November 27th, 2009 / 1:56 pm
Snippets
Snippets
Blake Butler—
Do you still try to write or find your brain still stuck on writing during holidays? Have you ever sent out a submission on a holiday? Does food (or family) eliminate your drive, or the reverse?
i write when i can and sometimes when i can’t. a holiday is just another day, but sometimes there’s more food involved, and also time bandits. i feel that most things that have to do with my drive come from me and less so from family or food or presents or eating a lot but sometimes when you eat a lot and drink a lot and then go write to bed maybe it’s harder to write but other than that.
i write when i can and sometimes when i can’t. a holiday is just another day, but sometimes there’s more food involved, and also time bandits. i feel that most things that have to do with my drive come from me and less so from family or food or presents or eating a lot but sometimes when you eat a lot and drink a lot and then go write to bed maybe it’s harder to write but other than that.
i write when i can and sometimes when i can’t. a holiday is just another day, but sometimes there’s more food involved, and also time bandits. i feel that most things that have to do with my drive come from me and less so from family or food or presents or eating a lot but sometimes when you eat a lot and drink a lot and then go write to bed maybe it’s harder to write but other than that.
I try to write every single day, so I at least make an attempt on the holidays. I didn’t write yesterday because I traveled all day, although I did do writing related things, like answer Collagist e-mails and write an interview and read some Christine Schutt.
Today though, back to writing, even though I’m out of town at the in-laws and away from my normal habits. I didn’t used to be able to do that, but I think now it’s a matter of necessity, because I start to feel crazy if I’m away from it for more than a day or so. Last year I even wrote on Christmas morning, sneaking out of bed and into my in-laws kitchen to work on my laptop. I only got about fifteen minutes in before my wife came down and yelled at me to stop being ridiculous. Fair enough, I think–The biggest factor in whether I write or don’t is whether I can do it without taking away from my time with my family or my wife, because holidays aren’t days for me to be as self-absorbed as I am every other day.
Last year, I sent out rejections on Christmas eve, just because I had time to work and thought I would try and get caught up. People did not love that. Lesson learned: There are actually times when people do not want the quickest response time possible.
I try to write every single day, so I at least make an attempt on the holidays. I didn’t write yesterday because I traveled all day, although I did do writing related things, like answer Collagist e-mails and write an interview and read some Christine Schutt.
Today though, back to writing, even though I’m out of town at the in-laws and away from my normal habits. I didn’t used to be able to do that, but I think now it’s a matter of necessity, because I start to feel crazy if I’m away from it for more than a day or so. Last year I even wrote on Christmas morning, sneaking out of bed and into my in-laws kitchen to work on my laptop. I only got about fifteen minutes in before my wife came down and yelled at me to stop being ridiculous. Fair enough, I think–The biggest factor in whether I write or don’t is whether I can do it without taking away from my time with my family or my wife, because holidays aren’t days for me to be as self-absorbed as I am every other day.
Last year, I sent out rejections on Christmas eve, just because I had time to work and thought I would try and get caught up. People did not love that. Lesson learned: There are actually times when people do not want the quickest response time possible.
I try to write every single day, so I at least make an attempt on the holidays. I didn’t write yesterday because I traveled all day, although I did do writing related things, like answer Collagist e-mails and write an interview and read some Christine Schutt.
Today though, back to writing, even though I’m out of town at the in-laws and away from my normal habits. I didn’t used to be able to do that, but I think now it’s a matter of necessity, because I start to feel crazy if I’m away from it for more than a day or so. Last year I even wrote on Christmas morning, sneaking out of bed and into my in-laws kitchen to work on my laptop. I only got about fifteen minutes in before my wife came down and yelled at me to stop being ridiculous. Fair enough, I think–The biggest factor in whether I write or don’t is whether I can do it without taking away from my time with my family or my wife, because holidays aren’t days for me to be as self-absorbed as I am every other day.
Last year, I sent out rejections on Christmas eve, just because I had time to work and thought I would try and get caught up. People did not love that. Lesson learned: There are actually times when people do not want the quickest response time possible.
Does staring at a blank screen count?
Does staring at a blank screen count?
Does staring at a blank screen count?
yes, yesterday i tried to write for awhile, but ended up falling asleep with my head resting on my laptop
yes, yesterday i tried to write for awhile, but ended up falling asleep with my head resting on my laptop
yes, yesterday i tried to write for awhile, but ended up falling asleep with my head resting on my laptop
wow. matt, that’s painful. i don’t know what i would do if i got a rejection on christmas eve… will you send me one?
wow. matt, that’s painful. i don’t know what i would do if i got a rejection on christmas eve… will you send me one?
wow. matt, that’s painful. i don’t know what i would do if i got a rejection on christmas eve… will you send me one?
I write and send work out on holidays mostly because I’m pretty low key about holidays and oftentimes, it feels like just another day once the family/church/food activities have been finished. I sent out rejections yesterday. In retrospect, I should have waited a day but I wasn’t doing anything so I was feeling productive.
I write and send work out on holidays mostly because I’m pretty low key about holidays and oftentimes, it feels like just another day once the family/church/food activities have been finished. I sent out rejections yesterday. In retrospect, I should have waited a day but I wasn’t doing anything so I was feeling productive.
I write and send work out on holidays mostly because I’m pretty low key about holidays and oftentimes, it feels like just another day once the family/church/food activities have been finished. I sent out rejections yesterday. In retrospect, I should have waited a day but I wasn’t doing anything so I was feeling productive.
ha, my wife always yells at me about the computer time … either her or my kids let me know it ain’t cool.
i had a funny exchange with molly gaudry yesterday about sending out rejections on holidays…she said you shouldn’t do it or you end up feeling like a jerk
– i wonder if it’s in the same league as quoting from a private conversation without permission?
i have been weirdly fired up this holiday…got an acceptance from elimae at the start of it so that may have something to do with it. also been reading some amazing stuff in diagram’s recent issues, including http://thediagram.com/9_4/rosenfeld.html … so in the long run i think this will be considered a great holiday (especially as i’m at my in laws and usually get little done here) but in the short term i’m sorta like howie…looking at the computer but not getting much down
ha, my wife always yells at me about the computer time … either her or my kids let me know it ain’t cool.
i had a funny exchange with molly gaudry yesterday about sending out rejections on holidays…she said you shouldn’t do it or you end up feeling like a jerk
– i wonder if it’s in the same league as quoting from a private conversation without permission?
i have been weirdly fired up this holiday…got an acceptance from elimae at the start of it so that may have something to do with it. also been reading some amazing stuff in diagram’s recent issues, including http://thediagram.com/9_4/rosenfeld.html … so in the long run i think this will be considered a great holiday (especially as i’m at my in laws and usually get little done here) but in the short term i’m sorta like howie…looking at the computer but not getting much down
ha, my wife always yells at me about the computer time … either her or my kids let me know it ain’t cool.
i had a funny exchange with molly gaudry yesterday about sending out rejections on holidays…she said you shouldn’t do it or you end up feeling like a jerk
– i wonder if it’s in the same league as quoting from a private conversation without permission?
i have been weirdly fired up this holiday…got an acceptance from elimae at the start of it so that may have something to do with it. also been reading some amazing stuff in diagram’s recent issues, including http://thediagram.com/9_4/rosenfeld.html … so in the long run i think this will be considered a great holiday (especially as i’m at my in laws and usually get little done here) but in the short term i’m sorta like howie…looking at the computer but not getting much down
i hope you said happy thanksgiving!
i hope you said happy thanksgiving!
i hope you said happy thanksgiving!
I don’t usually write, mostly because I’m too full of food and laziness and that comfy indoor feeling that results in slothlike behavior. But I read like mad. In fact, my husband and I both took the whole week off of work as a “reading vacation,” to try to catch up our massive, growing piles of unread books and magazines. Our co-workers think we’re nuts, but it’s been awesome.
I don’t usually write, mostly because I’m too full of food and laziness and that comfy indoor feeling that results in slothlike behavior. But I read like mad. In fact, my husband and I both took the whole week off of work as a “reading vacation,” to try to catch up our massive, growing piles of unread books and magazines. Our co-workers think we’re nuts, but it’s been awesome.
I promise that if you send a submission to The Collagist, I will respond one way or another on Christmas Eve. Fair?
I promise that if you send a submission to The Collagist, I will respond one way or another on Christmas Eve. Fair?
Alas!
Alas!
I feel like I’d actually be happier if I got a rejection during a holiday. I’d be all like, oh, well, sure my story sucks, but I’ve got some pie to eat and an assload of presents to open. Better than a rejection received while I’m sitting in my dark, windowless office hating everything.
I feel like I’d actually be happier if I got a rejection during a holiday. I’d be all like, oh, well, sure my story sucks, but I’ve got some pie to eat and an assload of presents to open. Better than a rejection received while I’m sitting in my dark, windowless office hating everything.
I thought I was going to get more writing/editing/subbing done this Thanksgiving weekend, but so far, I’ve succeeded only in writing a letter, a blog post, and a bunch of reading. But, I’ll admit, I’ve been in much more of a consuming more than producing mode lately, and the stack of books I’ve to finish and start and finish has grown tremendously in the past couple of months since I’ve been hanging out the Giant. You guys are hell on my bank account.
I’m more looking forward to Christmas/post-Christmas. My company has a week’s paid vacation/office shutdown between Christmas and New Years, and I’m planning on getting a shit ton of writing done then.
I thought I was going to get more writing/editing/subbing done this Thanksgiving weekend, but so far, I’ve succeeded only in writing a letter, a blog post, and a bunch of reading. But, I’ll admit, I’ve been in much more of a consuming more than producing mode lately, and the stack of books I’ve to finish and start and finish has grown tremendously in the past couple of months since I’ve been hanging out the Giant. You guys are hell on my bank account.
I’m more looking forward to Christmas/post-Christmas. My company has a week’s paid vacation/office shutdown between Christmas and New Years, and I’m planning on getting a shit ton of writing done then.
Yes, I’d rather have a rejection when there’s some guaranteed good in the day instead of an average day turned bad. In fact, we can flip this around. When I get a rejection letter, I better get some smoked turkey or a bag of candy with it. TAKE NOTE, VARIOUS EDITORS WHO DISLIKE MY WORK
Yes, I’d rather have a rejection when there’s some guaranteed good in the day instead of an average day turned bad. In fact, we can flip this around. When I get a rejection letter, I better get some smoked turkey or a bag of candy with it. TAKE NOTE, VARIOUS EDITORS WHO DISLIKE MY WORK
time bandits screw me over, too. always stealing my time.
time bandits screw me over, too. always stealing my time.
ha ha, shaun, you are funny
you too, amber
the sitting in my dark, windowless office hating everything image is great
ha ha, shaun, you are funny
you too, amber
the sitting in my dark, windowless office hating everything image is great
that sounds awesome and yes my co-workers think i’m insane too
that sounds awesome and yes my co-workers think i’m insane too
a reading vacation does sound pretty glorious..
a reading vacation does sound pretty glorious..
Today, I did some reading for revision, and found two logical impossibilities (read: both dependent on like, Twilight-level telepathy) on which my plot hinges. So, that was fun. Don’t revise on holiday.
Today, I did some reading for revision, and found two logical impossibilities (read: both dependent on like, Twilight-level telepathy) on which my plot hinges. So, that was fun. Don’t revise on holiday.
i try to make or find the time to write every day, too. so i wrote before the thanksgiving meal for a few hours, then read that night, half nodding out from bloatation.
i try to make or find the time to write every day, too. so i wrote before the thanksgiving meal for a few hours, then read that night, half nodding out from bloatation.