Friday, April 11, 2008

8 hours? Can I get a recount?


Wow, so that's what an all-nighter feels like. A few quick notes on my last night at the HIE, Woodstock.

1. Someone, and I'm not naming names, dropped a gummy bear on the floor by the jacuzzi tub and I stepped on it early this morning. Not kidding. It frightened me and cost me 30 minutes of quality writing. I want that tacked on to my deadline this afternoon. Still not kidding.

(Yes, that's an actual photo of the room. No, gummi is not pictured. Yes, that's a tub in the kitchenette. Yes, much like you, I find that creepy.)

2. Even 7-11's in very small towns are scary at 1:30 in the morning. I walked to one (there's only one, it's Woodstock, hello) and was surprised to find I wasn't the only loser looking for some late-night action. (And by action I mean snack food and caffeine. Yes, I said it, caffeine. It's coursing through my veins like a testosterone in a 17-year-old version of myself. Just go with me on this.)

I met several people, including two employees, that looked like they could kill me with a stale Chocolate Zinger in one hand and a red coffee stirrer in the the other. Not kidding. It frightened me and cost me 30 minutes of quality writing. I want that tacked on to my deadline this afternoon. Still not kidding.

3. Some of the best writing thus far happened last night/this morning between the hours of 2-6. I laughed, I cried, I reread what I'd written and cried again because I saw how much editing it would need. The entire experience left me feeling very verklempt. Not kidding. It frightened me and cost me 30 minutes of...

Yikes. I've just wasted 12 minutes writing about how much time I lost last night. I've got 8 hours or so to wrap this thing up. It's going to be tight!

Note to my editor, EBS: I know you're reading this. Don't panic. This is going to be the best short story you've ever read!

6 comments:

  1. The picture of your hotel room looks like something you would see in a horror movie. Although having a kitchenette right next to the bathtub could come in handy. You never know when you will need a nice piece of fried chicken or toast when taking a bubble bath.

    ReplyDelete
  2. So true. I had a Wendy's Taco Salad in there two nights ago.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Glad your still alive! We need an ending to your book!

    ReplyDelete
  4. You are hilarious. :0)

    I am looking forward to reading this masterpiece!!

    Kim
    www.journeytohannah.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hmmm... A hot tub in the kitchen. Very interesting! That would make for some very memorable dinner parties! We need more out-of-the-box thinking like that these days. I'm trying to talk my wife into letting me install a urinal in the garage. Wouldn't that be dang convenient??

    So how long were you in lock-down to finish the book?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sunday-Friday. I'll still have to some editing, of course, but I think it's a decent first draft. We'll see. Editing isn't my strong suit :)

    ReplyDelete