You know, I think we've all learned something today

[robling_t]

Something important apparently nearly fell off of the car. The takeaway here is the "nearly", I think, because at least Mum got it looked at while matters were still at the "is it supposed to be making that noise/smell?" stage as opposed to the far more expensive ACTUALLY ON FIRE stage. So, progress on the Dealing With Life front. (Although the oven, washer/dryer, and bathroom sink continue to be out of service.) She did, BTW, get something at least vaguely resembling another job, which is good because the last bunch did as expected just sort of wander off without making any provisions for their workers; New Job is basically the same as Previous Job, only working for people who seem to be marginally less of assholes at least somewhat cognizant of how basic physics works on this planet in traffic. Rate of pay still crap, but may improve with familiarity, and at any rate sufficient to keep beans on the table whilst further plans are considered. And far more humane hours, which also helps RE the considering further plans because part of the overall problem was a chronic lack of spoons to do anything else. Just not having to work on Saturdays has already improved Mum's outlook noticeably.


In other news, the Alleged Story is still giving me fits. It's currently 600 words short of the minimum wordcount for the thing-I-want-to-submit-it-to, with 3 weeks to the deadline, and I'm at that point of "this is complete crap even if I can connect the rest of the bits together why did I start this", which probably means that I'll wake up the morning after the deadline has passed and realize exactly how I could have fixed everything in about twenty minutes. Would it be Bad Form to ask someone to beta this before I even have a completed draft? I can't help but think that maybe the issue here is at least partly the want of a fresh eye on the damn thing...

Comments

[bibliofile]

Who cares if it's bad form? Give lots of warnings and say that you're stuck. That's how writers often work, regardless of venue.

I can also speak from experience that editing is not the same as writing, so if you find yourself editing then STOP. They're two different brain processes, really. Do you have something else you can work on instead, maybe another story to start/finish? That can help too.

Yay for employment with Saturdays off! Boo for wonky appliances. I must say, sometimes those inexpensive secondhand ones at the local ReStores look pretty good. Flatmate's considering a run to Elgin to get a functioning dishwasher. (I suspect the renters will get a brand new one; up here, that's not as important.)

[robling_t]

I can also speak from experience that editing is not the same as writing, so if you find yourself editing then STOP. They're two different brain processes, really. Do you have something else you can work on instead, maybe another story to start/finish? That can help too.

I've never been a linear writer, though; my process is more like I'm sorting through a jigsaw puzzle hooking pieces together as I pick them out of the box, and sometimes that involves figuring out that two half-worked clumps don't actually go together that way before I can fit others on (because their -- um, pips? innies-and-outies? the interlocky-shapes, anyhoo -- are already engaged but to the wrong other piece). To belabour the metaphor to the brink of death, what I'm stuck on with this story is the blue-sky-pieces and a big green lawn after I've worked the edges and the interesting parts of the picture...