If I haven’t posted here much in the last two weeks, it’s because I’ve been writing, and when I’m writing every day, I’m barely fit for human company outside of my writing groups and my paid work. In fact, writing and teaching is all I have energy for.
I don’t call. I don’t write. I spend all my time upstairs in my office, pacing or typing. Laundry piles up. If we have food in the house, I snack constantly. If we don’t, I live on tea and iTunes playlists. I don’t vacuum until I’m regularly having asthma attacks. If I do get dragged to a social event, I’m a bore, because I’m likely to talk about people who don’t exist and things that never happened. I forget to wish people a happy birthday on Facebook. It all goes straight to hell.
Despite the fact that writing turns me into the modern-day equivalent of Jane Eyre‘s Mad Bertha, I really like this state. If I’m writing 500-1000 words a day and teaching well, I feel like I’m doing my job.
I have this fictionalized idea of myself writing 1000 words a day, teaching, but also updating the blog regularly and doing things like laundry. That person doesn’t exist. Maybe someday she will, but not now.
That said, I do have some things I want to post on the blog sooner rather than later. I have to update the store with a new tee shirt, which I am working on, and I also read from Beware the Hawk at last Friday’s Fairfield University MFA reading at the Fairfield U. bookstore (thank you, Phil Lemos, for your reading slot.) I recorded myself reading the first few pages of the book. If the recording is any good, I will edit it together and post the link… if I’m not typing and talking to myself, that is. No promises.
First of all, one is supposed to vacuum and do laundry? On some sort of regular basis? Hmmm.
Second, if you are writing well and teaching well, you are doing your job.
I love it Ann! I was away for 10 days and thought a lot about writing, but really just played golf, and went to see the aligators and thousands of birds. Now, back to reality.
That sounds nice. If you can’t be writing, you should at least be having fun. Were you in Florida?
Yes, writing is WAY more important than vacuuming. Go you!
I am so glad that someone agrees with me on this!
I’m not sure if you want my endorsement on this particular topic … my place is a disaster. Give it a couple more weeks and they’ll be featuring our apartment on HOARDERS. I’m pretty sure my husband does NOT agree that writing trumps cleaning.
Totally agree…my motto is, “Life is too short to clean your own house.” (Stolen from an advertisement for, ironically enough, a house cleaning company. Go figure.) As I sit here editing video like a mad woman to meet a Thursday deadline, rehearsing my first scene for new theatre group, writing a 1-2 min monologue with the total intention of blowing our theatre co’s Monologue Jam out of the water – both due Monday – I think I can smell your laundry from here. Or is it my stack in the corner? Can’t tell. Keep up the good work!
It’s totally my laundry. Sorry about that.
And keep truckin’ on all those projects! I’m sure you will slay them at the Monologue Jam.
Keep up the good work! Clean clothing is overrated
Thank you, Alena! I knew I could count on my MFA peeps for support!