Pants
Applying the Seat of the Pants
I have a novel to write (several actually but let’s not go into that). I have once again signed up to NanoWrimo and am determined to see it through this time.
I have done my advance planning, thought about the plot, have a pretty clear idea about most of the characters. I have filled out my profile, set up the novel’s credentials and joined a Facebook group.
I have even written a decent 7 thousand words.
But. Here I am in the second week, quite a bit behind schedule and needing to up the daily word count to 2 000 plus and doing what? Sorting the laundry, cleaning the kitchen, even contemplating taking advantage of a spot of sunshine to tackle the tangled mess that is the garden.
It’s all got to be done. Don’t try to tell me otherwise. But you’re right, it probably doesn’t have to happen right now, it’s just I can’t quite bring myself to open the word document and crack on with the writing.
Kingsley Amis said “The art of writing is the art of applying the seat of one’s trousers to the seat of one’s chair.” (Apparently Mary Seaton Vorse also said this, only she refers to them as ‘pants’, thus including those of us who often show up to work still in our night attire).
I have applied the seat of my trousers (made the effort to dress today) to the seat of my chair, but am still not writing my novel.
I am writing, ’tis true. But a blog post probably doesn’t count.
Written by wendymalpass
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