northernbc's blog

Well, there it is ... SENT.

I just wanted to say thanks to the other writers, and to Randal and Susan for the contest.

My big lesson was this: a good, solid three hour writing block is one of my necessities. Even when I spent my three hours at the coffee shop reading over notes, or working on character sketches, or eavesdropping on other people's conversations (i.e. not writing) some teensy bit of work always got done. And the steady practice has yielded fruit. (Imagine that.)

Water everywhere. Snowbanks are settling, gray days but warm. I can see grass just at the edge of the foundation where the snow inches away from the warm concrete. Big happy sigh.

Now into my third coffeeshop writing week and the story inches along. Hammering out some geographical and genealogical details this week. I have many rough sketches and I'm now realizing I have to make some very specific choices. Where did these characters come from, precisely? (Assuming, as I do, that they were not dropped off by a stork.)
It is both fun and daunting. So many choices, so little time.

Well there. A good morning's work. A sweet, slightly virtuous feeling. Progress. Process. Both at once.
It seems this little bit of structure is good for me, for my writing.
Only one knitter today at the coffeeshop - less chatter - that was okay too.

8:33 a.m. Trying to leave the house. More snow in the night but at least the temperature has risen (not -30 with a wind chill of -75 anymore). Start truck. Clear off last night's snow (well, I'm going to do that in a minute). Empty the dishwasher. Wipe the counter. Etc.
Just go already, Maureen.
That did it. I'm off.

Day two - more chatter today and it is kind of interesting the way I listen and work at the same time. Not eavesdropping exactly but certainly hearing it all even though I'm huddled over my computer working away.
Minus thirty this morning. But crisp blue sky and lots of heat in the sun these days (already -15 and still warming) so I'm going to ski this afternoon (cross country).
And think about my characters, of course (even though they are not skiers).

Well, there it is, day one under my belt. It was good. I think I'm going to like writing at Kiwa Coffee.
I worked a long time at a community newspaper and a lot of my writing was done in a communal work space. I am reminded that I work productively with just a bit of chatter, some music, some energy at the periphery. It helps me concentrate. Plus I'm not the least bit motivated to clean their fridge, tidy their counters, or any of the zillion little things I use to distract myself when working at home.
Three hours is a nice space to spread out into. I feel like I got some work done.

Registration difficulties have been overcome.
Hooray!
So glad to be here.
Confession: I'm at home at my office computer and not at my coffee shop. I will be writing at my coffee shop but not blogging from there because the old Toshiba I write on is completely archaic and wouldn't know what to do with a wireless card if I bought it one.
But I like it that way.