Aug
When it rains, it pours…almost
This has certainly been my motto this past week. I almost feel that if it wasn’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all…well, almost.
I haven’t been feeling well lately, so I went to the doctor last Thursday. He confirmed what I thought and gave me a prescription–which almost made me feel worse than what was ailing me. Ugh! Oh, and now I have a side effect from that prescription, so I went back to the doctor and have yet another prescription.
On top of all that, the brakes on my almost-new van have been acting up. Took it to the dealership–yeah, brake job–not covered under warranty. At this point, I’m singing Daniel Powter’s Bad Day. Got the brakes fixed and my van is fine now.
Then the other day it rained here (quite the miracle) and my husband was almost in an accident because the tires on his car are almost bald. So, we had to fork out money for four new tires. But, I feel safer with him driving to work now.
But despite all of the problems of this past week, I had a lightbulb moment for a great idea in my WIP–a bright spot in my dull week. It hit me out of the blue and I was thrilled…except that I was driving and couldn’t write it down right away. My husband thought that I was crazy sitting in the van in the garage scribbling down my idea as soon as I got home. Hey, when inspiration strikes…
Plus, I have been writing, so at least I can’t say that my problems have taken my muse away. I watched Emma and it made me feel better, too.
How do you cope with a bad day or week? What do you do to get you motivated and feeling more yourself? Does inspiration ever strike you during low points?
Chocolates! Chocolates is the answer to everything! Or well… Not entirely, but it does make you feel a tiny bit better after a bad day or a bad week. Or just treating yourself to something nice. Doesn’t have to be big. But chocolates or a book is always good.
I’m sorry about your bad week, I hope it’ll turn for the better now that the weekend is getting close!
And cars can be such a hassle. Some stupid kids have scratched the hood of my car (and it’s not a little scratch, they made a drawing and it scratched the hood.. the drawing is like 2ft by 2ft!!) I took it to the garage and all they can do is repaint the car, which would cost a fortune!!
So I’m leaving it for now.
I’m glad you still got some inspiration for your WIP during all this though. Isn’t it funny how we can get inspiration at the oddest times? When you think you’d have none? (I wrote twice as fast on my MS after my boyfriend of 5 years and I broke up as I did before *lol*)
Best wishes for a great weekend as the end to a bad week.
August 30th, 2006 at 11:24 amEmily
My favorite thing when I’ve had a bad day is a long hot bubble bath with a good book and a glass of ice water nearby. Wash all my frustrations down the drain!
August 30th, 2006 at 12:00 pmOh Emily, I hear you. I’m now hooked on the new dark chocolate M&Ms. Mmmmm….
The bad thing about car trouble is that we can’t really budget for it. I mean, gas is high enough, so it leaves little room for when problems arise. I hope you’re able to get your hood fixed soon.
Thanks so much Emily and April for your support. It’s great to have such wonderful cyber friends!
Hugs,
August 30th, 2006 at 2:32 pmAndrea
Call me strange but I get online and chat with friends. That takes all my troubles away (at least for the moment). The other thing I do is reading, escape in the book I’m reading..that help so much.
As for when I wrote the most..hmm. That was when I was faced with not being able to get a job due to my illness and the in-laws hounding me about not working. I wanted to vent and had always looked to poetry before but this time I wanted something to really take my mind off of things, unlike a few lines of script. Plus it doesn’t hurt that I had always wanted to be a writer (of novels), so I began. Within three months I had 18 chpaters (then of course, as many of you know disaster struck and it has been a hard road to recover).
But it’s wonderful to hear that despite a bad week you’ve been able to tap into your muse and keep working on your novel. Well done!
Hope things get better.
Emily, did you call the cops and file a report? Who’s to say they don’t come back and work harder on their “fine art”. We had this done in the parking lot of wal-mart..they scratched both sides of our classic ‘73 cougar only a week after we bought it.
August 30th, 2006 at 7:12 pmFirst off, ((hugs)) Andrea. I’m sorry you’ve had a bad week. It will pass and things will get better. I can tell that despite all the negatives your positive personality just shines through
I’m glad the DH is safe.
I usually read or try to talk/email to a friend(s) if I’m having a bad day. I also listen to my ipod and play songs I know will make me smile and sing along, (TOO SEXY, by Right said Fred, anybody? *g*) Then there’s the DH and my girls those three make my day everyday.
My husband thought that I was crazy sitting in the van in the garage scribbling down my idea as soon as I got home. Hey, when inspiration strikes…
I’ve actually pulled over to write ideas down when I get them. As it turns out I get quite of few of them while driving. I once got an idea (which I will use in my current WIP) while waiting for chinese take out. I had no pen, no paper, needed to find a way to keep this idea from going away…I called myself at home and left myself a message…that way I wouldn’t forget. Yup, I’m nuts
August 30th, 2006 at 9:19 pmIsabel
Sorry for your woes, Andrea … but at least you hit a break through in the book!! Funny when and where the great ideas arrive.
One little plot problem has been bugging me for a week and all but stalled my writing. Then out of nowhere, as I was cleaning up a little “accident” left by my 3 yr old (really, I thought we were beyond such accidents) my lightbulb came.
Just roll with it baby!
And as for coping, alas food has always been my comfort. I can’t recommend that! Watching EMMA sounds like a better plan.
Best,
August 30th, 2006 at 11:11 pmSophie
Thanks so much Haven, Isabel and Sophie for your kind words and support. It means so much. Disaster struck again twice yesterday, but I’m going to keep my chin up because good times are on the horizon–I just know it.
And if you could, please keep my family in your prayers!
Hugs to all,
August 31st, 2006 at 7:19 amAndrea
Andrea, take comfort and support from your friends and family. Mope if you need to. Find what joy you can and keep on going. Bad stuff always passes. You’ll get through and be stronger for it. Meanwhile, Sweetie I’m sorry you’re going through a rough patch. Chin up. Keep writing. Get a hug from your cutie dh.
hugs
August 31st, 2006 at 7:53 amK
Andrea,
“Bad Day” is a good start. LOL I listen to my Triumphant Mix, which are all songs about kicking someone’s ass. “Let the Bodies Hit the Floor”, “Fighter”, etc.
Sometimes, though, the emotions do help. If I can calm down enough to write, my angry scenes are angrier, my sexy scenes are more intense. If you can calm your mind enough to focus, it can really work wonders (some of the really angry scenes between Emily and Grant in the third Lady Spy book are thanks to something that was irritating me at the time…. don’t remember what, but I was pretty pissed).
August 31st, 2006 at 8:42 amWell that sucks! Sorry to hear about your Almost week.
You ask how do you cope with a bad week or day? Well of course, reading a good book helps. If I feel like I need a pick-me-up, then I head for Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. I also listen to music or watch one of my favorite movies. In fact, I just ordered two more DVDs. Our Mutual Friend mini-series from the BBC, set in victorian times, and Quest for Camelot. Even though I have this on VHS I wanted to upgrade.
There was a point in my first book where I was kinnda stuck. I knew what the scene was about, I knew what my characters were doing, but the words just wouldn’t come! So after stressing for it for over a week I just took a slight break, and sure enough…the words came!
As far as motiovation…music works wonders for me, so does a walk. Get a little fresh air and be inspired by nature. Not very hard for me since I live in a mountianous, desert, green valley paradise. lol.
Michelle
August 31st, 2006 at 8:58 amThanks Kathryn, Jenna and Michelle for your encouragement. It truly lifts my spirits.
And speaking of spirit lifting…I even got an idea for the start of my next book (which is about the sister to the hero in my WIP) that also helps me a little in my WIP. I got all excited and wrote it all down, of course. While my emotions have been run through the mill, my creative juices have overflowed for some reason. At least something good has come of this.
Again, thanks to all of you ladies. I couldn’t ask for better friends.
August 31st, 2006 at 2:05 pmHugs,
Andrea
Jenna, I love that song, “bodies hit the floor”. I’m also big on “the game” by disturbed. And strangely enough “foxy foxy” by rob zombie perks me up.
Just to ease ya’lls minds, I listen to almost every type of music. Almost!
August 31st, 2006 at 3:14 pm