If there is one thing that is more maddening for a writer more than any other, it is disruptions! The type of disruption which is more despised than any other is domestic disruption, and more specifically, noisy neighbours… indeed the whole suburban sound wave in general is completely MADDENING! The dedication in my first book, in part, gives thanks to the clever fellow (or chic – who knows?) who invented headphones. Second to pen and paper – and nowadays – a computer, they are perhaps a writer’s most essential working tool.
Today was one of those frustrating days where anything that could interfere – did interfere! The problem with people who do not write for a living is that they harbour no appreciation for the fact that a writer’s home is also their office – and whilst they are working – they need to be left the hell ALONE!
It’s not rocket science, just pure, basic, human courtesy.
Sometimes, such disruptions reach the point where one just wants to hurl one’s laptop through the window and scream at the top of one’s lungs and tell the world to bugger off (in not such nice terms as that, of course.) It has been done.
Alternatively, one can breathe deeply, go with the flow and incorporate the disruptions into one’s writing… it isn’t easy, but it is possible.
Today’s story incorporated every little nuisance, noise, disturbance and disruption that nestled itself in my little realm. Usually I average about 7 – 900 words an hour. This little 5 page saga, 1247 words in length, took six damned hours to write – not due to slow typing, but thanks to a never-ending stream of inconsiderate nincompoops! Yes – it was THAT kind of day.
This story, #19 for 2013, I had entitled “ONE MORE DAY”. However, the character’s name is Alice and as it is a somewhat – disturbing, disruptive – and unexpected – piece of writing, my editor has suggested a retitle;
ALICE IN PLUNDERLAND!
I laughed out loud at the suggestion. So apt. Love it.
NB: 03/02/2013 – A complete retitle on this one… ‘LIFE GOES ON’.
Anika King 