I'm sitting in on a class today (fortunately with laptop). What I hate about these
is that they always want to break for lunch at noon. $&#%# late sleepers. I
got up this morning at 4:45 and worked out in the gym. Even though I had what for
me is a close approximation to a big breakfast (Gatorade, a clementine and a box
of cereal in the car) plus tea when I got to work, I'm hungry. Because I'm
in this classroom, it's not easy to find a morning snack. And it's only about
10AM. By 11, when I would normally eat, I'll be ravenous. By noon I'll be drooping
from low blood sugar and will be on the verge of a headache. Not good. I hate
living on other people's schedules.
Unfortunately I can't eat really
big breakfasts because if I eat them early I get weighed down and queasy for the
rest of the day, and I couldn't eat later because by the time I got in I didn't
have enough time before class.
What I would really like is
href="http://www.marissalingen.com/">Mris's work schedule, but there are
problems with this, one large and one major. The large one is that I don't write
fiction - I just seem to be lacking that skill or drive. I could probably fake
something up if necessary (like, if I were being graded on it) but I don't have
plots, characters, or situations bubbling up in my head as "real" fiction authors
seem to. The reason I only classed that as a large problem rather than an
insurmountable one is that there are, after all, nonfiction books -- and I do have
essay topics bubbling up for me. The really insurmountable problem is that I don't
have the drive or discipline that is necessary to actually finish a book. Even
when I had a good idea, was out of work, and got an agent to say "Yes, write
samples and I'll look at it," I didn't get myself moving to put together the
writing and photos to send. I'm still a bit annoyed with myself for falling down
on that job, since it had potential to change my life in a way I'd like it to
change. Or (given what most authors earn) at least give me an accomplishment to be
proud of.
The worst thing about writing, as a career, is that you
actually have to write. The fact that I can even frame that sentence, I realize,
is enough to keep me from ever being a professional author. Potential isn't much
good if you don't fulfill it. Anybody know of a good career path that just
involves sitting around at home and reading with occasional meetings with other
people so you don't get too lonely? Where you get to pick only what you want to
read? And that pays well? Given that basis, I could even throw in a few hours of
writing or planning a day. Really, if I could find that job I could write a book
telling others how to do it and probably really would make a fortune.
While I'm on the subject of books and reading (as if I'm ever off it), I should
note that, having categorized the comics-and-graphic-novels section Sunday, I
should add to muy authors list: I have at least 5 books each by Scott Adams, Burke
Breathed, and Lynn Johnston and more than that by Bill Watterson. Also, having
looke up the values of the items in that section, I can report that my brother has
a better idea of the eventual values of graphic novels than the rest of the family
give him credit for. All are worth well over cover price and Bruce Sterling's
Frankenstein is worth far more than I'd ever have guessed.