"You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you."
—Ray Bradbury
Boy, do I wish I could take this quote literally. Because, sometimes when I'm struggling with an unruly chapter, like right now, I just wish I could make a gin martini and curl up with a good movie. Obviously, I could if I let the devil on my right shoulder call all the shots. I can do what ever the heck I want. My two cats might think they're the boss. But I wear the pants in this family. Just not black pants. You know, because I'd need a lint roller.
But, is it a good idea to start drinking at 1:26 pm? No, only if you are the devilishly handsome Don Draper on Mad Men. I can only imagine what it would be like to be that hunk for a boozy twenty four hours. The world would be my oyster. Actually, there was a pretty disgusting scene on Mad Men where Don and Rodger eat way too many oysters and tip a few too many martini's over one of their famously long lunches. The first thing Rodger does when he sets a polished leather foot across the threshold of his office...is puke his guts out. Scratch being Don. Carrying a pickled liver every where I go is not my cup of tea.
I used to drink during the day. It was when I was a flight attendant. But it's not what you're thinking. I didn't drink on the job. Although, I may or may not have pilfered a few first class mini's back in the day. No, I drank when I got home, exhausted from puddle jumping all over the Midwest. I'd make a Cosmo and watch Sex and the City. My husband still teases me about coming home to a wife half in the roller bag.
Obviously, I know what the quote is really talking about. Because I feel the same way. I don't want anyone breaking my creative bubble until I've finished writing my first draft. But then again, is there ever really a good time for someone to tell you your writing stinks? Or, that getting anything published for real is about as likely as me waking up in bed with John Hamm? That's the thing about writing. I can do what ever the heck I want.
Chapter 23: (revision) The Flight to L.A.
"Ah, miss? Stewardess? Yes, you. Hello." The distracted flight attendant sets down her coffee pot and sashays up the aisle like a curious kitten, adjusting her necklace and leaning low towards the man in the suit. "What can I do for you Mr. Draper?" she asks, unconsciously picking a piece of lint off his tie. He hands her his glass and asks for another round on the rocks. "What's your name?" he asks. "You look like a Barbie or maybe a Shawna." "It's Sharon, Mr. Draper. Sharon..."
I've reviewed A Feast For Crows, just in time for the new season of Game of Thrones on HBO. I'm chomping at the dragon bit for the next season and the next book! Over at Springtime in Magnolia
5 comments:
And did Sharon end up in bed with Mr. Draper? He rarely ever lost out. :-)
Writing can certainly drive you to want to drink! LOL I just try to trust in the process. I may not have a clue where the story is going, but I trust that down the road, I'll figure it out.
You clearly did write even when you weren't writing what you intended to write. Maybe you were trying to force your chapter in a direction it didn't want to go? Or maybe you should've taken a walk to think it over differently? Good luck with the process. It'll be interesting to see what you come up with.
This may not be necessary. But I have to make it clear that my revision was just a joke! In other news, I have muddled through my latest writing block. It just takes awhile for the ideas to percolate. John Hamm was of no help at all.
Doing a little catching up this morning! You have finished your first draft!!! Oh my! Congrats! I wish I was right there with you! What a milestone! I tend to write first second and third (maybe fourth?) drafts of every chapter as I go! I labor over each part of my book like I'm giving birth! My problem is, I am writing about people who really existed, who I cared about very much. I don't have enough material for the book out of their real lives, of course, so have to add "stuff," and that's the part I find so hard! I could be more "free" I suppose if I had a couple of glasses of wine before I sat down...I'm going to have to try that! :-)
Post a Comment