Get On The Right Side Of The Paper

Happy Thursday Everyone,

A writer gets to his or her computer and starts typing away merrily, in a complete good mood and totally sane. Wait...what's wrong with this picture?

You're missing the part where the writer is trying to write before the first cup of coffee or perhaps the first bit of sugar hit (or whatever it is that jumps start an author into writing).

You're also forgetting the writer's block. Or the dazed stare at the blank screen with the blinking cursor.

You might have even forgotten the part where said writer is talking to his or herself in fragmented sentences "...yank from the cupboard...no, no, that doesn't work...jerked? Hmmmm....oh wait, I know!"

My husband has walked in on me doing that. He once walked into the room while I was editing and heard me talking to myself. He said "What?" I said, "I'm trying to figure out if this sentence is all right or if there's another word." He shook his head while I scrambled through my Dictionary/Thesaurus for the right word.

Just like people will say "Did you get up on the wrong side of the bed?" You might wonder if a writer got up on the right side of the paper or if he or she went to the wrong side and that's why said writer is tearing their hair out muttering unintelligibly.

Or maybe the author is actually having a good day. Doesn't mean it's less of a spectacle: said writer (like me) might be sitting there going "Yes! Yes, that totally works! Oh why didn't I think of that in the first place?" Or maybe suddenly they got hyper and get this evil look in their eye, saying, "Aha, I get to torture my characters!"

Yes, we writers are known for our eccentric behavior. However, speaking as a writer, I actually like it. Eccentric is fun. It means you're quirky...a little odd, sometimes people might look at you like you're from outer space (or, like my mother used to say "Don't look at me like I'm Donald Duck!" I like that one...I've used that one on my own kid). But, it's part of who you are as a storyteller.

The thing is, without a writer's particular brand of eccentric behavior, you wouldn't have that particular story.

A writer might have 5 cats, 2 dogs, and 15 llamas, but without those 5 cats, 2 dogs and 15 llamas you wouldn't get to hear about "The Great Llama Escape"(--speaking purely for example purposes, that is. I don't know of a story called that or a writer with 15 llamas). In any case, you get the picture.

Each writer has his or her own little quirk that brings the spark of storytelling to life.

In any case, whether you're on the right or wrong side of the paper today, as long as it ain't illegal or immoral or unethical, I see no reason why you can't let your eccentric behavior manifest itself. Just cut yourself off at 5 cups of coffee. You're starting to shake.

Have A Timeless Thursday!