Thursday, April 16, 2009

I’m Just Sittin’ Here, Eatin’ my Little Bag o’ Chocolate as my Derrière is Getting Bigger

(I hope I didn't confuse anyone yesterday. My scheduled post decided to unscheduled itself and pop up without my consent. Silly post. )





My husband just graduated with an MBA. When he first went back to school, a wise teacher got up in front of his class (Sorry,I can’t remember his name) and told them, “In the time it takes to earn a degree, you will either have your degree, or you won’t. No matter what you do, time will pass.”

He was right. Time passed, most of the people my husband started school with earned their degrees. Some didn’t. Some dropped out.

The same thing goes with writing, no matter what I do, time will pass.

Some days I find myself too busy to sit down and write, sometimes I have other commitments I need to fulfill. But at the end of the week, I always look back and see what I have done to accomplish my writing goals for that week.

This week was a difficult week for writing. I had a goal to finish my college writing course. There was one particular assignment that I was struggled with - writing a chapter for a mystery. I put it off time and time again. But being at the end of my class, I had to finish it.

I started writing it, and as always, my characters turned into teenagers ogling over the new boys moving in across the street. What is up with those girls?

This is terrible writing! I thought to myself. Taking a break I found myself walking around in circles through the house. I grabbed some chocolate (thank you Easter bunny), checked out blogs (you evil blogs, keeping me from my work – but I love so much) and sat back down to invent a murder or mystery of some type.

I reread the page and started typing anything that popped into my mind. Suddenly I could see the scene before my eyes. First, the crime. Second, who dunnit. Third, I began writing the piece with the info I had learned in class. A couple of hours later, I had my first chapter. I chortle with an evil laugh (mwa ha ha ha), I wept (and freaked my kids out a little), and I finished with a victory dance. Then I made dinner because it was two hours late.

That night at my critique group, I showed the girls my piece. They had good things to say (and a couple of helpful things to throw in or fix). I am now finishing it for my polished piece of work for my last, last, last homework assignment. Whoo hoo!

All it took was me sitting on my derrière and working through my writers block.

Time passes no matter what I am busy with. When I look back at my year, will I be happy with what I did with it? Will I have accomplished my goals? Or will I be ten pounds heavier from eating chocolate Easter eggs and watching YouTube? I guess the choice is mine. (But you must admit, that Easter bunny does buy good chocolate.)

12 comments:

Ashley Harward said...

Luv this post! I couldn't agree with it more!

Carolyn V. said...

Thanks Ashley! I hope things are going well with your writing. Hope to see ya at S.M. next week. I can't believe it's only a week away!

Linda Garner said...

You did it! Way to Go. Love, LG

Carolyn V. said...

With your help! Thanks Linda!

Rachel said...

Good for you. You give me such inspiration. Thank you!! Keep it up!

Carolyn V. said...

I give you inspiration? You give me inspiration! Running a 5k is no easy task! Thanks Rachel!

Anonymous said...

Carolyn, you are a great wit.

Carolyn V. said...

Nasty Butler, you just rock. There is no question about it. =) How's your critique group going? I still haven't made it to Provo yet.

Anonymous said...

You are very funny! Way to work through the writers block. =]

Carolyn V. said...

Thanks L.T. I think we should reward ourselves with a great big chocolate candy bar! (For getting through the writers block thingy.)

Man, I totally need to workout now.

Chas Hathaway said...

That's great! Always feels good when that last assignment is finally out of the way.

You know something funny? I always thought derriere was simply spelled dairy air. Good thing I never put it in writing!

- Chas
http://music.willowrise.com

Carolyn V. said...

It would make sense to call it dairy air. I mean, have you smelled a dairy? j/k

It is good to have the last assignment out of the way (I did love the class, but still). Now I have to make room for the final. Then I can relax.