Best-laid plans...

Of Mice and Men. (John Steinbeck). Lenny and George. Why did we care about these two misshapen tools? Because they were poor? Their funny way of talking? Because they had nobody and simply had to look out for each other? Their loneliness? Dreams are great, but to have this constant danger and dagger along side, definitely didn’t do George no good. But it was out of love. Love of his friend more than love of his dream. So we can only console with George, because that was the way it was always going to end up. Lenny’s life or George’s. I think George knew that at the beginning.

Well, yes, my plans ‘Gang aft agley’ -- go often askew, according to Robert Burns. But to look at the present, be now and around in awareness, instead of this silly backward eye -- that is the blessing of the mouse. Man is always fearing and guessing. That ain’t no fun!

Am I having fun then in my present? Yeah I work hard but fun?? What would make this more fun? New interesting music? New words new habits? New characters? Last week I managed to avoid the news, so I didn’t make much of the current events. Me thinks that “real world journalism” isn’t for me. I like features and themes. I like science-y things that need some thought into them, not necessarily fast reporting. I am always looking for this thread that weaves in and out like on the Giant Loom of my life.

This week I am supposed to focus on characters. I like Doctor Who. So go with it. A clock stoppage -- giant loom story with Doctor Who pieces. OK. Idea! Go! Stay with it!

We interrupt our regularly scheduled program to bring you...

Habits and plans: they say you shouldn’t try to make a change in habits if you don’t think you could do it forever (well, for the rest of your natural life).

For example, I don’t think I could go forever without eating pasta. I love pasta and rice. I am not sure I really love simple sugars per se, but it is more the idea of sugar -- I have it stuck in my brain that I need sugar in my coffee so the caffeine works better, I need the sugar in this cake so I think I am happy. I can be happy without sugar can’t I? Hmm, sounds like an addiction. Well, next week I will try to go 4 consecutive days without any simple sugars or pasta or rice. This is supposed to help reduce cravings “to think I am happy”. (This week’s planning is already shot…☺) Besides, I need some time to learn what I can eat that doesn’t have sugar! Salad dressing has sugar, so maybe olive oil and lemon juice instead. Steak and eggs do not have sugar. ☺ After those 4 days, maybe I will have to stop my cravings for fatty foods…

Oh, this is a blog about writing! Sheesh, sorry.

Habits and plans. Can I write each day 1,000 words? Apparently not -- other plans seem to get in the way. But I can set aside time to write for myself each day, yes, that I could do forever. Minimum 10 minutes, max 8 hours. Sure.

I write/edit/compute for my paid work and sometimes that takes precedence. But that work doesn’t “count” towards my creative endeavor or “hopeful” author endeavor -- to re-engineer myself into the creative writer’s life. In science or speculative fiction (yes, I’ve finally chosen a genre that I am happy with)!! So I need some time to learn what I can do in 10 minutes, always working towards my goals.

So what are some of my bad habits in writing? Procrastination seems to be the biggest one. I manage to play 10 minutes of games (Angry Birds, Scrabble, or something completely mindless) when I feel stressed about my work (which, apparently, is quite often!). So, why not replace those 10 minutes with something more “tasty” but less addictive, even if it is only for 4 days? Like learning some language words? Or a little exercise? Or writing for fun! Four days seems like a long time. If I can just mentally take one day at a time, that would be super duper. You think?

I seem to have an idea, get fixed on it for a while, then lose interest. How can I lose interest if it’s for the rest of my life, even when I take it one day at a time? Oh, never mind, this is me, and eventually I’ll figure it out. The process is just taking longer than I expected. It isn’t cut and dry as an “naïve painter from Appenzell” might think it is -- this disinterest or indolence that I find in me is what I have to fight in me everyday, whether it is the battle against “sugar addiction” or “procrastination addiction”.

Ahem, yes: my theme this week is to write about current events. Google Reader, here I come!!