 | 31 Jan 07 |
I went into the bathroom a little while ago, saw my reflection in the mirror and damn near swallowed my tongue from gasping so hard. Needless to say, I’m a pretty pathetic sight right now. Here’s a visual….
Ball cap over hair that should have been washed two days ago, dark circles and deep lines around the eyes, and pasty skin with that too-much-caffeine sheen. Gross ain’t it?
Over the last 5 days, I’ve had a total of 10 hours sleep, and that’s no exaggeration. The rest of those 110 hours have been spent writing, teaching classes on writing in San Diego, more writing, doing radio and tv interviews on writing, more writing, then throw on top of that heap the deadline from hell, and you wind up with the beauty queen I mentioned above. I swear, I don’t know of any other business that allows for such large quantities of self-imposed abuse. Nor do I know any other industry workers who would be stupid enough to take on that kind of abuse. Yet, writers do it to themselves again and again. What’s up with that? Is it a genetic problem? A self-esteem problem? Or do we just harbor some latent masochistic tendencies?
I found the answer to that question in my daughters.
I love and treasure my children more than life itself. And with that love comes a powerful desire to do whatever I can for them whenever possible. No sacrifice is too great when it comes to them. I think many writers carry the same powerful love for words. In that way, we’re different from the rest of the world’s workers. That love gives us the desire and strength to go above and beyond the call of duty time and time again. In that respect, we’re either very, very fortunate, or truly cursed.
Right now, with the memory of my gross reflection still vivid in my mind, I’d call it a fifty-fifty split between fortunate and cursed. I’m just hoping that when this road smoothes out…and it will, eventually… so will my face!
© 2007 – 2009, Deborah LeBlanc. All rights reserved.
Deborah LeBlanc is an award-winning author and business owner from Lafayette, Louisiana. She's also a licensed death scene investigator and an active member of two national paranormal investigation teams.
She is the president of the Horror Writers Association, president of the Writers' Guild of Acadiana, president of Mystery Writers of America's Southwest Chapter, and an active member of Sisters in Crime, Novelists Inc, and International Thriller Writers Inc. In 2004, she created the LeBlanc Literacy Challenge, an annual national campaign designed to encourage more people to read, and founded Literacy Inc. a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting illiteracy in America’s teens. She also takes her passion for literacy and a powerful ability to motivate to high schools around the country.
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Your post reminds me that Jennifer Crusie often snarkily reminds herself that she’s “living the dream” whenever the writing or business side of writing takes an ugly turn toward exhausting.
You are sooo right. Much like my children, I find my writing will often suck the life right out of me LOL. We’ve just got to remember to fill the well by gently nurturing our souls whenever we can.
by Wendy Roberts January 31st, 2007 at 9:34 amYou’re right about filling the well, Wendy! Right now that puppy’s drier than the Sonoran…arg
by Deb January 31st, 2007 at 10:31 amROFLOL. I can totally picture it. We do abuse ourselves. I think it’s that idea that our kids needs are more important than our own. Our book is more important than us. It goes on and on . . .
by Allison January 31st, 2007 at 11:17 amHi Deb,
((((HUGS)))) I’m not published yet, and I only have self-imposed deadlines. I chill at the thought of an interview and imagining myself teaching makes me shiver. But I do understand how the love of a story can suck you in and take over. I agree that there is a certain amount of self-abuse in writing seriously.
Come over to RWKF and I’ll give you a chance to win CHOCOLATE! I’m sure I read somewhere how well chocolate can cure hangovers and sleep deprivation and depression and stress…it’s a cure-all. I’m sure of it!!
Hang in there. It’s got to end sometime. Right??
by Joan Swan January 31st, 2007 at 4:27 pmChocolate is a great booster! I hope things get better soon, Deb!
by spyscribbler January 31st, 2007 at 5:39 pmI’m with Spy bring on the chocolate, a good bottle of *whine*, and bed…er after deadline is met that is. Until then just the chocolate and whine.
by Cele January 31st, 2007 at 9:43 pmyes! Chocolate! Lotsa chocolate!
by Deb February 1st, 2007 at 5:34 pm