tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post3016182014595057277..comments2024-03-11T16:14:49.158-07:00Comments on Don't pet me, I'm writing: Things you can do in the absence of a brainTAWNA FENSKEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468819219529035563noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-33586428488728897962010-11-12T06:22:40.546-08:002010-11-12T06:22:40.546-08:00when my brain goes numb, I go somewhere else. If ...when my brain goes numb, I go somewhere else. If I'm at home, I drive to the bookstore or the library. If I'm in either of those places, I go to the other or home. None of them are more than 15 minutes away from each other with a minimum of six stoplights, and the drive and wait sequence seems to be perfect for getting my brain back in gear.<br /><br />My characters like to pause for a moment or think about things for a moment with alarming frequency. They are a dramatic bunch.Michelle Millernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-89510953256833385832010-11-12T00:16:57.810-08:002010-11-12T00:16:57.810-08:00Sleep.
I happen to be really good in bed.
Good...Sleep. <br /><br />I happen to be really good in bed. <br /><br />Good head or not. <br /><br />:DClaire Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14354840714847021685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-4376352796511529452010-11-11T18:13:29.494-08:002010-11-11T18:13:29.494-08:00My problem is that whenever I find myself without ...My problem is that whenever I find myself without a brain, I start writing about lions and flying monkeys and the Wizard of Oz and it always leads to a whole new series of copyright lawsuits, and I'm struggling enough to pay the bills as it is.<br /><br />Therefore, when I'm feeling brainless, I'll just stick to watching Fox News, thank you very much.Nate Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09690171790664252309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-82810167691962569292010-11-11T15:37:12.637-08:002010-11-11T15:37:12.637-08:00I do want a hug.I do want a hug.Dr. Goosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07605967916129162361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-170965414902517762010-11-11T14:48:30.952-08:002010-11-11T14:48:30.952-08:00This list is awesome. I also admire the work ethi...This list is awesome. I also admire the work ethic behind coming up with it, since when I reach that point I generally just go ahead and clip my toenails then call it a day.Elizabeth Ryannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12706539983177924875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-14315370885844343402010-11-11T13:25:53.774-08:002010-11-11T13:25:53.774-08:00I used to blog when felt a bit o' brain freeze...I used to blog when felt a bit o' brain freeze, but e-mails would show up inquiring why I wasn't editing my work. "But I'm improving my social network" I reply... Which was answered by an e-mail of a Youtube video of a lion roaring.<br /><br /> Reading classic novels does help to re-center me. Edits finished, I blog, for the most part, in peace. But I know I still use blogging to "excuse" lack of insight.<br /><br /> I'm lucky now. A new segment on my blog has allowed me to put work on a back burner till December.(hint-hint) :-)<br /><br />DougMThe Novel Roadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13296020285839996248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-3338732404791812422010-11-11T13:01:23.689-08:002010-11-11T13:01:23.689-08:00I'm a big abuser of the word 'just'. F...I'm a big abuser of the word 'just'. FB is good activity for the brain liquified!Jan Markleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08317561950719847803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-27603909400229453282010-11-11T10:56:07.305-08:002010-11-11T10:56:07.305-08:00I usually drink a lot of caffeine, which wakes me ...I usually drink a lot of caffeine, which wakes me up. And yet being in a coffeehouse, away from my desk, calms me, and somehow it's easier to write when I'm there. Or I'll start making a list of things that I'd like to write about that I haven't written about before. That way I'll have something to fall back on for next time.Neurotic Workaholichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06775298184138766683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-66602886571899676872010-11-11T10:09:52.852-08:002010-11-11T10:09:52.852-08:00Wait...you had me at style manual. What! can you p...Wait...you had me at style manual. What! can you please tell us more about this. I didn't know publishers had this, and I'm guessing it varies between publishers. This is fascinating! <br /><br />Wait, how sad is it that I'm more into the style book than I am Daniel Craig.Sierra Godfreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00552916038080341870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-32419326825774338202010-11-11T09:52:48.853-08:002010-11-11T09:52:48.853-08:00I tend to abuse 'just' too. Usually each n...I tend to abuse 'just' too. Usually each new story I write has new crutch words, but 'just' is one that hangs around.Nicole Zoltackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07464800543376449290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-18392482342302732912010-11-11T08:06:49.106-08:002010-11-11T08:06:49.106-08:00LOL my characters do too much eyebrow raising and ...LOL my characters do too much eyebrow raising and glancing and shrugging...they are some very twitchy people. I have to calm them down.<br /><br />And change Daniel Craig to Alex O'Laughlin, and I'm all about it. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-38308400876439621252010-11-11T08:04:57.320-08:002010-11-11T08:04:57.320-08:00I read when I am too tired to write. Last night, m...I read when I am too tired to write. Last night, my eyes were closing as I worked on my NaNo project, but I hadn't met my goal yet. <br /><br />I took a quick fan-fiction break. <br /><br />I am a horrid abuser of "She sighed." "He sighed." "We sighed" "They sighed."<br /><br />Jeesh, in a previous project, I used the Find/Replace feature and found 495 instances of "sigh".<br /><br />In my spare time, I now Google body gestures and facial expressions.Patty Blounthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11928111057602279792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-68985305713148585442010-11-11T07:12:30.245-08:002010-11-11T07:12:30.245-08:00Just found your blog and became a follower! Great...Just found your blog and became a follower! Great post. I love the list and especially the "find and replace war" which is a terrific way of describing it. Find and replace is so helpful. I'm one of those guilty of having every character raise an eyebrow at some point.Joanne R. Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08076959910493197255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-63811691376784591032010-11-11T06:34:26.149-08:002010-11-11T06:34:26.149-08:00Uh, yeah. When my brain flatlines, I totally do pr...Uh, yeah. When my brain flatlines, I totally do productive stuff like this rather than playing spider solitaire or watching dumb Youtube videos. *shifty eyes*Laura Maylenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18058744860709615256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-35926860131300599962010-11-11T06:33:21.501-08:002010-11-11T06:33:21.501-08:00I'm not the kind of writer who forces it. I wr...I'm not the kind of writer who forces it. I write when the inspiration takes me, which is not every day.<br /><br />Maybe I should try harder.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-2913507700095825922010-11-11T06:30:07.350-08:002010-11-11T06:30:07.350-08:00I'm sorry, I am also completely stupified and ...I'm sorry, I am also completely stupified and distracted at the idea of naked pictures of Daniel Craig. Was it in Casino Royale where he was so hideously abused? I still want to kiss it and make it better...<br /><br />(shakes head) What were we talking about?Teri Anne Stanleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15500524348027951939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-29646056564862702442010-11-11T05:49:55.079-08:002010-11-11T05:49:55.079-08:00Um, I play solitaire and brainstorm. I can't e...Um, I play solitaire and brainstorm. I can't even count how many times I'll find myself pulling up the solitaire window, play a couple of hands, and then think, "Oh! Idea!" and I can write again. It happens almost at the end of every scene, but it works for me. <br /><br />If I get really bad though, I'll read what I've written and clean up, drop words, tighten up the prose, etc.Danica Avethttp://danicaavet.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-67785424455642196772010-11-11T05:42:14.516-08:002010-11-11T05:42:14.516-08:00I'm just relieved (I overuse "just" ...I'm just relieved (I overuse "just" too by the way...) that I'm not the only one who can't think of a single interesting character name when I'm writing my draft. And everyone is always raising and eyebrow or "looking" or giving "looks," while I haven't employed the find & highlight feature for that yet, you gave me a great idea. WILL DO. Thanks, Tawna!Jessica Lemmonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16388504462239939840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-35391830075779911102010-11-11T05:02:24.061-08:002010-11-11T05:02:24.061-08:00I periodically print whatever I'm working on a...I periodically print whatever I'm working on and put the completed chapters in a binder. Then I go through, make notes to myself, on hundreds of post-its, and leave it. The brain-overload moments are perfect for my binder. I go through the notes I've made and follow my own instructions to the letter. I can edit and not worry about doing anything stupid because the notes were made when I was lucid.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849370947985905108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-15724916355585345632010-11-11T04:46:50.169-08:002010-11-11T04:46:50.169-08:00I'm sorry. I'd like to help, but my brain ...I'm sorry. I'd like to help, but my brain liquefied when I read the words "naked pictures of Daniel Craig."Linda G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04576828490765434497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-7642864611915611422010-11-11T04:24:35.030-08:002010-11-11T04:24:35.030-08:00Love this--made me laugh. And perfect timing. The ...Love this--made me laugh. And perfect timing. The time change couldn't have come at a worse time for me. My brain is dead and I have to revise a full. Ugh.Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05383099148014297450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-3907334902822470242010-11-11T03:59:59.160-08:002010-11-11T03:59:59.160-08:00There are naked images of Daniel Craig out there? ...There are naked images of Daniel Craig out there? How about David Tennant?<br /><br />I mean, um . . . sometimes I go back and outline what happens in each chapter, plot and subplot and make sure my timeline is right. <br /> If I'm brain dead, I don't get confused by the subtleties - supposing for a moment I wrote any - or what I'd <i>intended </i> versus what I actually <i>wrote.</i><br /><br />I just make step-by-step notes and sort it out when the brain cells come back on line.Sarah Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13265589529909793312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-47272218449062736582010-11-11T01:53:43.485-08:002010-11-11T01:53:43.485-08:00I love your list (maybe because mine is broadly th...I love your list (maybe because mine is broadly the same, giving me a warm 'I'm doing this right' feeling!).<br /><br />I've just started reading my work out to myself - it really does expose clumsy phrasing, dialogue that doesn't run true etc - and it's a great excuse (if one is needed) for talking to yourself!broken birohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06233920262119205474noreply@blogger.com