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writerly habits, and the confounding nature of summer
In addition to my devotion to my computers, laptop and desk top, I am also bound by some odd kinetic energy link to green chairs. There is one in our front room (a recliner that has seen better days). There is another green chair in our little library-type room. This one is an arm chair, grass green, which I have painted with cherries here and there. I write in one or the other of these chairs, depending on the muse's whim.
The muse (are you old enough to remember Phyllis Diller?) you must understand, is not easy; she's very particular, and she does not think much of sharing. The green chairs are hers, and she's most likely to insist on the one in the front room exactly when husband or daughter are in there watching the Simpsons or car races or something else equally important to them, but of no interest to her. She just wants me to put myself in that chair, and get to work. But what about the cherry chair? I ask her. In the library? Surely--.
No, sez she, and most decisively. Get Those People out of the room where my chair resides, and sit in it.
Now that girlchild is out of school for the summer, things are worse. Husband is most likely to be doing his own work in his office, but girlchild is unpredictable, and she has as little patience with the muserly demands as the muse has with her. Really mama, sez she. Isn't that just an excuse to get what you want?
But that's not what I want. What I want is to go play with paint and fabric and thread. I want to lie down on the comfortable recliner on the deck and read, with the puppy boys on one side and a gallon of Cherry Garcia on the other. I want to have a long talk on the phone with the writing staff of Farscape, or maybe even better, I want them all to come over for pizza and beer, and we'll sit around and watch favorite episodes and discuss narrative structure and plot dynamics and Aeryn's eyebrows. Those are the things I want, but the muse won't have any of that. She's standing at my elbow just now, tapping her foot.
And the girlchild just vacated the front room, so I better go now while the going's good.
July 6, 2004 09:47 AM
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Comments
Hi Sara,
I come by and read your blog almost every day but have never made a comment. I must tell you I look forward to reading the blog and whatever interesting bits of information,humor etc. you have to offer. I love your books and eagerly await FAS. I noted that you mentioned the lovley Viggo today and just had to comment as I too find him to be lovely. I am currently reading The Farseer trilogy by Robin Hobb and I can not put it down. Just thought you might want to know what Sara Donati fans read when waiting for your latest novel to come out. Have you ever read it? I highly recommend it. Have fun in your green chairs.
Carolyn C.
Posted by: Carolyn at July 6, 2004 03:41 PM
Carolyn, very good of you to de-lurk, and I will put The Farseer Trilogy on my have-a-look list. Thanks for the kind words, and the recommendation.
Posted by: sara at July 6, 2004 04:09 PM