Friday, January 16, 2009

Blonde Moment # 10,569

Wednesday I had a GREAT writing day. GREAT writing days have been rather hard for me to come by lately. I'm on my very first deadline and finding it to not be nearly as cool as I thought it would be. I've been writing like mad and cranking out the words--but it hasn't been fun, I've constantly questioned what I'm writing, and though I like what I'd created I knew it wasn't fabulous. So basically I was spending all my time working on something I wasn't liking very much. I've been writing on a timer--which means I make myself write for 30 minutes, then go do something fun--like clean a toilet, mop the floor, sort socks. What, those don't sound fun? EXACTLY my point. When things like that become the reward for writing, it says a lot about how much I've been enjoying the writing, doesn't it?

But Wednesday was a GREAT writing day. Tuesday had also been good, which made Wednesday even better. I wrote for almost four hours--didn't even think about laundry or flossing or anything like that. My wonderful, fabulous, cheerleading friend Julie had put me on a 1,300/day diet back in December so I could finish this book. I'd been following her plan, but calling every few days to whine about it (keep in mind Julie has two full time jobs on top of her own writing--and I'm complaining to her because I only have 6 hours a day to myself. Yes, I have fabo friends that put up with me).

I felt like I'd finally broken that barrier and I had to call her and tell her about it--knowing she would scream and squeal on the other end of the line and drop everything to tell me how happy she was for me.

So I dialed her number, waited three rings and heard, "Hello."

(Imagine this next part being said at 100 miles an hour in my high-pitched excited voice) Hi, it's me, I just had to call you because I knew you'd be so happy for me, I'm writing, and I love it and I resolved all those stupid plot holes and I'm so dang excited and I actually like this and it's finally just coming to me, ya know, and I feel like I could write for hours--I'm like some kind of super hero--and . . . hello? . . . hello?"

She'd hung up on me!

Well, that was rather anti-clamatic. So I hit redial and just happen to glance at the number before putting it to my ear. Was that a 9 instead of a 6? It's supposed to be a 6. Did I dial the wrong number?

Sure did.

Some lady with a prefix of 849 was just reminded that she needed to talk to her kids about the dangers of drug use again.

23 comments:

Brooke said...

Oh, that's funny. I'm glad you had a good writing day, though. That means I get to read another one of your books soon.

Stephanie Black said...

Oh my gosh, that's too funny. Just the sort of thing I'd do.

And I'm happy to hear the book is going so well. It's hard to write when you feel like you're pushing against a brick well, and it's great when things start to flow!

Anonymous said...

Can I borrow some of your mojo? I sitting on the couch in my public library with some alone time--thanks to my husband and a snow day, and all I can do is blog....

btw, yeah for you!!!

hi, it's me! melissa c said...

CAN'T QUIT LAUGHING!!!!

That is too good! I love it!

That aside...I'm so glad you made it through that hard part.

I've given myself a deadline too. The conference. I want to have my two books done and ready when I go...just in case.

That means I have to finish editing the first book for the hundredth time, and finish the second, have people read it, fix all the problems and have it done by April! *SCREAM!*

So, I work feverishly when I can, leaving the house a disaster.

I worry about my first book. I just don't know if it's good enough. As I learn the laws of writing, I have to go back to that book and fix everything I did wrong in the days before I knew better.

I can't wait to be where you are. Where everything I write is brilliant! *smile*

Anyway. Good on ya, girl.

Annette Lyon said...

Hahaha! I can totally see this. And see ME doing it too.

Congrats on finding your groove!

Melanie Jacobson said...

Ha, ha.

That's awesome about the writing. I had to switch from my current WIP back to my old one to rewrite and resubmit (fingers crossed) and now I'm having a hard time finding a groove on the new one. I just need to remember how much I actually like writing when I discipline myself to do it. By day three or four of writing everyday, I begin to look forward to it. I'm just having a hard time logging consecutive days.

Whitney said...

Hahahaha. I got a good laugh out of that story. I'll share a funny story with you: yesterday I was leaving for a meeting and I was walking up an ice-covered hill and totally slipped and fell in in front of a construction worker. Amid his "Oh my gosh are you ok?!" and my "I'm fine. *embarrassed laugh*" I was thinking "I'm and idiot. Someone make him stop talking to me". So today my knee is sore and hopefully I don't have a run in with that particular construction worker. :S

Anna Maria Junus said...

That's hilarious.

Good writing days are to be treasured.

Jenna said...

Ha! Ha! Ha! But still, did she have to just hang up?? How rude!

Lara Neves said...

That's hilarious! I hope when you finally did get a hold of her that she gave you the reaction you were hoping for!

Congrats on the great writing day!

Danyelle Ferguson said...

Josi - You are soo awesome! I just love it! I bet Julie thought it was pretty hilarious when you finally got her on the phone, too. :) Congrats on your writing!

Karlene said...

That's so funny. And don't you love it when you and the other person talk for several minutes before realizing you don't know each other?

Grandma 'D' said...

I love those blonde moments...reminds us we are human. I have them quite frequently..in one day I drank Limeaway while brushing my teeth, about cut my thumb off on a log splitter and forgot to wash the conditioner out of hair. Better yet I left it in..pulled up in a pony tail you couldn't really tell. Anyway thanks for sharing your blonde moment with us. And good luck on your book. Can't wait to read it. You are one talented girl.

Heather Justesen said...

Oh, I'm dying, that is SOOO the kind of thing I would do! And as someone who is struggling to sit still long enough to write a single scene, I really hope my turn to have things start to flow comes up soon.

amberargyle said...

lol!
Now, if only I could have some of the good writing days.
For the past 8 months, I haven't even want to open word.

3 Bay B Chicks said...

Hilarious post. I loved that the woman cut you off right after the word "super-hero."

Honestly, if it had been me in your shoes, I probably would have re-dialed the same number and then chastized my friend for having hung up on me. At least you thought to check the number! :)

-Francesca

ali cross said...

ROFL!!!

I'm sure Julie DID scream and yell from the other end in shared excitement and joy, right?

Glad you had some great days last week to remind you why you love writing so much!

Redhoodoos said...

I love the label you gave this post! That is too funny. Sounds like something I'd do.

Here's to more good writing days!

Janette Rallison said...

I did the same thing once, only I was a teenager yelling at my dad because he forgot to pick me up from school. And unfortunately the stranger didn't hang up but patiently waited for me to finish so he could tell me that he wasn't my father.

Julie Wright said...

Okay it was funny when you called me right after, but it's even funnier to read about it. And I am excited for you (just so you know) :)

Momo Fali said...

Nicely done! I am tipping my hat to you (and silently reminding myself to double check my dialing).

Kristina P. said...

I'm so glad you commented on my blog again! I think I was here before but for some reason, couldn't figure out which blog you updated regularly.

I added you to my Reader!

alisha said...

Ha ha. Last year I left a Happy Father's Day message on some random person's voicemail. I dialed 425 (the area code where I lived) instead of 435 (where my dad lives)!