I think this week’s topic is The Writer’s Life. Which I’m wrestling with. This writer needs to reorganize her writers life now that her book has launched. Why? Because this writer is something of an obsessive type. I like to throw myself into a writing-related task with every speck of energy I have, agonize over it, complete it, then look around for the next task.
In other words, I’m all about crossing the finish line.
But now the finish line keeps moving. Just when I think I’m going to burst through it, someone snatches it away, hides behind a tree, waves the paper ribbon and calls, “Woo-hoo, over here!”
Now that I’m juggling interviews with outlines, line edits, rewrites, blog posts, and drive-by Town House signings, I can see I’m going to have to drop my obsession with the finish line. Force myself to relax if I need to stop re-plotting my next project to deal with something more pressing. Like not having a title for my next children’s book.
Ahem.
Don’t get me wrong. I love having tons of writing duties. It keeps me from knawing on my mousepad. I just like to line the duties up like little wooden soldiers and take them down one at a time and right now they’re running about on my desk taking turns pushing themselves in my coffee and calling “Marco Polo.”
It’s disconcerting. I need to regroup or risk being overthrown.
I’m working on a new way to be. A new Tish, if you will. See, old Tish found a way to make peace with unmade beds and a messy kitchen. Old Tish barely notices her unkempt house. She’s proud of it in some freakgirl kind of way.
New Tish plans to learn from Old Tish’s complacent domesticity. She plans to embrace her coffee-sodden inner soldiers and carry them on her back as she hunts for the erratic finish line. Who knows? Maybe one of them will come up with that title…
P.S. For those of you who live in the Toronto area, you’re welcome to stop by the Town House launch party at The Drake hotel on Queen Street West – Wednesday, May 23 at 7 pm.
And for those of you who live in the New York area, please check out Borders on Park Avenue, where Patry Francis, author of The Liar’s Diary, and I will be reading, signing Tuesday, May 29th at 7 pm.
P.P.S The first in a series of 5 diary entries appears in Canada’s National Post today. http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/artslife/story.html?id=1f900253-ab1e-4e16-9c99-112138366a11&k=50077
And yesterday Town House got some Globe and Mail love. Or something. Link to follow once I wake up Deb Kristy and wail that it’s acting up…
Old Tish, New Tish, whatever version you decide to be Tish, just keep writing! It’s astounding how you make perfect sense out of the “Huh’s” in life.
Ohh I totaly agree with Larramie… just find whatever works and run with it! Like when you run with a kite and it flys into the air that’s pretty great. Umm….
I wish I could be there for the Toronto launch. If you do Vancouver let me know!
Does the New Tish want to take over any of Mia’s writing duties? 😉 And I am all for leaving the dirty dishes in favor of getting a page (or two or three) done …
Congrats on the continued success of TOWN HOUSE, and have a great launch party!
Tish, it was great to meet you the other night. What a fabulous event.
And you’ll figure out a way to juggle all these things. Enjoy the ride!