Uneasy like Sunday morning

[cleolinda]

Okay, so. I ended up going to bed early last night because in the course of writing I kept thinking things like BLAH BLAH AND THEN STUFF HAPPENED I DON'T CARE, which is a sure sign that I'm tired. And then I got up a couple of hours later for a drink of water and worked some more. And then I really went to sleep. The problem is that--well, I always feel performance anxiety, but after MSNBC and io9, it's through the roof. And you know, this whole idea that I knew I was going to do this from the moment I saw the trailer in May, and so it's like some kind of hellish Lost promo voiceover where it's like THE LAST SIX MONTHS... HAVE BEEN LEADING UP... TO THIS MOMENT, and then, like, a polar bear explodes or something.

It's days like these when I understand why writers start drinking. I'm not even being sarcastic--a little vodka in the morning orange juice, that might take the edge off, right? Get just toasted enough to not feel anxious anymore? Yeah. I'm staging a pre-emptive self-intervention now. No Woodchuck until after I finish. And basically at this point I'm just gonna sit here and take my time, as much time as it takes, just try to stay loose with it, and turn off all the "WHY DIDN'T YOU INCLUDE MY FAVORITE PART??" voices in my head.

The other thing I usually do is--well, you can tell how anxious I am by the relative silliness of the music I'm playing. I think it's time to bring out the big guns again:

It was either this or Rick-rolling myself. Don't think I won't do it, either.


ETA: Okay, it's going pretty well. I'm kind of at that point where I have more scenes written than I have unwritten, and I'm trying to go a little more Van Helsing with it (that is, not putting in every tiny detail) and it seems to be working out okay. I hate it, but I'm having to leave out most of Charlie and the kids because they were intentionally funny, and you know how little you can do with that.

Comments

[shocolate.livejournal.com]

I don't know who they are, but they have ridiculously cheesy hair and dance routines!

[sweetsyren.livejournal.com]

Dear god teenage bedroom dancing flashback!

*goes to find the brain bleach*

[bella-stella78.livejournal.com]

Friends don't let friends Rick-roll themselves. Hang in there, girl.
Oh, and thanks for sending me the Growing Up Cullen link. I can't believe I hadn't read that before!

[greenfairyels.livejournal.com]

99% of the world will love what you write as it will be made of win - that's why we're here and we know you're fab - and the other 1% are those f*ckwits who complain about everything they can because that's the eejits they are.


Now take a deep breath and step away from the Astley....

[reynardine.livejournal.com]

then, like, a polar bear explodes or something.

OMGWTFPOLARBEAR!!!

Because it had to be said. ;-D You've done this kind of thing many times before and it's been great. Don't fret yourself none.

[robinmc.livejournal.com]

I've noticed that, since I was a teenager, if I decide to do something (like read a book or write something), I'm excited about it until someone else expects me to do it. At that point I lose all interest. I'm not really sure why that is. I think you're right on about the drinking, though.

Hehehe it's scary how much I love that NKOTB video.

[mitchy.livejournal.com]

Woodchuck as in Woodchuck Cider? I'm very partial to the Granny Smith variety. Damn, wish it was available in the UK :P

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

WOODCHUUUUCK! See, I actually prefer Woodchuck Amber. Don't really like green apples, for some reason. This is what I drink instead of beer, because I am lame.

[mitchy.livejournal.com]

There is nothing lame about drinking cider! In the UK, it's stronger than most of the beers. If you like Amber, try Magners if you can get it (I know it's sold in the US but I have no idea how widespread it is).

[cosmob.livejournal.com]

Hey, there ain't nothin' wrong with Rick-rolling yourself. And singing along as loudly as the time of day will allow.

*starts humming, "I just wanna tell you how I'm feeling, gotta make you understand..."*

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Hm--I'll look into that. I just dislike the taste of beer, so cider being stronger won't bother me.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

See, I love that song unironically and have since I was a kid, so Rick-rolling almost ruined it for me--because I was hearing it too often. You know, the way you get sick of something you constantly hear on the radio.

[word-herder.livejournal.com]

Aw, don't fret about it! Newbies won't know they're waiting for, right? And your regulars are patient readers. So take your time.

Here, go listen to some crazy-awesome music that I can't get out of my head: Femme l'a Dit' (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97089876) (scroll down a little, it's on the left). Made me wish I'd grown up Cajun in Louisiana.

[word-herder.livejournal.com]

Strongbow is my favorite English hard cider, fyi. It's very crisp and autumn-y.

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

Strongbow is bottled-hangover! (But the happy kind)

I like the Woodchuck granny smith in the summer when it's nasty-hot. It's tart and crisp and made of win.

[spidey-88.livejournal.com]

Best. Music Video. Ever.

[flaxenescapee.livejournal.com]

I can't stomach the entire video. How, Cleo, how? So glad I wasn't alive for that.

Ok, enough ragging on your music, you could write actual gibberish and we'd love it. Like, seriously, you could come out with, "And then toaster muffin dandelion said "Alakazaam!" and it was fruit loops!" and we'd find it genius.


This has nothing to do with the fact that after reading SMeyer, everything is genius.

[ofshoesandships.livejournal.com]

"Never gonna give you up" Comes on the radio where I work at least once a month. No one ever changes the channel. I consider it Rick-rolling ourselves.

[jai.livejournal.com]

I think I speak for all those who've stalked awhile when I say that we will like it pretty much no matter what and won't cry about what is or is not there. For pete's sake, people can grasp that a lot needs to be cut from a movie that's made from a book, so hopefully they can grasp that even more would have to be cut from the movie to make a workable movie in 15 minutes. That's sortof the point, I thought!

Don't worry if there are haters...there are always haters, and the people who matter won't be disappointed, as others have said!

[word-herder.livejournal.com]

Bottled hangover? I don't understand, but it made me laugh. Is it because you don't realize that you're drinking alcohol? If so, then yes, I agree.

[distress-bacon.livejournal.com]

My icon totally approves of that video. \m/

Thank you for doing the m15m for <i>Twilight</i>!

[elysian-dreams.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you're getting super nervous about this, but just because people love critiquing the movies and the books, I don't think they're going to turn that on you (since, you know, people actually like your writing already)

I don't know if this helps, but I've read all your m15m's and loved them, and I've never once had a critique, probably since I've been too busy lol-ing about my book/computer. I bought the book when it came out and I just realized I think I need to buy another one so my little collector's soul will be happy with having a pristine copy, because I carry the book around so much and reread it so often I'm actually starting to wear out the real cover (I took the dustjacket off when I got it, to protect it)

Also, it would be impossible to disappoint, since there's so much lolarious material in the movie that you can't go wrong even if you tried. :)

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

I'm a renfaire girl so I drink cider all the time, but I remember the first few times.

MMmmm sweet and yummy and this is nice and hey what's wrong with my knees?

[cosmob.livejournal.com]

I, too, always enjoyed the song, actually; it takes me back to the days when I'd listen to the radio with a blank tape in the tape deck so I could record any awesome song I heard. Ah, memories. (Technically, though, I didn't start doing that until a couple years after the song came out, but whatever.)

However, I've been lucky to have missed most Rick-rolling, so the song's not been almost ruined for me. So, you know, if you need that other Astley song (http://www.mediafire.com/?zi1ejmdrgn5), or you wanna make a wish in a well (http://www.mediafire.com/?ujdnmdnmvdc), there's always those options. Or, if you've already got that covered (which you probably do), may I offer you a helping of cheese with a side of cheese (http://www.mediafire.com/?mjfizmodnem)? It's something of a delicacy, but I find it pleasing.

OMGWTFPOLARBEAR?!?!

[brermatt.livejournal.com]

I think your writing is awesome. I began reading your LJ for the Lost related stuff, and have loved everything else I've read too.

Try not to worry about the publicity. You just keep doing what you do, and all will be golden! Write what you want to write, not what you think other people want you to write.