Over on Facebook, Celina was grumbling because her internet service went down yesterday and, while that made for an effective writing day, when it came back up today, it meant she had 37 messages that had to be dealt with. She didn’t mention it, but I imagine there might have been about the same number that didn’t have to be dealt with, too. I imagine this because that’s often how my e-mail looks.
When I went away to the writer’s retreat last fall, I managed to check my e-mail three times. The lowest number of e-mails I received in any of those times was in the upper 60’s. The other two times I had 80 or more e-mails waiting for me. I was officially out of e-mail account for 9 days and none of my friends were e-mailing me because they knew I was out of contact.
Right now, my e-mail’s not quite that bad, because I’ve cut back on so much while finishing the thesis, but as soon as I’m done with that, I know my e-mail numbers will be right back up there again. It’s reached a point where my mother feels guilty for adding to the numbers, those she also recognizes that it’s often the best way to leave me a message without disturbing me while I work.
Next Christmas, my mother and I are planning to travel. She has already asked me if I plan to take my laptop with me or not. On one hand, a true vacation without it would be wonderful, but on the other, if I don’t take it, what will I have to dig out of when I return?
These things – the almost constant need to be connected – the increase in average communications – these things they don’t mention when you announce you want to be a writer and they’re the things most people don’t think about, but once you start actually being a working writer, these are they types of things you have to learn to juggle and quickly.
In response to Celina’s grumbling, I pointed out that we chose our careers. Deciding to be a writer is not a passive choice. It’s not like anyone has ever answered a vague newspaper classified and discovered they will be writing a novel or a short story or a children’s book. Writing is something you both have to decide to be and then actively pursue. It’s not something you can do in your spare time whenever the muse moves you. But, my off-hand comment to Celina, got me wondering: What would a newspaper ad say in order to entice the unsuspecting to apply?
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4 comments:
Make your own hours! Work in your PJ's from home! Dazzle your friends and family with your knowledge of adverbs! Unlimited possibility for advancement!
No boy wizards or agnostic symbologists need apply.
I like that one. :)
Tough call Lori, but I think we both know the laptop will be coming along on the trip.
When you're old like me, and retired, you can freely cut yourself off from having to be in contact with the world. Maybe then you can leave it at home.
But I kinda doubt it.
(I just bought a netbook.) ;)
As luck would have it, Frank, where we made reservations to go, the laptop is definitely going with. However, I'm not certain there will be an internet connection.
I've been wanting a netbook, too, and I just learned that after July 1st, the place I work part-time might help me buy one.
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