Wednesday, November 2, 2011

A Guide to Writer Traits

When drafting a new WIP there are certain things a writer will encounter. We can try to fight them. Pretend they won't happen to us, but the time will come when you are faced with these things:

Your appearance will suffer. You may/will be so engrossed in your WIP that your hair protests. Embrace it. Our presentation may suck, but the words you could write in the time it takes to brush your hair are what counts:



You've marked out your writing time. Everyone knows not to disturb you, but someone will interrupt you in the middle of THE MOST IMPORTANT scene to ask you a question. You'll need a speed answer to preserve your wordage flow:

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Your computer will decide to shut down/freeze/go wonky at the most inconvenient moment. You will utter this phrase many, many times:


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Or possibly want to do this:

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A balanced meal takes time to prepare. Valuable writing time! Sometimes the major food groups will end up looking like this:






We all know that sometimes the brain needs a break. Never underestimate the value of procrastination time: 



A writer will find that everything else is exciting while procrastinating:






And don't forget the benefits of a power nap:

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And then there is the ultimate writer trait to embrace. You can try to avoid it with carefully thought out writing plans/word count goals/time management, but the words are tricky. The words will hit you when you least expect it. Then comes the time when the words demand you write all night:





Happy writing! 

7 comments:

Katrina L. Lantz said...

Ha ha! So needed this today. Thanks for the giggles, Lindsay!

Becky Mahoney said...

Haha, great post! Excellent use of the Hyperbole and a Half comics. :D

Tyler-Rose Counts said...

Eminently appropriate on day 2 of NaNoWriMo. Don't forget mood swings due to the output of massive amounts of creative energy and the consumption of all left-over Halloween candy!

Faith E. Hough said...

LOL. Totally embracing messy hair today. Including my two-year-old's. Just didn't have the energy to fight her over the ponytails...

Cortney Pearson said...

I loved this, it made me laugh! Thanks!! :D

Susan Gourley said...

Thanks for the laugh. I think all those things happened to me yesterday.

Margo Kelly said...

Perfect! Thank you. :)