Handy

An illustrated guide to tipping, USA-style.

(I'm going back to work now. Honest. I love editing. Really.)

Eddie O'Sullivan

Seems like Eddie O'Sullivan was halfway out the door on Saturday after all!

Good riddance.

I Heart Junk Food

see more crazy cat pics

(What possessed me to say I'd give up junk food this year? *Pouts* Smelly New Year resolutions...)

Sorted

I got all riled up for my first Scribblers' Corner only to discover that it's now held on Mondays, not Wednesdays.

But I did finish rewriting my first story today - 1400 words/9087 words in total - and a neat stack of black and white pages is now sat on my desk. I'm going to read over my Sol Stein notes today and then I'll edit the hell out of it. (I'm giving myself a week.)

Thank you for your comments yesterday to my post on hours versus word count - it was good to hear your ways and means. I'm now aiming to do some work in the afternoon, whether it is writing or editing. Even if I just twiddle my thumbs for an hour...as a wise person once said, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

I've also decided to work at the weekends too, even just for a few hours. We have another long weekend coming up and I can't spare any more time.

And if you're anything like me, try this: How To Stop Procrastinating. And if you succeed, treat yourself to this.

The Day After The Weekend Before

Now that the dust has settled after Paddy's Weekend (I could still hear shouts, whistles and the whine of sirens at 4 am) I parked myself in front of my laptop and forced out 1300 words, which is my target for this week. By tomorrow I should have reached the total word count for this story, but it isn't over yet - I need to edit what I've written as I've started from scratch.

I'm trying not to feel guilty this week about everything but it is difficult. I tend to write non stop over several hours - I wrote today's word count in two and a half hours without a break, after which my head clouded and I couldn't produce any more. Sometimes it takes me three or four hours, but by early afternoon I'm only good for thinking about what should come next or ideas on rewriting what I've produced earlier.

I've always worked like this. Before the novel writing I was a copy writer and editor for a pharmaceutical magazine and later I designed and wrote web-based training for companies. I would spend the morning writing and the afternoon doing mindless administration duties or coming up with ideas for the next day. Guilt didn't rear its head then as I was meeting my deadlines and my boss was happy with my work.

I don't have any administration duties now so I tend to just read in the afternoon or do housework. But I can't shake the nagging feeling that I should be writing all day, or at least editing in the afternoon. I'm not sure if I'm just being too hard on myself, or if I really am being lazy and can push myself a little harder.

So I'm wondering how you work? Do you prefer to work for hours without a break, and then do other things? Or do you work in short bursts? Does the afternoon sluggishness sound like an excuse or are you also an early bird?

It's Not Saint Patrick's Day Without This Man

Indulge a sentimental Irishwoman...here are a few songs sung by the great Christy Moore.

Fairytale of New York

I just love this version.



Delirium Tremens



Don't Forget Your Shovel

Happy Paddy's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day y'all! Top of the mornin' to ya etc.

Unfortunately due to hangover exhaustion (long story!) we're not going to the party this morning, but we might venture out later.

And BootsnAll published my article on Las Vegas today - it really is a lucky day for us Irish!

Enjoy the day whatever you have planned.