This past month I've hardly been on line. We had 12 guests visiting for a big celebration, found a new apartment, and I launched the website for Our Spirit, a nonprofit I started for LGBTQ youth. A huge priority was to to keep working on my new novel. Swiss Cheese wisdom worked. Without time to sit as long as I like, I took 20 or 30 minute breaks and managed to write a chapter and a half. Because it's a new novel, I was worried that it wasn't as deep in me and it'd be more difficult to get into the flow of it. Not the case. Even writing a little every day kept the work in the front of my mind.Swiss cheese works for me. What works for you? How do you keep your projects going when there's little time?
Graphic from SuperLaurie.org. Thank you Carol Ellin for your Swiss cheese wisdom!
I like having a name for it. I certainly feel like that is how I write, with the life of a stay at home mom, when nothing is scheduled and everything is expected. I suppose that is why The Practice Room works. Those hours are sacred.
ReplyDeleteLovely to see you back! Lovely to see your new site. I haven't explored it enough yet, but I will. Can't wait to hear about your new project. Sounds as if it is going well!
Thanks, Tina. Our guests are gone, we're moving this week, then going to Idaho for the weekend. So I'm VERY excited for next week of working joining The Practice Room!
ReplyDeleteWelcome, Ansha. Awesome name, btw.
ReplyDeleteBut I don't like swiss cheese. I prefer a nice, medium cheddar. ;) But seriously. I actually can't write in short spurts like that. I need at least an hour uninterrupted or I get really frustrated. Pull-my-hair-out-frustrated. Of course... if I had to choose writing in 20 minute bits and pieces or not writing at all... then I'd choose the swiss cheese for sure!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on both counts - cheddar and an hour. But if neither are available... (I actually am not a fan of Swiss cheese itself at all, too mild... oh, is there something there? Need more writing writing for greater taste?)
ReplyDeleteOkay, so I am lactose intolerant...but I'll keep this in mind.
ReplyDeleteAlso, you'll never be ejected from my blog.
I prefer bigger blocks of time to write, but if swiss cheese was all I had, I'd take it! Congrats on your new site!
ReplyDeleteJon - I so wanted to find something clever to say about lactose intolerance... major disappointment.
ReplyDeleteBut at least I won't be kicked off your blog.
Laura - Thanks!
ReplyDeleteRobert, there really isn't anything clever about being lactose intolerant. Just a lot of pills and headaches. So don't feel bad.
ReplyDeleteThis cracked me up! What a way to put it all down on paper! I think it's best to take things slow, and fit it in when you have a little slice of time. You've got the perfect method and I'm glad to see it's working so well!
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ReplyDeleteThank you Jen & Samuel!
ReplyDeleteOfficially adopting this idea and applying to blogging and Twitter too.
ReplyDeleteJon - blogging is where I need to Swiss cheese most - was in Idaho over the weekend w/no internet so I kinda have an excuse, but now I'm unpacking from last week's move... still, there are holes that I should be filling
ReplyDeleteRobert, congrats on your "Our Spirit" website, it looks fantastic. I'll look at it some more this weekend :) Glad to see you're posting.
ReplyDeleteCharlie - Thank you! Feel free to pass on Our Spirit to whomever you think it might be helpful. And thanks for the blogging encouragement!
ReplyDeleteDaniel - Welcome & thanks for following!
ReplyDeleteJeez, I'm off the internet for a few weeks, and Robert starts posting with frequency? Awesomeness. Okay, sigh. I have no excuse to not be moving forward after this post. I must have some holes in the day! Thanks for the visual, although I have to say I'm in the lactose intolerant/hate cheese camp. So, I'm going with a sponge. There are always holes in a sponge...
ReplyDeleteI love cheese. So this method works for me.
ReplyDeleteWait. What?