Yesterday, Jim had the staples removed from his knee. Today the work begins on having the tub in the front bathroom converted into a walk-in shower. In case you were wondering, life here has not settled down. And that means I’m not doing much in the way of writing.
Since Jim’s knee replacement was to his right knee, he won’t be driving for at least another month. This means that, for the next month, I’ll be not only running routine errands, but also taking him to his various out-patient appointments. Definitely a change from my preferred hermit lifestyle.
Still, as the unpredictable elements diminish one by one, I find that my “writer brain” is slowly coming back into play. A long time ago, I learned that it isn’t being busy that gets in the way of my writing, it’s when my imagination is occupied solving other problems. As someone who solidly shoulders personal responsibility, I tend to address each problem as if it’s a logic tree: If this, then that. If not that, then this. And so on, often out to several branches.
That’s sort of how I write, too. Not logic trees, but immersing myself in my characters and living the story with them – including weighing various choices as they would. So, right now, I guess you could say that the story I’m writing is that of how Jim and I coped with having his right knee replaced. As that story moves closer to being completed, I have more room in my imagination for other stories.
That includes the new Firekeeper novel. A few weeks back, I left Firekeeper, Blind Seer, and some folks you don’t know newly arrived in the ruins of the original university in Azure Towers. Why?
Well, that’s a bit too complicated to go into here. But maybe, just maybe, I have time to go write a few more sentences about what they encounter before Jim’s physical therapist arrives. Shall we see?
November 14, 2018 at 1:21 am |
You know, I like that explanation. More so because I think I’m in a similar mind set, at least when it comes to problem solving. So it makes sense that when things get nuts, my creative energy is diverted to the complex ways to solve the nuts. As things settle, I can send it back to my fiction.
Here’s hoping things settle soon. I simple must have more Firekeeper in my life.
November 14, 2018 at 8:45 am |
I really resonated to this post, Jane. I’m sure you’ll understand why. Much love to you and Jim.
November 15, 2018 at 3:34 pm |
Hi Debbie… Thanks! I do indeed know you understand.