write « Robin Writes

We always seem to think we’re ready for just about anything. Those of you who are, like me, “of a certain age,” probably have the emergency prep down to a science, right? Or do you?

I got caught by surprise yesterday.

First, my son got one of his usual nosebleeds, albeit a little heavier than is typical. And then, HIS EYE WAS BLEEDING!

Yikes—this is something I’ve never seen and it was more than a wee bit frightening. See, there’s a tear duct that usually drains downward but, in some people, it can also go in reverse. Apparently, he is “some people.”

I called a friend, who reminded me of this tear duct, and then I called the doctor. Had to leave a message, natch. The ER was SO NOT HELPFUL. Fortunately, the doc’s office called right back, said it was uncommon but not unheard of, and we got an appointment for early afternoon.

And yes, everything’s fine.

But what if there was no one to call?

Well, after the initial shock, and of course in retrospect, I’m sure my practical side would have taken over and everything would still be fine. Unless it was a major issue, and in that case, well, you don’t really want to think too hard about that because really, who among us would be up for eye surgery?

The point is that, well, in a SHTF situation, some things just aren’t going to be doable. And it’s probably a good idea to accept that right now.

The second thing, yesterday, was that my puppy decided to tear up my shoe. With my foot inside it. And yes, I was wearing crocs, it was hot, we were outside on the patio. Crocs have holes. The shoe if fine. My toe is not.

In spite of my supplies, stored mostly in the garage, and, for some reason, two boxes of Bandaids in the house, in two different places; we are stone cold out of antibiotic cream in an accessible place in the house. No, I don’t have loaded first aid kit in the bathroom—do you? Like most people, I think, I have a few odds and ends, rarely used, in the bathroom, a kitchen cabinet, etc.

And yeah, some of those things are leftovers from hospital stays anywhere from one to five years ago . . .

Anyway, after I hobbled inside and mopped up the blood trail, I washed my foot and stuck on a couple Bandaids. Damn thing hurt all night, in spite of ice and propping it up. Much better after removing the Bandaids when the bleeding finally stopped, and even better after Advil.

Today, I think I’m gonna live.

The point here is that, no matter how much you’re prepared for SHTF, don’t forget to ALSO be prepared for the little things that do crop up from time to time. No antibiotic cream is not a huge thing—someday we may all run out—but you can still wash and bandage, and, of course, pick some up the next time you’re at the store.

NOTE: Yes, you can use other things, like honey, or make your own antibiotic cream using herbs and oils. And right now, I have honey on my foot. Not as glamorous as it sounds, believe me!

A lot of mention has been made of one’s writing method, and what it comes down to is that is simply doesn’t matter. Do what you think is right for you. Notice that I didn’t say “what you feel;” feelings are what you pour into your work. Thinking is what you do for your career.

Plotter

You can plot and plan, but most writers have a day job too, and as you all know, life gets in the way of many things we want to do. Even, sometimes, things we need to do.

You may work best with a set time to write, and you may be able to stick with that most of the time. But what about the times you don’t? Do you feel bad? Guilty? Constrained?

Do you spend a lot of time staring at a blank screen or piece of paper? See, plotters map out almost everything—during their writing time—and use all kinds of methods and gadgets and tools to get ready to write. Plotters need to do this, and it’s okay.

IMHO, plotters usually take quite a long time to produce a book, and that’s okay too. Often, there are reams of material that never make it into that book, but could of course spawn another or even an entire series. This is a risk you run, especially if you’re in a hurry for whatever reason.

Another risk is that you end up with a landmine field of plot holes, because you know all these details so well that you fail to adequately explain or show them to your readers. Pantsters run this risk too, for the opposite reason.

Pantster

“Strike while the iron is hot” could be the pantster’s motto. Write when you feel like it! For myself, if I don’t do it when I’m on fire, so to speak, it won’t get done. Now, that doesn’t mean, usually, that I stop whatever I’m doing and dive right in—often I’m in the middle of something and I’m disciplined enough to finish that first.

And, of course, there’s the “percolating” method by which I can accomplish a number of mindless tasks while my subconscious is working on a book. THAT’s when it all comes together and I can spend hours at my desk and churn out a ton of pages.

Of course, there are times when I have to stop and make a few notes, or line out a few characters, or double-check the timeline of my plot. The difference between a plotter and pantster is that the latter uses tools and notes for a few minutes and gets right back to the story; a pantster doesn’t spend a great deal of time on details.

Which, of course, is that risk mentioned above: plot holes. I maintain, however, that pantsters have the better deal—all professional writers certainly check their work, but I think that pantsters are more likely to notice the gaps because all the details that could be missing weren’t meticulously written down elsewhere.

I could be wrong, of course. I sometimes am . . .

Anyway, who cares? Does it matter? Most writers have one preference or another and that could even change, depending on the WIP. Endless discussion of the method (of which, apparently, I’m guilty, considering this blog post), can only lead to procrastination.

And we all love that.

Do it your way, it doesn’t matter in the long run. Don’t listen to anyone who says you MUST do it a certain way—nope, not even those who say you MUST write every day. Baloney. Just get it done, one way or another.