Pam Bustin
creator, editor, story tender
Shake and Bake 48: The Gearing DOWN Edition
Hullo Sweeties
It’s official – I survived another 3-day Novel Contest.
The journey through this session was unique – as they all are. It was fun, but not as much MAD fun as I have had in years past.
This year I was very… focused on finding my way into the world of The Fifth. It’s fascinating to be able to almost see something so clearly and yet have things feel… hazy at the same time.
The siren song of this world and this new set of characters will draw me back. I know this. And I am glad.
The week was spent in… recovery mode … and I have to admit… the recovery goes on. This one really knocked me for a loop. Physically.
On Tuesday, the Raggedy Man and I made it into town (as you can see over HERE) and I mailed in my submission. We had a few celebratory pints down at the Legion, got a tasty tasty burger and fries from the Chip Stand and I was home and IN BED by 6:30pm.
Wednesday saw another trip to town … family business. I was home by 2:30 and wrapped up in a blanket in a chair outside, reading and dozing until around… 7 when I WENT TO BED.
Thursday was a bit better, energy wise. As was today. But I gotta say … whew.
I keep aiming to shake off the sleepy dozey desire to just read and watch boob tube and… get the ole brain in gear thinking of … what will be my next focus, writing wise. I keep aiming but as of… right now… I am just looking over there at that fire burning in the stove and thinking… maybe a cup of tea and read…. yeah that’s what I REALLY want to do.
Truth.
But… a few things that MOOST be done before I can curl back up… And so…
Let us CHICKEN…
The Quick Chicken (The Doings that help me with the Being):
- Scribble: 7/7
- Walk: 4/7
- Yoga: 5/7
- Meditation: 5/7
…and…
- Writing Hours: Well boy howdy…. mucho gusto over the weekend. The spreadsheet I kept for the contest this year has me clocking in 31.78 hours of actual keyboarding time amidst the 72 hours of the contest.
- Monday-Friday…. not so much on the Writing Hours front.
What Worked:
Sticking. As it Sticking with it.
Word by word by word… I made it through the contest. It helped to go onto the ChatZone and get backup while cheering others on. I can’t thank my pals over there enough for their company through the hours.
Remembering. And looking back.
Peeked back a few times at the work journals/notes I kept during previous 3DN contests. Helped a lot to read what I felt WHEN during the other years.
What I Might Do Next Time:
I might get together a little tome on my true way through the 3 Day – just for myself and slip it into the Book of Me. Reminders of what has happened in years past… especially the lulls… doubts… and freak-outs and how I got past them.
Because – oh yes – I WILL do this crazy thing again. As long as they run this contest, I believe that I will be holed up somewhere, scribbling madly and grinning like a wild child.
THE GNARBLY BITS:
- the tiredness in the bod.
- an achey achey hip and a swollen right wrist.
- dark dark darkest times when I was sure that I would not finish this story in any kind of satisfactory way at all at all.
- telling some grand friends that I’m just not up to a night out tonight – though I long to be with them, I also long for a book by the fire and this time, my introvert wins.
- feeling like a lazy pants for “giving in” to this tiredness in the body and this fog in the mind. Silly silly silly, I know…but there it is.
- the fear that I am “missing” these last warm days by being so freaking tired that I just want to LAY DOWN… And the feeling that by staying inside today and catching up on some computer business I’ve made myself tired again – as opposed to… I dunno… getting outside into the air… or something. oof.
THE TASTY BITES:
- being able to rest.
- good food, grown in our own garden.
- realizing that if I won the lottery I would do… exactly what I’m doing right now… Well not the TIRED thing, but the rest of it – living here, with the Raggedy Man, writing – I am so friggen blessed to be where I am and to be able to do what I want and NEED to do. Blessed.
- and… the story… the story that grew under my hands through the dark hours of the night. These characters who come to me and tell me their stories. What a gift it is. I can only hope that I prove worthy of them. I must give them my best effort – to bring their story through – as true and clear as I am able.
- and now… the fire… and a book to curl up with. A book someone else has worked hard on through the dark hours. Thank god for books and them that write ’em.
The Thing That Needs Baking In MOST:
“You’re all right, Kid.”
(I have this on good authority)
Next Week’s Playful INTENTION…
Ease on down….Ease on down the road…
Yeah. That’s the ticket.
~~~~
Okay… That’s it for me. The kettle is boiling…my book awaits
Wishing you a wonderful restful weekend.
go easy ~p
In homage to Havi’s Friday Chickens over on the The Fluent Self — This is the place I review my week – in an attempt to track some things – like progress on my novel and… living intentionally. I shake out my week and lay it out. Let the hard burn off and the good sink in. Call it an experiment in paying attention.
Comments are cherished here. Discussion is adored. If you’d rather talk in private – drop me a line.
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Pam Bustin 
Are you taking a B vitamin complex…the practical Mennonite in me desires to know.
hmmm no I am not. perhaps I should?