Just a quick post to say it’s been an unproductive week. It’s okay. Things happen, and for sure things have happened this week.
Still there’s a low-grade anxious buzz in my blood, knowing I’ve been away from my manuscript for almost two months. It will be two months by the time I get back to it.
I’m taking deep breaths.
Laptop Problems
The week started with a Monday that was all a Monday could hope to be. My laptop started shutting down randomly and wouldn’t stay on for any length of time unless it was plugged in. In the course of troubleshooting, it got to a point where it wouldn’t even boot up anymore. As of this writing on Saturday, it’s still in limbo. I’m honestly not sure how I’ll post this, though I believe I can figure it out. (Update: I used another computer.)
Online Scams
Also on Monday, I spent half the day finding a rental on Vrbo (like Airbnb). I was so glad when I finally booked a place for our first family vacation in two years. Then I started getting texts from the host asking for a security deposit. Luckily I figured out what was going on before sending more money: I was being scammed. It took a few more days to get my money back and cancel the reservation. Vrbo has now taken down that listing, and I’m back to planning a vacation again.
Normal is Not Back Yet
Before all this happened, I had been cleaning up the Scrivener file that contains my novel and all the supporting documents, such as plotting notes, outlines, character work, worldbuilding, and research. I need to purge the many accumulated versions that make it hard to find things quickly so that I can revise more efficiently. But now I don’t have access to my laptop, so purging has stopped.
One way or the other, I’ll resolve this laptop issue. Luckily, I have all my files backed up (Oh, so grateful for that!) And new vacation plans have been made, sans Vrbo.
I’ll be excited to get back to my novel, once I can. There’s nothing like being forced to take a break to make me appreciate how much I love writing!
How’s your writing going? Have you ever been forced to stop writing for awhile because of circumstances you couldn’t control? How did you deal with it?
One can only hope ideas and inspiration are germinating in this break and the novel will be even better for it, but Oof, That’s Rough! We’re all eager to read so praying technology cooperates soon.
Thank you, Kristin! Hoping to resolve the technology issues this week 🤞🤓 It’s amazing to me how unmoored I’ve felt without my laptop. I like your idea that ideas and inspiration are still germinating :o)