Last week, I talked about the hard questions that coronavirus is bringing to light. This week, I’d like to talk about one easy answer I’ve found in the social isolation situation we find ourselves in.
I’ve dealt amazingly well with being in quarantine. Honestly, I’ve scared myself a bit with my contentedness to stay at home, work from home, etc lately. I felt the same thing last year when I was personally quarantined with two viruses. It’s a relief not to feel the anxiety that many others are struggling with, but it’s also unsettling that I’m not bothered by relative isolation.
Rick says it’s because I’m an introvert. That’s certainly true, but I think there’s one more thing contributing to it: I’m also an opportunist. I’m not looking at this as OMG, I’m confined to home. For the past two weeks, I’ve been asking myself: what can I do now that I usually don’t have time to do, or that usually takes me longer than I like because of limits on my time? It turns out that question has helped me to adapt, as I’ve been able to stay busy, despite staying at home.
For example: Domino is now in the hands of two beta readers, and has been sent to an editor to see if we can establish a working relationship. This was something I hadn’t planned on doing until the summer, but the social distancing and working from home orders have given me time and opportunity to do another revision, realize I needed outside help to “move on” from the spot I’m at in writing this manuscript, and reaching out to others to get that help. I’m both nervous and looking forward to their feedback: nervous, because I’m certain it will smack my ego, but anticipating some real, solid advice that will get this manuscript (and perhaps, the entire book series that it’s kicking off) on the right track. I know I need it, and I’m happy to pursue it earlier.
I’m also submitting one of my shorter works that fell to the wayside for publication. I honestly forgot about the fact that I laid this piece aside in 2012 when Blurry and Anywhere But Here got published, and am thrilled to rediscover it, clean it up, and pursue publication once again. Of course, that’s opening me up to rejection again, but much like the feedback on Domino, this is part of being a writer. You can’t find success without risking (and having) failure, so here we go. Maybe this time will be the charm. I'll get knocked down, but by the grace of God, I'll get up again.
And, of course, I’m back to chasing my personal white whale of short stories and flash fiction. I’ve at least accepted that I’m never giving up on this, no matter how many times I go through this cycle of starting, failing, getting distracted by novels, stopping, and starting over again. Let’s just hope I have a better end than Ishmael had in Moby Dick. Surly, short stories won’t be the end of me. It might not be my greatest area, but I can at least improve to have some fun and supplement my writing.
In other areas, I am still reading, and the rose cutting cross stitch is framed. It’s beautiful! I’m so excited that it’s done and to enter it in the State Fair this fall. We’ll see if I can capture that particular “white whale” of a blue first place ribbon this year!
So yes, there are opportunities here, and that’s an easy answer we can all accept. I think that’s where I found my contentedness – in taking advantage of them. And, of course, in having all day, every day, in the comfort of my home with my husband and parrots.
What opportunities can you find in this situation? Take a look around. I’ll bet there are many.
That’s all today. Take care, and have a great week.
Bye!
I’ve dealt amazingly well with being in quarantine. Honestly, I’ve scared myself a bit with my contentedness to stay at home, work from home, etc lately. I felt the same thing last year when I was personally quarantined with two viruses. It’s a relief not to feel the anxiety that many others are struggling with, but it’s also unsettling that I’m not bothered by relative isolation.
Rick says it’s because I’m an introvert. That’s certainly true, but I think there’s one more thing contributing to it: I’m also an opportunist. I’m not looking at this as OMG, I’m confined to home. For the past two weeks, I’ve been asking myself: what can I do now that I usually don’t have time to do, or that usually takes me longer than I like because of limits on my time? It turns out that question has helped me to adapt, as I’ve been able to stay busy, despite staying at home.
For example: Domino is now in the hands of two beta readers, and has been sent to an editor to see if we can establish a working relationship. This was something I hadn’t planned on doing until the summer, but the social distancing and working from home orders have given me time and opportunity to do another revision, realize I needed outside help to “move on” from the spot I’m at in writing this manuscript, and reaching out to others to get that help. I’m both nervous and looking forward to their feedback: nervous, because I’m certain it will smack my ego, but anticipating some real, solid advice that will get this manuscript (and perhaps, the entire book series that it’s kicking off) on the right track. I know I need it, and I’m happy to pursue it earlier.
I’m also submitting one of my shorter works that fell to the wayside for publication. I honestly forgot about the fact that I laid this piece aside in 2012 when Blurry and Anywhere But Here got published, and am thrilled to rediscover it, clean it up, and pursue publication once again. Of course, that’s opening me up to rejection again, but much like the feedback on Domino, this is part of being a writer. You can’t find success without risking (and having) failure, so here we go. Maybe this time will be the charm. I'll get knocked down, but by the grace of God, I'll get up again.
And, of course, I’m back to chasing my personal white whale of short stories and flash fiction. I’ve at least accepted that I’m never giving up on this, no matter how many times I go through this cycle of starting, failing, getting distracted by novels, stopping, and starting over again. Let’s just hope I have a better end than Ishmael had in Moby Dick. Surly, short stories won’t be the end of me. It might not be my greatest area, but I can at least improve to have some fun and supplement my writing.
In other areas, I am still reading, and the rose cutting cross stitch is framed. It’s beautiful! I’m so excited that it’s done and to enter it in the State Fair this fall. We’ll see if I can capture that particular “white whale” of a blue first place ribbon this year!
So yes, there are opportunities here, and that’s an easy answer we can all accept. I think that’s where I found my contentedness – in taking advantage of them. And, of course, in having all day, every day, in the comfort of my home with my husband and parrots.
What opportunities can you find in this situation? Take a look around. I’ll bet there are many.
That’s all today. Take care, and have a great week.
Bye!
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