Productively on hold
Jun. 24th, 2015 09:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vintagewitch The last couple of days have been sort of productive. I've been wrapping up things at my job - my last day on the payroll is tomorrow. I am both relieved and sad about that. I also have an interview at 9 am tomorrow morning for a temp gig, so here's hoping I can nab that one.
I have ideas for the next novel bubbling up inside of me. I've even been looking into the research. It will be set sometime in the 1910s or 1920s - and it will have to do with spiritualism, mysticism, and the early revival of ceremonial magick in America. I'm not sure exactly the plot, but I know where I want to do research, so that's a good thing! Of course, I need to finish the manuscript I'm working on at the moment before I can even begin to plot another novel out. I don't want to get ahead of myself.
I've been trying to make time for writing. I haven't been terribly successful. I feel like my work in progress right now has potential to be very good, but the structure has changed so much over the course of the writing of it that it's hard to see that potential. I know the Brain Demons don't really help much on that front. Camp Nano will be good for me this year - force me to write a bit every day, force me to finish this manuscript.
I wish I'd known that particular, localized folklore would be such an important part of this novel I'm writing now. I could have done the research ahead of time. I feel like I just ... jumped in. I know that each project is a learning experience, and this one is a rather big one.
I have also noticed it's difficult for me to be really open and creative when I'm doing the kind of work I've been doing. Calling people I don't know to try to get them to do things for hours on end? REALLY EXHAUSTING. And I'm not even as introverted as they come - I'm pretty smack dab in the middle. I am eager to get to a point where I'm doing more management, more long-term policy planning, rather than the constant, high-energy work that is organizing.
Social media? Another huge drain. Facebook more than Twitter - I feel like there's more on the line with Facebook. Like, the social consequences of facebook weirdness are worse. Actually, there's a whole post here waiting to be written, but I just haven't gotten to it yet.
Add that to my list.
I've been getting to know a neighbor in the building. She's ... probably in her sixties? She's had a really interesting life. But she's super secure in who she is, she's got a great perspective, and she helps me see things differently. She's also incredibly intellectual, which I've been missing lately.
Note to self: spend more time reading, analyzing, seeing things. It's way easier to turn on shitty tv at the end of organizing, but that doesn't feed my soul the way books and writing does.
I think I hang out with 20-somethings too much. When your friends are your job competition, that shit can get weird.
(folks reading this are excluded from the "I hang out with 20-somethings" thing. Even if we do hang out in person)
I have ideas for the next novel bubbling up inside of me. I've even been looking into the research. It will be set sometime in the 1910s or 1920s - and it will have to do with spiritualism, mysticism, and the early revival of ceremonial magick in America. I'm not sure exactly the plot, but I know where I want to do research, so that's a good thing! Of course, I need to finish the manuscript I'm working on at the moment before I can even begin to plot another novel out. I don't want to get ahead of myself.
I've been trying to make time for writing. I haven't been terribly successful. I feel like my work in progress right now has potential to be very good, but the structure has changed so much over the course of the writing of it that it's hard to see that potential. I know the Brain Demons don't really help much on that front. Camp Nano will be good for me this year - force me to write a bit every day, force me to finish this manuscript.
I wish I'd known that particular, localized folklore would be such an important part of this novel I'm writing now. I could have done the research ahead of time. I feel like I just ... jumped in. I know that each project is a learning experience, and this one is a rather big one.
I have also noticed it's difficult for me to be really open and creative when I'm doing the kind of work I've been doing. Calling people I don't know to try to get them to do things for hours on end? REALLY EXHAUSTING. And I'm not even as introverted as they come - I'm pretty smack dab in the middle. I am eager to get to a point where I'm doing more management, more long-term policy planning, rather than the constant, high-energy work that is organizing.
Social media? Another huge drain. Facebook more than Twitter - I feel like there's more on the line with Facebook. Like, the social consequences of facebook weirdness are worse. Actually, there's a whole post here waiting to be written, but I just haven't gotten to it yet.
Add that to my list.
I've been getting to know a neighbor in the building. She's ... probably in her sixties? She's had a really interesting life. But she's super secure in who she is, she's got a great perspective, and she helps me see things differently. She's also incredibly intellectual, which I've been missing lately.
Note to self: spend more time reading, analyzing, seeing things. It's way easier to turn on shitty tv at the end of organizing, but that doesn't feed my soul the way books and writing does.
I think I hang out with 20-somethings too much. When your friends are your job competition, that shit can get weird.
(folks reading this are excluded from the "I hang out with 20-somethings" thing. Even if we do hang out in person)
no subject
Date: 2015-06-25 02:43 am (UTC)Good luck in everything.
no subject
Date: 2015-06-25 04:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-06-25 02:04 pm (UTC)I think that's another reason I don't want to get into organizing as a job - not to mention the high-energy part that is SO not my forte (despite my being the "social butterfly" of my committee). I want my friends to be my friends, not just people I work with. What's funny is that I easily befriend people at jobs, but I'm extremely Meh on the subject of actually making them into friends (when they're all "keep in touch!"). I got great friends. I like to keep reminding myself of this.
Also, not having just friends in their 20s is super awesome! I get their life experience! For freeeee!
Speaking of Camp Nano, I need to work on gaining cabin members, getting people psyched up, and uh... figuring out what the fuck I'm doing. I wish I weren't working, I'd love to spend a couple hours on a weekday in a coffee shop writing.
I also want to remind everyone that looking at the long-term, policy planning, etc is what gets us to HAVE high energy organizing. Super important stuff that I think is overlooked a bit.
no subject
Date: 2015-06-25 04:13 pm (UTC)I'm so excited for Camp Nano! We should have write-ins - evenings or weekends? Hopefully I'll have a job-thing soon, but I'm sure we can find time for the write-ins.
no subject
Date: 2015-06-25 08:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-06-25 05:07 pm (UTC)Having officially entered my 30s, I am finding myself a lot less giving of fucks about other people's bullshit, and amazingly having a lot of the self-assurance and confidence I was so desperately seeking in my mid-20s. I think some of it came from joining a cult, leaving the cult, having horrible aftermath, etc. and general life, but am very happy with where I am now emotionally. I probably don't recommend the cult approach in general though, if you can avoid it.
no subject
Date: 2015-06-25 08:24 pm (UTC)Good luck with avoiding the telly! I find it is easier in Summer when there is less (unless you discover something and binge it, I suppose).
And I hope you find a temp job. :) I have a seasonal one at the moment and probably should save a little more
stop getting books, even used ones.