tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27054305.post4272461102259808171..comments2023-12-23T04:56:29.702-05:00Comments on Ferule & Fescue: Avoidant personality disorder*Flaviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17832765671541392835noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27054305.post-49952772025417069962009-07-26T12:06:26.747-04:002009-07-26T12:06:26.747-04:00I can't decide which makes me like you more- t...I can't decide which makes me like you more- the sheltercats procrastination or the fact that you call it a "chequebook."<br /><br />Oh, and me too, though my pre-writing activities also include cleaning the house and puttering around the garden.Pamphiliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07709191371678901051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27054305.post-91318643780541886452009-07-26T11:01:25.137-04:002009-07-26T11:01:25.137-04:00True, editing is a delight; composition sucks. The...True, editing is a delight; composition sucks. The answer, I've found, is displacement therapy. Mow the lawn three unnecessary times. Then a return to composition can be seen as welcome relief.<br /><br />Alternatively, proofread the adverts in the local newspaper. Award yourself a cookie for every misuse you spot of 'it's'.John Yeomanhttp://yeomaniana.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27054305.post-26921978166052265842009-07-22T14:02:30.955-04:002009-07-22T14:02:30.955-04:00Yeah, ditto--I've always been ashamed of my ow...Yeah, ditto--I've always been ashamed of my own avoidant tendencies, and it's comforting to know that most everyone else works the same way. (As long as we don't kid ourselves that it's a virtue!) The reason, I think, is pretty simple: if you write, writing is always the hardest thing you do, and so distractions are tempting. The most insidious distractions, I find, are semi-virtuous ones like vacuuming. OK, back to work. Cheers, TGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27054305.post-23118132335077011682009-07-20T19:10:44.281-04:002009-07-20T19:10:44.281-04:00Moira - It never ceases to amaze me how wonderful ...Moira - It never ceases to amaze me how wonderful it is to not be the only one! "It's not just me being all messed up. It's just how it WORKS!"Diggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14851524413793098615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27054305.post-44777581880679166062009-07-20T18:23:21.176-04:002009-07-20T18:23:21.176-04:001. Oh man. Yes.
2. Get a second cat. I mean, for r...1. Oh <i>man</i>. Yes.<br />2. Get a second cat. I mean, for real. Cat! Do it. Caaaaaat. I do the shelter-browse too, and sometimes something even worse. I browse dogs, knowing full well I can't have one. This City is full of recovering fight dogs, sometimes racers. And I can't help them. So I just browse, and then cry. Not productive.<br />3. This post is oddly motivating: so thanks.moriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12390704103460109691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27054305.post-66026653772274446152009-07-20T18:15:36.327-04:002009-07-20T18:15:36.327-04:00Digger: I'm exactly the same way. I hate and a...Digger: I'm exactly the same way. I hate and avoid the first draft with a fiery passion. Editing really isn't bad by comparison.Flaviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17832765671541392835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27054305.post-92113271593436088562009-07-20T18:12:52.250-04:002009-07-20T18:12:52.250-04:00Just here to help, LoaF; just here to help.
And S...Just here to help, LoaF; just here to help.<br /><br />And Sis: you know, even though nothing <i>prevents</i> my avoidancy, every single time I have to write or revise something, the process is much less psychologically painful now than it used to be, by virtue of the fact that I'm pretty confident that whatever I'm writing <i>will</i> stop sucking eventually, if I just keep at it. <br /><br />Doesn't make the daily work any more fun, but there's less freakoutery and panic underlying it.Flaviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17832765671541392835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27054305.post-49707996900216513002009-07-20T18:09:49.727-04:002009-07-20T18:09:49.727-04:00Writing the first draft is the killer for me. Edit...Writing the first draft is the killer for me. Editing I find easier, though I still avoid it. Writing first draft = chain to desk, email addiction screaming in my ear, "oooh, 5 more minutes..." Edits = get showered, get dressed, get OUT of the house. Edit by hand. Return home and enter changes. Just have to be careful not to over-caffienate.Diggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14851524413793098615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27054305.post-53639367835478387832009-07-20T18:05:37.293-04:002009-07-20T18:05:37.293-04:00o.k., I did *not* need the idea of looking at shel...o.k., I did *not* need the idea of looking at shelter cats online!life_of_a_foolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05427532203981697246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27054305.post-91864905835838161622009-07-20T15:24:46.191-04:002009-07-20T15:24:46.191-04:00this is my process too! I like the framing of &qu...this is my process too! I like the framing of "it sucks less." I don't always achieve Sisyphus' end point though. It's more touch and go -- I think it's great, then it's complete trash, and then I just don't know what to think. I'm not sure I've ever managed the "hey it looks good!" for an extended period of time.life_of_a_foolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05427532203981697246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27054305.post-31869307460548317682009-07-20T14:53:59.954-04:002009-07-20T14:53:59.954-04:00This is totally my method (look at how I am readin...This is totally my method (look at how I am reading/responding to you right away when I am _supposed_ to save The Internet as my after-work reward, for example). <br /><br />And yeah, I hate revision --- the whole "gradually it sucks less and less until you finally think, hey it looks good; that was easy, what took me so long?" business. Instant amnesia, let me tell you. It makes each attempt to revise something else such a pain.<br /><br />PS want to write an article for me? It'll be a fun break for you! ;)Sisyphushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09880634753539329199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27054305.post-52086178768820246632009-07-20T13:26:03.289-04:002009-07-20T13:26:03.289-04:00I've had that same Penelope Trunk post open in...I've had that same Penelope Trunk post open in my web browser since she posted it, apparently hoping that seeing the article regularly will motivate me to kick my pathetic self-discipline into gear. Hasn't happened yet, but a girl can dream.<br /><br />I think that 10-15 pages of revision a day sounds very productive!What Now?https://www.blogger.com/profile/04017629066466055668noreply@blogger.com