Saturday, June 22, 2013

When I Can't Write

This past week bad weather has been keeping me offline, which has reduced my writing time on the computer to only an hour or two every day. When this happens (and every summer it generally does) I try to work on editing hard copies or tinker on story ideas, but I'm pretty dependent on the VRS for handling the bulk of my writing. Fortunately this year I have a lot of non-writing promo projects waiting in the wings, like the giveaway totes I'm making for Her Ladyship's Curse, my August release. Here's one I just finished:



Because I had extra time on my hands to work on the embellishment, I let myself go a little crazy with it (no pun intended):



I also experimented with a new technique to pad the inside of the tote, both to cushion and protect the beadwork and make the interior a little more unique. This also turned out nicely:



All the hours I spent sewing gave me time to think about writing, too, and that's an important part of my process. Writing a story is not just about getting it down on the page; at times I have to let things simmer and sort through what comes out of the mix. Having the down time gave me a chance to run through the story I'm working on and visualize things and do a bit of rearranging. I stopped sewing now and then to make a sketch and jot down some notes, but it was sitting and just thinking about the story that helped me the most. When I finally did get a chance to turn on the computer and write, I went to town and knocked out three times the amount of work I usually produce.

It can be frustrating, wanting to write but being unable to due to circumstances beyond your control. Next time, don't let it annoy you -- use the time to think about your story. You might find that when you do get back to the actual writing you have a lot more to put on the page.

10 comments:

  1. The bag is beautiful. I love the embellishments and the lining which reminds me of a sunset.

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    1. Thanks for the kind words. Believe it or not I found the lining fabric in a remnant bin at Wal-Mart for $1.00. :)

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  2. Gorgeous tote! You do such beautiful work!

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    1. It's really frustration therapy, Deb. If I can't write I have to clean or sew. Sewing is more fun than scrubbing floors, too, lol.

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  3. That is a gorgeous tote!
    I love the combination of a fairly commonplace object with such lavish and beautiful embellishment, helping me appreciate apples even more :-}

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    1. I actually borrowed the design idea from that patchwork pear I found at the quilt show this year. I thought a crazy-quilt version of an apple might be interesting, and I'm glad I tried it.

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  4. Oh, gorgeous bag! I'm trying to at least make creative plans and think through plot issues, and that does work, but really, I have got to find more time to get actual words written, too.

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    1. Thanks. :) With the bad weather hanging around I'm thinking about switching to night writing again, although the older I get the harder it is to stay up late.

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  5. Gorgeous bag! The embellishment is beautiful and I really love the interior material color also.

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    1. I appreciate the kind words, June. I love to get nuts with beading on a crazy quilt, and I really like how vibrant the colors are against the black velvet I used as the background. This week I'm switching to all shades of violet as I put together an amethyst silk tote for the August giveaways. I also now remember why I try not to sew silk charmeuse because it's like trying to stitch butterfly wings.

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