Comments on: Don’t blink or you’ll miss it

By: NT Blevins

NT Blevins — Thu, 13 May 2010 03:51:44 +0000

Thought you might enjoy this:

Why the Druid is the best class in the game. :p

By: Cozy

Cozy — Wed, 12 May 2010 05:30:00 +0000

Non-writer, just avid reader here.

From my view, I’ll go on reading whenever you post the next instalment. Sooner is nicer, but you don’t owe me anything, so I’ll take what I can get when I can get it.

But thoroughly enjoying the story and regularly checking that I’d not missed an update. Glad to hear that you do intend to continue :-)

By: Scott D

Scott D — Tue, 11 May 2010 14:25:46 +0000

Four and a half months? I can top that. Back in 2004, I started writing a fanfic set in the Diablo world of Sanctuary as a deliberately fun and pressure-free project to cure my writer’s block. I got immediate praise and encouragement from a community that is much more discerning than the average (they had a reputation as a bunch of elitist meanies, actually), so I continued. Fifteen chapters in, I hit a block. It took me nearly two years to get past it and continue writing. I’ve gone months at a time without typing a single word, which explains why I am still not finished. The morning, I started chapter 24, which will be the last chapter in Book I (!!). So far I’m about 200,000 words in.

One thing that this little project has taught me is that the longer you wait, the harder it is to pick up again. Between WoW, the Starcraft II beta and movies, it’s easy to let several hours of free time disappear. You will probably need breaks occasionally, though, but I would suggest that when you do, you give yourself a date to get back on task. Otherwise, as you say, it gets too easy to slip into a routine that doesn’t include writing. Be careful, though. I don’t know how many times I’ve gone to bed, only to find myself tapping away at the keyboard ten minutes later.

By: Kattrinsaa

Kattrinsaa — Mon, 10 May 2010 21:44:43 +0000

I know what you mean bbb, i wrote a little 3300 word post for the Single Abstract Noun 11th hour event. (they give you a random zone in old world, and a random obstacle, and you write your own little entry. That was probably some of the most rewarding writing i’ve done on my blog to date. I’m actually contemplating writing more stories like that using my characters for inspiration.

and BBB, for fun you should head over to SAN and see if you can land one of the remaining zone/obstacles, i know you would write a doozy.

By: Mama Druid

Mama Druid — Mon, 10 May 2010 20:39:07 +0000

Now that’s settled – what are you waiting for? Get some writing done! ;)

By: bigbearbutt

bigbearbutt — Mon, 10 May 2010 20:06:36 +0000

Well, as I mailed to ya mama, I didn’t take it that way, and if my reply seemed snarky towards you, that’s certainly not my intent. Far from it, in our house one of the most frequent topics of conversation is WoW orphans, believe me. No, you made a damn fine point and we’re with you 100% of the way.

Perhaps if I hadn’t made a career out of all snark, all the time, I’d be better able to not seem snarky. :)

By: Mama Druid

Mama Druid — Mon, 10 May 2010 19:35:42 +0000

Oh dear me, I didn’t mean it like that at all! I’m terribly sorry my comment came across to you that way.

I most certainly applaud the priority you place on spending time with the little guy. How important that is to both you and Cassie is definitely conveyed in your posts. And by no means do I get the impression you live online 24/7. Nope, not at all.

My comment was pretty much my initial thought after having read what you wrote. I’m thinking, “Awwww… that’s just like with the kids.” Time flies so fast with them, suddenly you are thinking about college when you were just taking them to their first day of school! You look back and wonder how the heck you got here so fast. 10 years ain’t much.

By: SlikRX/Balthazario

SlikRX/Balthazario — Mon, 10 May 2010 19:01:42 +0000

Sadly, I think many folks DO realize they have kids,and we can hear glimpses of those conversations over Vent.

“The Guild” may be funny, but the steroetypes/archetypes they show do, sadly, exist. I know a real life Clara. Thankfully, not in my house.

More towards your post’s point: I have a story that’s ~95% done in my head, was once about 30% done in a script, and is beign re-worked into a novel/story. I busted out about 5,000 words, and haven’t gone back. I REALLY need to, and it’s amazing how quickly the hours, days and weeks slip by with narry a word to show.

By: bigbearbutt

bigbearbutt — Mon, 10 May 2010 18:36:09 +0000

Mama Druid, that’s a good point, but that’s supposing we’re not aware of how precious our time with our son is right now. We ain’t missing that. We’re not going to have the same reaction then, because we really don’t take him for granted. He’s pretty awesome.

I can absolutely get where you’re coming from, though. Sometimes it seems folks you know just live online, 24/7, and you wonder when they actually take time to, like, notice there is a child in the house.

By: Mama Druid

Mama Druid — Mon, 10 May 2010 18:02:33 +0000

One day, sooner than you can possibly know, your son will be starting middle school, then high school, and then… you’ll have the same reaction. Blink, and they’re gone. How’s that for perspective? :)

Mama Druid, wistful mama of a 17 yr old and 15 yr old.