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Hello to one and all. I haven't contributed a thing since November, and I'd like to come back if you all would let me. For about four months last year I posted almost daily and tried to critique more than I submitted (not hard since I haven't been very prolific) and this group helped me enormously to grow as a writer. You also were the means by which I found out about NaNoWriMo, which I attempted. Being a new mother and having other circumstances outside of my control prevent me from quite finishing, I nonetheless wrote more last November than I have previously in my entire life.
I owe a debt of gratitude to Hatrack for that spurt of writing.
Being one of those sanguine, never-stays-on-task-long-enough-to-finish-anything types (and believe me when I say I wish that were not the case) I can truthfully say that keeping in the flow here at Hatrack also kept my writing on track.
After November, I admit that I fell into a black hole. I have done zero writing and critiquing, haven't even read the posts. A very large part of the reason for that was also tied in with why I couldn't finish my novel on time: my baby and computer share a room. She won't let me write when she's awake, and sleeps so lightly I cannot type while she is sleeping either. There is no way to change the location of either the baby or the computer, so I'm a bit stuck.
Despite this, I am feeling withdrawal symptoms, and would sincerely like to get back in the writing habit. Those of you who are praying folks, my prayer is that I can somehow have computer access separate from the abode of my child. Perhaps this year's tax return will provide a solution? We'll see.
Anyway, all that to say this: I'd like to come back aboard. I may not be able to post daily, and if I accept pieces to critique, I would appreciate a couple of days to get to them, but I want to be involved again. I have nothing to submit as yet, but I am hoping that with being constantly submerged in the writer's world, as I was last fall, my production will pick up.
Thank you for the patience of anyone who reads this, and I am eagerly anticipating many good rounds of discussion in the future!
Pamper yourself with a nice Waterman fountain pen and a notebook of good quality paper and then peacefully write longhand while the baby snoozes blissfully unaware that mommy is writing -- best of both worlds, if you ask me!
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I don't think you need anyone's permission to come back, but welcome anyway. The pen and paper idea sounds like a winner to me. Posts: 1810 | Registered: Jun 2002
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posted
You could just get one of those jelly keyboards. I can move sleeping children or desktop computers from room to room without needing much in the way of economic resources, but I suppose that you might be talking about having another room. In which case, I don't think that your tax return is going to help very much unless you deliberately overpay by a pretty hefty margin. I'd advise you to stop doing that if such is the case, but that's another matter.
Posts: 8322 | Registered: Aug 1999
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Well, I tend to write most of my stuff longhand in a notebook before I type it uo anyway, because a notebook goes places with me ever so much better than a computer does, and I never know when I'll have an odd moment that I can use to sit down and write. So I think the old pen & paper idea is a great one.
Either way, of course, you'll have to get on and type eventually if you intend to post anything online. But at least this way it won't crimp your writing as such.
And, hey, whatever you post, I'm always willing to look at it!
--Jaya
[This message has been edited by Jaina (edited February 21, 2005).]
From someone who's heading more toward the other end of the motherhood thing (no more diapers! YAY!!), how's it going?
There are still times--not very often, mind you--when I would love to feel a baby in my arms, or sleeping on my shoulder. Enjoy it while you can.
And here's a suggestion--at the risk of completely spoiling the little squirt--get yourself a camp chair--one of those in which you can slump down real low--and let the baby sleep on your chest while you type. Might do the trick, and you can't beat that mother/child bonding.
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SHE WHO MUST BE OBEYED suggested playing music whilst typing. I suggest typing in time to the music whilst playing music. You can get some interesting word combinations that way, and I actually type more accurately doing it because I focus more.
Of course, from time to time I find myself typing something like "... and as the sun set dah dah over the bloody dah de dah dah dah lake dedah DARNIT!"
Oh! Welcome ba bah bah, ba bah be bah, Ba Bah BAH, BA BAH BEBACK!
[This message has been edited by mikemunsil (edited February 22, 2005).]
As far as your suggestions for helping the baby sleep, they are all appreciated, but alas ineffective. I have music playing 24/7 in her room, a humidifier blowing at full blast for white noise, a blanket over the end of the crib to help block light from the monitor, and yet my dulcet darling still wakes at the lightest keystroke or mouse click.
She gets it from her father, who wakes up to the sound of a page turning from across the room when I am reading by the 4 watt bulb of a nightlight.
We've decided to completely rearrange the furniture in our condo and buy a flatscreen monitor with our refund so we can fit the computer in a living room corner. Unfortunately, to do so means I lose my very coveted cozy armchair corner in which I cross stitch and read and such. Alas. But the writing muse must be obeyed, and her orders are quite clear: BIC BIC BIC!!!!
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