight into to the minds of your target audience.
Oh my gosh! I am cracking up! I bet you DO write. And brainstorming in the carpool line counts, I assure you.
I have to literally leave my house dressed as if I have a real job and head to the coffee shop where I will be forced to write. That is, of course, after reading blogs for 45 minutes to get into the groove.
OR
I put the kiddos to bed, silence my phone and head up to the room over the garage where it's just me and my laptop. And then I stay there until midnight. But you can't practice this technique too often without offending the hubby :-)
Lol, I say the only thing to do is put your behind in the chair and your hands on the keyboard and change it from pretending to doing. :D Best of luck. ;)
I can relate.
Sometimes I feel like giving up trying to become published (just continue to write for fun, never have to revise - ha!) but keep my blog and pretend to be one of the cool aspiring writers. Hahahaha.
You're being too hard on yourself though. Look at how many PBs you've written this year compared to others!
I have my days like that, too! But you are a writer. I have the book to prove it :)
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