Writing with focus is difficult when taking care of a family member who is very ill and is probably best not attempted at all. Apart from the physical displacement and sudden upheaval to my routine of writing and fitness, I was so beset by anxiety, however well suppressed, that for a while I could read nothing other than news and, of course, the ubiquitous WhatsApp texts.
I’m not saying things have settled down yet into a smoothly oiled carer machine, but perhaps I have calmed down a little. Enough to remember that taking care of oneself is just as important as tendering messages to the one who is ill. With that thought in mind and a few days between having to take off for Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) again, I resolved to drive up to my cottage in the Kumaon with two cats and enjoy the spring.
So here I sit, assailed by the scent of honeysuckle and roses, with no sound other than the sweet trills of the blackbird.
Here are a few photos from this morning, the first of May.
A bee enjoying one of the first Hydrangea blossoms of the yea
Rosie and me
And now for the IWSG question of the month.
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. This group is all about connecting! Be sure to link to this page and display the badge in your post. And please be sure your avatar links back to your blog! Otherwise, when you leave a comment, people can't find you to comment back.
The awesome co-hosts for the May 1 posting of the IWSG are Victoria Marie Lees, Kim Lajevardi, Nancy Gideon, and Cathrina Constantine!
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
May 1 question - How do you deal with distractions when you are writing? Do they derail you?
Distractions! Yes, it is an excellent question that we writers talk about quite often and that there are as many answers to as there are personalities.
I don’t think of Kay the writer as a train, hurtling along on its tracks to a specific destination, which I must reach by 11 minutes past 1900 hours, to give a very precise time. If I were that kind of writer, I probably would never get distracted, or rarely, and if I did, then I would fall off the rails, become a train wreck, and have to pick up the bits from the accident.
I’m more of a meandering type of human who stops to smell the roses, takes life as it comes, learns the lessons that are cast in my path, and incorporates them into my writing. I believe there’s more to life than meeting deadlines, and that it's often the annoying detour of a distraction that provides the most fodder for thought and instances to write about.
Honestly, though, I’m not always this zen about distractions. They can drive me mad, causing me to sit bolt upright in bed in the middle of the night, wondering where I’m going with my writing life.
So there’s that.
Welcome to Insecure Writers Support Group. What a lovely post, Kay. Pretty flowers. Enjoy your stay in the cottage. I'm praying for you and your ill loved one. All best to you!
Hi, Kay! That hydrangea photo is exquisite! And I love the one of you and your beautiful Rosie! It is important to take care of yourself, especially if you need to care for someone who is ill. Distractions can keep me awake at night too, but if you're alive you're going to have distractions. Wishing you peace and some distraction-free writing time.