Thursday, December 29, 2011

Just a phase?

While indulging in a wash-dry-iron bedlinen marathon I find myself becoming a little maudlin. Probably something to do with ironing duvet covers while suffering the indigestiony result of eating 6 cookies this morning but nonetheless ...


I always used to suffer post-Christmas blues but in recent years thought I'd got over it. I don't think it's blues now exactly anyway: I have far too much to enjoy in my life and stuff to anticipate. It's more a sense of realism: accepting that maybe 'Liz is a writer' was just a phase in my life. I'm never going to be a famous author.


There was a period in my life when 'it' was happening for me. Opportunities to write articles and even non-fiction books were coming along easily and regularly. They happened to me rather than me struggling to achieve anything. Now, well, now I blog, I write stuff for prison and Zac's, and I even get paid for the occasional online article. 


I love what I write - I mean I love the opportunities and enjoy writing these things, and I know they have their own intrinsic value - and, importantly, that they have sometimes meant a lot to others as well. 


I couldn't not blog; my head would surely explode. And the other stuff I write helps me to study and understand the bible better too. But ... I see my novel lying face down on my desk. I'd printed it out to send to a publisher but have been waiting because of a change of editor. GrandDaughter has used pages of it to scribble on. I don't mind that - it's easily printed again - it's just whether there is really any point.


Oh, don't mind me, old gloomyguts! I'll finish ironing soon and my tummy will stop aching and I'll pick myself up and start again. 


Maybe I'll go and watch one of the dvds I had for Christmas (most of which, incidentally, were children's cartoons ...)


P.S. I shall cheer myself up by reminding myself that at least I'm not like my Mother-in-law who would have the beds stripped, sheets in the wash and sometimes on the line before we'd even left the premises after staying with them.

11 comments:

sally in norfolk said...

I always feel "down" over the christmas period, thankfully I have a nice skiing holiday at the beginning of Jan and then i always come back feeling better :-) hugs x x x

CherryPie said...

My least favourite time of year is New Years Eve.

This year I had a challenge because I was scheduled to write a post for V&V on 31st. I had to think of something non gloomy to but suitably festive to write about.

Hopefully I managed it...

Happy New Year to you and your family xx

Furtheron said...

Well DVDs were Cars2 and Harry Potter :-) Not exactly the height of adult intellectualism.

I'm never going to be a huge international musician, however I carry on writing and trying just for myself, I can't lie there is always the hope that someone hears a track of mine on the internet and says "That is it, that is what we need as the theme to the new block buster movie... or that is the song we need for x / y / z" and I'm next week sat on the couch looking uncomfortable as Graham Norton tries to be witty.

If I'm honest I'm probably glad I'm not - I like being anonymous actually.

But you have been paid as a writer - that is a terrific credit to you.

Suburbia said...

Send it! You have things to lose if it's rejected but you'll have nothing at all if it all becomes drawing paper ( unless granddaughter is going to become the next Tracy Emin that is!)
Yes, we should get together in 2012, I'd like that a lot :-)

Leslie: said...

Your Xmas card arrived today, a tad late, but still I was overjoyed to think you thought of me. I can hardly wait for the big trip next year and am already starting to make up a sort of itinerary. I received the complete "Prime Suspect" series - the British one with Helen Mirren - and was so pleased. We watched the first season over 2 nights and will move on to Season 2 tonight. I don't usually do much for New Year's, but this year we are having a few friends over to celebrate the beginning of a new year with health and happiness. Since last year was rough, we have much to be grateful for. Happy New Year, Liz & family + George!

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

The first two months of the year are so dark , it's difficult to imagine ever feeling carefree again .... but Spring does always appear and , with it , summer clothes and ice cream and big, open spaces.
Please don't give up writing . I'm eagerly awaiting your novel , with or without Grandaughter's illustrations .

Sally Wessely said...

I don't really feel down after Christmas, but I am very lazy and unmotivated. I feel like I can't go forward into the next stage, and I too eat too many cookies. Cookies that I avoided before Christmas. What's up with that?

I think you are quite ambitious to be ironing duvet covers. I felt quite smug just because I got the down comforter stuffed inside my duvet.

Annie Forrester Barker said...

Hello:
I think that a few things are going on here. Are you seasonally depressed. Okay do not scoff. As the sun shines fewer hours all animals are depressed. Several years ago I "saved some blck chicks" from an industrial farm and they stopped laying in the fall
The powers that be told me to install a light. We did. Oh if it were so easy for the rest of us. The chickens still lay when the light hits a certain mark. They managed but I learned more about my own and my horses desires. Advent became more real.
The new year held more promise.
This last year you posted picures of the beatitudes. I and other have used them to help the poor in need.
I loved the picture of those who who fear God. I have used the statement of "blessed are the poor is spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." It is a blessing to many.
I ask that everyone pray for our troops and for our poor.
Sincerely,
Annie

Rose said...

You iron bedlinens?? I'm afraid my ironing board has cobwebs growing on it:)

I always get rather down when I have to take down the Christmas decorations, which is probably why I leave them up as long as possible. I think the post-season blues is common for many of us, although I appreciate January being less stressful. This is the time of year when I can curl up with a good book all evening and not feel guilty about it.

I don't think I'll ever be a famous author either, but at least you have written a novel, which is more than I can say. That's a very impressive accomplishment! I agree with Suburbia--do send it; you'll never know what might have been if you don't.

Best wishes for a Happy New Year, Liz! And Sophie says George can call her anytime.

Liz Hinds said...

Thank you all for your encouragement. I feel better today: part I think of getting back to normal and being in work rather than anticipating it, which is always worse I find.

Thank you again!

MaryB said...

Oh, Liz, I really know what you're feeling. I love Christmas and everything that goes with it (I, too, hate New Years), and when it's over, I know that I have to wait 11 whole months before it kicks in again. Fortunately, at my age, those 11 months will fly by. Sigh. And as for the writing . . . (she says, casting a weary eye toward a couple of unfinished novels). Another sigh. Ah, well, have another cookie and a cuppa tea. Cheers!