Can you hear them? They beat a dull uninspiring clunk behind each hour. I get up (clunk!), get dressed (clunk!), travel to work (clunky clunk!), work (ker-lunk!), travel back (clunkety clunk!) and go to bed (zzz-clunk!) and still the doldrums bang on.
I can’t seem to shake them. I feel tired and vapid. This could be because I have finally been forced to admit caffeine hates my guts. Literally. It’s nearly been a whole month since saying a tearful goodbye to coffee, tea and other wonderfully caffeinated things, and I’m still sort of cranky about it. Soon I’ll have no vices left. I’ll have to create some new ones.
Darn food intolerances. It seems the more I like a food, the more my stomach decides to be totally contrary. It’s all a bit hit and miss trying to work out what’s okay and what’s not, but so far shellfish, certain nuts, caffeine, and coffee of any sort (de-caff included!) is on the banned list. All I know is cutting this stuff out makes my stomach very happy, which is miles better than a depressed digestion so this is the way it has to be, however if sugar is next I’ll scream.
I’m aware my poor blog is getting dusty while I try and unlock my fingers to post. Every last bit of energy seems to have snuck off; even my eyelids feel the chore of gravity. All work and no play makes Jayne a dull girl. Yet I do play – the past weekend was lovely – so why do I feel like this? I think it must be ‘all work and no writing makes Jayne a dull girl’. Or all work and no money? When is pay day, anyway?!
But writing has been happening in the gaps. I finally whacked, banged, cajoled and coaxed my synopsis into shape. It is three pages (approx 1200 words) and I can’t help wondering whether it is too long, but I really like it.
Let’s share triumphs – what have you triumphed at recently?
I’ll go first. Writing my synopsis was a triumph, as has been resisting coffee! I also found a brilliant jumper in a charity shop for £3. Major triumph!
23 comments:
I've just finished my first month of trying to lose weight, and have dropped 20lbs - nearly one and a half stone. Still a long way to go, but I must confess to a little triumphant jig after reading the scales!
Sorry about your food issues. I had a pretty triumphant February, but so far it's been a quiet March.
If you get a chance, please visit my blog. I'm holding a 500 follower contest. Great prizes!
Hi Jayne
I know exactly how you feel - dol-drum! Congrats on giving up the caffeine - don't think I could do that - there again if someone told me to give up alcohol - that would really send me over the edge.
Congrats too on the synopsis - if your novel is a big book with lots of twists and turns, then I don't think that's excessive. I wrote one recently for an assignment and that's my achievement for this month too - it came in at 1300 words but I edited and edited and don't think I can get it down any further. All my tutor said was though - if you're going to write this book - good luck, you're going to need it - inspirational heh?
Have you got anything new on the horizon that can just take flight for a while - just for you without having to edit - that might give you your mojo back.
Linda
Not trying to teach grandmother to suck eggs or anything but is it really all coffee? I found years ago that coffee gave me migraine but then it turned out that actually it was only instant coffee that caused me problems. (Nope - no idea why!)
I still can't drink too much of the real stuff but a single cup in the morning is OK and enough to stop the caffeine cravings.
Can't think of any major triumphs. Just getting up and going to work is a bit of an achievement at the moment.
Take care.
I always have another idea going when I write, a separate piece to fall back into when I run out of current ideas.If I feel worn on a passage sometimes, I go for a walk and come back with some new ideas.Spring awakens my dormacy of thought and gets my mind running good.Do something for someone else each week, no matter how simple.Have you ever paid someones bill at a eatery you didn't know?Write 5 things good that happened to you each week in a journal and only allow one line for each.
I'm sorry about your food issues. I know people who've given up caffeine and it took some time before they readjusted in their own skin. However, I felt like you did before a blood test revealed I had thyroid problems. Once I got on synthroid I became me again. (There are multiple symptoms if there's a thyroid problem so please google.)
March is turning out to be a good month. Got a positive edit back on one of my stories.
My diet will start next week as I still have a couple of birthday outings, and I'm going to enjoy them!
Wish you all the best with your synopsis, I'm sure it'll do really well.
My son was selected as Student Of The Week at his school and was required to put together a "picture book" of his life. We got poster board and construction paper and glue sticks and the printer was smoking and is now out of tri-color ink, but we knocked it out of the park, I think.
You've given up all things caffeine?!!? WOW!!! That's just so amazing!!!!! I guess like all addictive things - one has to dip, plateau and then find nirvana at the end of the tunnel!
And yay for you for finishing your synopsis!!! Major achievement!!
Take care
x
I cannot imagine giving up caffeine, for any reason, so big fat congrats to you!!!
I don't think 1200 words is too long for a synopsis. 3 pages is acceptable by most standards. If a query is 250 words (usually) then you have a little less than 5 queries. Which I think works well. Good job.
I finished my book. Wrote the end on Monday. So yay for me.
I have similar food issues -- there are certain foods (not caffeine, though) that would give me an indigestion for hours afterward. You're so much better than I am to be able to say goodbye to them!
Don't forget to test yourself for intollerance to additives like soy protein, and high fructose corn syrup. Those were the things that caused my biggest digestive problems.
I've never had food issues except for the desire to eat too much of it, esp. if it contains sugar and butter. Gah!
I have given up alcohol for a month and am successfully on day 22 as I write this.
I have been writing a lot more and am collaborating on something very exciting at the moment. I am very much enjoying the whole process.
Fab triumphs - especially the caffeine and the jumper!
Hm. Um. I managed to clean the flat today! Major triumph!
I've been cutting back on caffeine, too, although not completely. I was drinking two strong cups a day, with steamed milk and sugar -- as far as I'm concerned, as good as chocolate. But now I only have one cup a day. Yes. I miss it.
My real triumph this month, however, was submitting manuscripts. I walked around feeling so... writerly afterwards.
Hi Jayne, i am a new follower. I read few posts and admired them. I can imagine your pain in resisting caffeine but your are doing great keep it up!
Last week i took some time out for myself and relaxed. It worked wonders, so much peace!!
Sorry about your sensitive tummy.
My major triumph is that I got the garden in. Now if I can only get past these next few weeks without a cold snap, I'll be set. :)
Every little triumph in life needs to be celebrated. Congratulations on yours! I have yet to triumph over the plot paragraph of my query letter, but I'm slowly getting there.
My goodness, Jayne. One must have one's vices. Hope you find some new ones.
I have corrected my student's assignments and submitted them. Thats just about it. No other triumphs.
Giving up coffee would be a hard one for me! Hang in there...
Have you tried different flavoured tea? I found the only way I could cut down on coffee was having some nice replacements. Fruit tea, peppermint tea and hot chocolate (with marshmallows). Too much caffeine gives me a headache.
I have managed to keep the house clean while I have been home alone. For me this is a major truimph!
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