Good question

I felt I had to reply to a reader’s comment. They asked - What do you do when you don't feel like writing but know you should? This is where I have problems.

What a great question. Sometimes I give in to the feeling and go for a walk, or work in the garden. Other times I write things that are easier for me, such as fillers (tips and letters to magazines) or work on my column. For me, non fiction is easier as I know what’s going to happen. Something else I do is free writing. I just sit down and write, not stopping to think or correct or edit. The result might be meaningless or turn into a moan, but sometimes a grain of a story appears. Another thing you can do is set a specific time for writing and stick to it. It’s often easy to do something else, or persuade yourself that you’re not in the mood but if you really want to write, you will do it.
I hope this helps.

Louis goes, Angel arrives

I had to get up early as I wasn’t sure when Louis’ owners were arriving. While I was waiting I sat down and drafted a couple of stories. I don’t think they’re bad, but will know more when I get round to typing them up. I also sent a letter off to Amateur Gardening.
When his owners arrived, Louis trotted off with them without so much as a backwards glance. I think he’d be happy staying with anyone, he’s that kind of dog. I did shed a few tears when he was gone, but not for long. I think it helped that another one was due to arrive, plus, providing nothing bad happens, he’ll be coming back in October for two weeks.
After he’d gone, I had a couple of hours to clean the house, ready for my next ‘guest’. I had to strip the bed which had a liberal coating of chocolate brown hairs, then clean and tidy everywhere.
The new dog is called Angel and she’s a sorry looking Boxer with just a stump of a tail, a and a sore, furless neck, the result of a recent illness. For the first couple of hours, she kept pacing up and down, looking lost or asking to go out into the garden. It was though she was looking for her owner. The rain was absolutely pelting down so I had to keep rubbing her down with a towel, trying to avoid her painful neck area. I stroked her when she came in from the rain and my hand came away absolutely covered in damp hair.
Luckily, it wasn’t long before she quietened down. She ate all her food, and cadged a bit of my turkey dinner. All I hope is that she sleeps well, DOWNSTAIRS. After Louis, I could use an uninterrupted night’s sleep.

Getting sorted

I spent hours today, sorting out paperwork and filing so that I can find the various fillers I need to give talks. I also added some stories to ALCS and threw away a bin bag full of paper.
Next I took a photo for a gardening tip and sent it to Gardeners World.
Aware that I’m not writing anything new at the moment, I rewrote another old story so that I have something to send to Take a Break.
Took Louis for an extra long walk to the park as he’s going home tomorrow. I’m really going to miss him.

Starring Louis

Here he is.

Strawberries

I sent off my entry for Writing Magazine’s Adult Fairy Story competition, then checked back through my stock of stories hoping to find one that I could tweak and send to Take A Break. Fortunately I found one. While I’m not writing much new, it helps to keep the submissions going as if I want to sell four stories a month, I really need to be writing at least eight (which I’m definitely NOT doing at the moment). What I want to do right now, is go to sleep. The trouble is I’m not sure if that’s the depression talking or if it’s the simple result of not getting enough sleep thanks to Louis the Labrador.

This sounds daft, but I guess it must be a bit like having a small child. They lose you sleep, make all kinds of mess, but you can forgive them anything because you love them. After Milo, I wondered whether I’d be able to make a connection with another dog so soon, but I have. I won’t miss Louis as much because another dog’s coming to stay with me straight after him, but I will certainly look forward to his next stay. His owners are going to Florida in October for two weeks – hooray!

Two people I gave free feedback to send me their revised stories for further comment today. I always like to help if I can, but there have been times lately when I’ve regretted offering to do this. I had no idea I would get so many takers. Sadly, from now on, unless they’re friends, I’m going to have to say no, unless I get paid. I’m not doing enough new writing as it is.

I made a lovely mess with chalk pastels at the art group this afternoon, working from a Monet painting of water lilies. It’s less than two hours so fits in with my work, take a break, work routine.

I have all kinds of art materials upstairs, including water based oils, most of which have never been touched. I don’t allow myself the time for art at home which is crazy as I enjoy it and it relaxes me so much. I always think I should be doing something else.

I’ve just eaten a handful of wild strawberries from the garden. Really tasty. I’m actively encouraging the plants to take over as much of the garden as they want to. My first cultivated strawberry started to turn red yesterday, but this morning when I did the rounds, I found a bird had already eaten most of it, so I brought the remains indoors, trimmed and washed it, and ate it, even though it was still mostly white. I’ve put a net up now, but I expect the birds will find a way. I don’t mind. I have hundreds of strawberries coming, I just wish they’d let me have that first one.

TALK TALK

I didn’t go back on line yesterday. Wednesdays are meant to be a day off as I go to Heydays, but having given a talk instead, I felt that was enough work. The talk went very well. People clapped and laughed in all the right places and the hour flew by. Next time will be so much easier.

The Playhouse was literally transformed by a visiting theatre group performing all kinds of innovative theatre. When I emerged from my talk, I went straight into the Soldier’s Song. It was a sound proof video karaoke where you sing along to a video of a serving soldier. I chose Angels. The soldier’s name was Shaun. It was a delicious, strangely moving, intimate experience. Although he was just a picture on a screen, as his eyes looked into mine, it was like stepping into another world. 

When I came home, I felt so worn out, I just slumped in a chair for two hours. 

Last night, I had a special meal to celebrate the talk going so well – lamp chops and a selection of vegetables including the first mange tout of the year and my first ever home grown baby turnip. Every time I pick fruit and vegetables from the garden, I get this strange feeling which I can’t adequately describe, a kind of delight and amazement as though I’m plundering something precious.

Louis continues to ruin my night’s sleep but I seriously think I could forgive him virtually anything. It’s made such a huge difference to my mood, having him here. He gives me something else to focus on. As the next dog arrives on the same day he goes home, I’m hoping that couple of weeks will be enough to help me out of the depression which was doing its best to pull me under.

I had a call late last night from the local WI saying their July speaker had let them down and was I free. Luckily I am so that’s another paid booking which is really good.

Wish me luck.

THREE a.m. this morning, but again, apart from waking me up, Louis was no trouble.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed that some people who listen to my talk this morning will want to book me to talk to other groups. Wish me luck!