Prenatal Publication Syndrome

Publication - is the auction of the Mind of Man. ~ Emily Dickinson

I am starting to feel like a pregnant woman who just felt the baby drop. The book will be out in 5 weeks, and in this case, a premature birth would not hurt the baby and could help the mom. I am asking all the questions a mom would ask, such as “will I love it?” and “will it be OK?” I am starting to think about details like, “If someone asks me to sign it, what will I write?” A book about hepatitis C does not lend itself to, “Have fun reading the book.”

Gosh, the book isn’t here yet and already I am thinking about nursery schools…

My Affair with TED

Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia. ~ E. L. Doctorow

When talking to the dog, my husband referred to me as “Our Lady of the Perpetual Computer.” This simple statement speaks volumes. First, it points out where I spend the bulk of my life. Second, it strongly hints that my husband grew up as a Catholic. And finally, it appears that my incessant attention to the computer leaves the dog as the only able-bodied being in our household left for conversation.

My reliance on the computer leaves me feeling schizophrenic. It is both a necessary tool and a distraction. This morning I was looking up a quote and moments later, I was watching TED videos. (If you don’t know what TED is, I don’t know if I am conferring a blessing or a curse by telling you about it. TED is amazing, but very distracting.)

Writing demands complete faithfulness to its craft, a faithfulness I willingly betray on a regular basis. I guess you can say I am having an affair with TED.

Interruptions

Writing is a way of talking without being interrupted.  ~ Jules Renard, Journal, 10 April 1895

This quote is true, that is, as long as I don’t interrupt myself. When I lose my determination to stay focused, I am continually yielding to distraction. This is like having an inner monologue that is actually a dialogue between myself and my interrupting self. I don’t like to be interrupted by my husband, so I suppose I should stop tolerating my own interruptions!

To illustrate my point, here is a little humorous distraction:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oHBG3ABUJU&noredirect=1 

Coaching

Writing is utter solitude, the descent into the cold abyss of oneself.  ~ Franz Kafka

A writer I greatly admire is surgeon Atul Gawande. He wrote an interesting article titled Personal Best for the New Yorker (October 3, 2011). Gawande noted that top athletes and singers have coaches and wondered why other professionals, such as surgeons, didn’t have coaches. Few of us will reach, let alone sustain peak performance, so why don’t we get help?

I attend writing seminars and read books about writing, but I don’t have a writing mentor or coach. My excuse is that taking time to learn about writing takes time away from writing—an excuse that is flimsy and ridiculous. I am open to having a coach, and although I am not actively pursuing one, I bet one will drop into my life as soon as I put the period at the end of this sentence. Do you have a coach, and if so, care to recommend him or her?

Here is the interview with Gawande (This link will take you to the entire New Yorker article): http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/09/29/pm-the-benefits-of-having-a-career-coach/

Nearing the Summit

A man will turn over half a library to make one book. ~ Samuel Johnson

This week I read a pdf version of my book, Free from Hepatitis C. I actually printed the entire pdf, punched holes in the pages, and placed them in a binder. It is thrilling, to see the result of my research, writing, collaborating, and revising. The frightening part is ahead when I get the reviews. For now, I am relishing the glossy cover, the typeset, the weight of the pages, the ISBN number, and the fact that I am finished.

Crafting a Book

There is no mistake so great as the mistake of not going on. ~ William Blake

I am pondering the above quote by Blake. Did he mean that if we don’t make an effort this is really the biggest mistake we can make? Or, did he mean that quitting is the biggest mistake we can make? They are more or less the same concepts, although I can see more value in quitting than I can in not starting.

Today the thought of abandoning my second book seriously crossed my mind. I am so close to being done that it would be foolish to not finish. However, I know that writing the manuscript is not the hard part—revising, publishing and marketing the book takes much more effort. I entertained the thought of quitting for about five seconds. Then I went back to work.

The solution to quitting is to write. Word-by-word, sentence-by-sentence, healing and a book take shape.

Death Announcements and the Internet

Writing is both mask and unveiling. ~ E.B. White

I am in a quandary. I rely on email, the Internet, and social media. I see the value of these cyber tools, even if I sometimes feel more like a slave to them than a master. However, today I was caught off guard when I read an email telling me of the death of a dear friend. Her death was there, in a brief email, just below the subject line. The subject line was simply her name. I know this is the way we announce death these days—I myself have done this. It is no different from a newspaper obituary. However, there is something cold about words delivered electronically, whether via a Facebook posting, or even this blog. Perhaps it is the fact that reading words on an electronic screen lacks the warmth of paper. Or that it would be more comforting to learn of someone’s death from a live voice. I don’t know. What I do know is that I am doubly sad. Bereft over the loss of my friend and heartbroken to witness the hard cold facts this electronic age brings to us.