Comments on: Office Space

By: Kacie

Kacie — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 15:50:34 +0000

Just noticed your beautiful images and particularly of the cattle guard. Very observant of you to point out how the ‘gap’ widths in the cattle guard above can catch or snag a cows hoof. I’ve got several myself and it does happen…we go w/ concrete cattle guards now.

By: Katie Shea

Katie Shea — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:20:07 +0000

What a fascinating and fun post! I love the way you share your ‘writing life.’

By: Nina

Nina — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 17:12:52 +0000

I think I’ve said something like this to you before . . . but have to say, I can’t believe we live in the same country. Your pictures are just amazing. And yes, totally appreciated the cattle sign.

I was excited to see the WIP even in it’s blurred state!

By: Melissa

Melissa — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 17:04:01 +0000

Ah… I agree! Sometimes the biggest part of writing DOES happen in our heads, and among external surroundings. No doubt! You did a perfect job of explaining it, though I seriously went into the desert with the full intent of editing – something I’d wanted to try for awhile, even though I pretty much KNEW what would happen!

By: Melissa

Melissa — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 17:01:41 +0000

I think you may be on to something: still being able to “see” nature, but not being AS tempted by it. That won’t stop me from trying again, though!

By: Melissa

Melissa — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 17:00:50 +0000

I couldn’t agree more, Pamela. I find that things have a way of working themselves out when I’m running, too. I’ve found that my iPhone has been very helpful in those instances: I’ll stop mid-run to record a memo with the recorder on the phone. Lifesaver on many occasions. So happy to see you on my blog.

By: Pamela Beason

Pamela Beason — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 17:38:00 +0000

I don’t usually write outdoors, but I routinely use solitary hikes and kayak expeditions to work through issues I run into while writing my novels. Somehow my brain just works better when my body is in motion, and nature always provides inspiration, especially since my mystery protagonist is an outdoor type. I always carry a little notepad & pen to jot down the solutions that occur to me. Thanks for a thoughtful post!

By: 47

47 — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 15:31:13 +0000

Sometimes the most serious part of writing and even editing doesn’t involve a pen. When I find myself driven to seek out places like that (for “Edits”) I don’t really go out there to dash apart my novel with a red pen. There’s a problem with my novel. A deep pervasive one that if I can just get the words to flow over that deep, secret part of mind…the “Genius in the back of my head” I call it, they’ll come back five times more perfect.

It could be a realization that your MC’s inciting incident was really something else, or just a word change, but it always makes a huge difference.

I guess what I’m trying to say is, maybe you didn’t get anything on paper, but you probably were still working. It’s really hard to explain.

By: Country Wife

Country Wife — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 14:45:41 +0000

lol, loved your tossed salad! Great photos to go along with your outdoor writing experiment. I have tried to read or write out by the garden in the summer, under the apple tree, and with cats and cattle and butterflies and ugly flies, I am as distracted as you were! It seems inside on my couch next to the big window works the best for me. Enough of the outdoors to see without the wildlife interferences.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 03:23:27 +0000

And you continue to make me laugh so hard that I do the “Muttley.” You’re probably way too young to remember the cartoon of the laughing dog and his raspy laugh. But that’s what your comments do to me. They make me muttley.