tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-214489875213933536.post2963290177124434789..comments2024-01-13T22:42:35.981-06:00Comments on Motherhood & Words®: automatickate hopperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08761820572827505993noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-214489875213933536.post-5091294045508274352010-08-12T19:13:31.467-05:002010-08-12T19:13:31.467-05:00I find that I edit in my head as others speak! Ca...I find that I edit in my head as others speak! Can't really be listening to what they are saying if I'm doing that, but I can't seem to stop it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-214489875213933536.post-3878485758510259542010-07-22T12:53:52.389-05:002010-07-22T12:53:52.389-05:00I find that I am writing in my head, a built in co...I find that I am writing in my head, a built in commentary of my life, if you will, while I'm driving or waiting or playing a mindless game of candyland. You are right...it keeps us out of the moment when we are trying to fully experience and describe the moment. <br />Trying to slow down is good. Succeeding at slowing down is better.Life As I Know Ithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09492465378321819342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-214489875213933536.post-24851343329700988802010-07-15T16:44:57.717-05:002010-07-15T16:44:57.717-05:00oh, my god, Kate--this is well-timed! i had a str...oh, my god, Kate--this is well-timed! i had a strange experience a couple of weeks ago when i was in a state park, bicycling with my in-laws, at the same time as two little boys were drowning in the river where we were biking. on our way back, we sort of bicycled into the thick of the search. i was stunned at how strongly my emotions responded to the event (not least because i was a lifeguard, and it's hard to escape those "what if i had been in this spot only a little earlier" questions), and even more stunned when, as we were pedaling home, in the midst of my emotions, i thought: "how would i write about this?" and began thinking through this "story." i burst into tears when i pulled my bike into the driveway and saw my husband, and i can tell you i wasn't just crying for the little boys--i was definitely crying in shame for my own reaction. a little heavier than what you're describing here, but it was a sobering moment for me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-214489875213933536.post-28729829262046044522010-07-14T08:35:29.778-05:002010-07-14T08:35:29.778-05:00Awesome post. I so totally relate. I'm such a ...Awesome post. I so totally relate. I'm such a good, efficient writer in my head. It all changes when I sit down in front of the computer.<br /><br />I LOVED that Gillian Kendall essay in the sun. One of my all time favorites.6512 and growinghttp://6512andgrowing.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-214489875213933536.post-72343128174697177852010-07-10T13:19:08.553-05:002010-07-10T13:19:08.553-05:00Andrea, I know--it IS exhausting! And I also think...Andrea, I know--it IS exhausting! And I also think it's challenging to keep up with magazines. I get three printed magazines: Brain, Child, The Sun, and the Smithsonian. Sometimes it takes me a while to get through them, but I try to keep one in my purse for those moments I'm in a waiting room or in line. <br /><br />Cath, it sounds like you're making wonderful progress on your revision. I'm amazed that you're doing that as well as a blog post a day!<br /><br />Peg, I just finished Debra Gwartney's Live Through This, and it was amazing. I'm going to post an interview with her in the next few weeks. I also have a couple of novels on my shelf, but I haven't decided which one to read next. <br /><br />Mummy Mania, I think that's exactly right. We always need a break, whether we're parenting or writing or heading to the office every day. <br /><br />Angela, thanks so much for reading and passing on my blog! Enjoy your moments with your children this summer. I think those moments help fuel our writing brains!kate hopperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08761820572827505993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-214489875213933536.post-22922755833051258512010-07-09T11:47:01.670-05:002010-07-09T11:47:01.670-05:00I was just telling a blogger friend about your blo...I was just telling a blogger friend about your blog. Then I sat down and read this post. WHAT a God-send! I've been feeling very guilty about taking so much writing time off this summer to be 'in the moments' with my children. Feel like a loser who doesn't REALLY want to be a writer. I've just taken a deep breath and given myself permission to live my life, writing breaks and all. Thank you.Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07535210834423087082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-214489875213933536.post-68909585633321883092010-07-09T07:35:43.858-05:002010-07-09T07:35:43.858-05:00I think it's like everything - it can get too ...I think it's like everything - it can get too routine and a break will help bring fresh light to it. I spend all day, every day with my girls - and we get on great. But every so often their dad takes them off for th day and we are so excited to see each other and I feel rejuvenated. Same with writng - I'm currently in that intense deadline-approaching stage, but already looking forward to having a break from my head!Mummy maniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01155864737963188063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-214489875213933536.post-91540634808494387492010-07-09T07:23:02.458-05:002010-07-09T07:23:02.458-05:00I liked your comment about reading again, after a ...I liked your comment about reading again, after a slump. It made me realize I'm in a reading slump too! Would love to hear what's on your reading list these days.Peghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07372019503057018474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-214489875213933536.post-86803754917202166582010-07-08T15:16:48.661-05:002010-07-08T15:16:48.661-05:00the cabin time sounds blissful! i've been ver...the cabin time sounds blissful! i've been very kind to my manuscript lately since i finished the first draft last summer. i am curently tearing it aaprt and putting it back together in the second draft (which really is 512th or so draft if i'm honest about it). <br /><br />when i say i am being kind, i am being kind to my *process* of needing to let go of what i previously worked on so hard and was so committed to for so long that really does need to change to serve the story better.<br /><br />I am mostly only working on these heavy plate tectonic shifts when my writing group meets every couple of weeks. the rest of the time, i mourn the cuts, and grow to love the rewrites and paragraph and chapter shuffles.<br /><br />maybe that's where you are, too. needing the quiet in between to open yourself to your manuscript's needed changes.<br /><br />of course, i am still trying to enter a blog a day and feel like i narrate my life and writing process. in fact i wrote about that same thing today to post tomorrow.cath chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07121005007284461511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-214489875213933536.post-28551306697787372412010-07-08T13:43:47.758-05:002010-07-08T13:43:47.758-05:00I totally do that too...narrate my every move insi...I totally do that too...narrate my every move inside my head to make it fit a blog post, or essay or whatever. It's exhausting. And not very mindful. Wah...I let my Sun subscription expire because I had a pile of back issues going back to September that I haven't had a chance to read...sounds like a good essay, though!Andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14748454816480995214noreply@blogger.com