November Writing by Bonnie Le Hamilton

 

Here’s a bit of advice: when you have a blog to post, don’t start reading a new book!

I’d like to apologize for not posting two weeks ago. I wrenched my back, and I couldn’t sit up. Have you ever tried to type lying down? Not happening. Unless you want to hunt and peck, which certainly isn’t the way I was taught to type way back in my school days.

And not being able to sit up was nothing compared to not being able to stay awake, which was how I was after the doctor prescribed a muscle relaxer.

I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned it or not, but extra-strength Tylenol can put me to sleep, at least for a little while; give me something stronger, and I’m down for the count! I spent most of last week sleeping... well, like a cat.

If you don’t know, cats can sleep up to eighteen hours a day.

So, sleeping that much last week meant I had a lot of company while doing it. Right now, I think poor Patches is wondering why I’m not sleeping as much anymore.

I’m not sleeping as much because I got too much last week!

Anyway, the good news is my back is back to normal.

The bad news is that it’s already the nineteenth of November, and I’ve managed like ten hours of writing. My goal for the month was to write for a total of 125 hours, or 5 hours 6 days a week. (I rest on the Sabbath.)

Yeah, I am not going to make it.

I can get some more work done, but I won’t make my goal.

Which would be better than the year when I ended up with a concussion on the 8^th of November, and that year I’d made the goal of 50K words for the month.

By the way, the website for National Novel Writer’s month may be defunct, but there are local groups who are continuing the challenge.

For me, the local group is backed by my local library, and they allow you to make a word count or time goal for the month. Hence, my goal of 125 hours this month. They also allow you to work on a new or current WIP.

But considering I was unable to type for several days because of back pain, and then mostly unconscious for another week, I haven’t managed much. Oh, well.

I did manage some tweaks to one of my stories, but about the time I got to the section that needed major work and a ton of “tweaks,” my back gave out.

And, like I said when our cousin Steve asked what I did to my back, “I haven’t the foggiest.”

It just started hurting, and it got worse and worse until I gave up and called the doctor.

I mean, really, if Tylenol and my trusty heating pad weren’t cutting it, I needed stronger help!

Too bad stronger help means practically comatose for me.

Konnie is lucky she doesn’t have my sensitivity to certain medications. She can take stuff I can’t.

She can take Tylenol and not fall asleep.

And I should have taken Tylenol last night. Except I wasn’t in enough pain for Tylenol, I just couldn’t sleep. And believe me, with how well Tylenol puts me to sleep, I don’t dare try something stronger!

And Tylenol will only put me out for a couple of hours. For more shuteye, I’d have to combine Tylenol, melatonin, and a mug of Sleepy Time Tea to get that effect. And again, not enough pain to warrant Tylenol.

A brain that doesn’t want to quit or a story you can’t wait to know the ending of isn’t painful, just time-consuming.

Such is the life of someone on the spectrum.

I guess the good thing I can say is that while I was awake this past week, I did some reading. Slow going with how much I was sleeping, but well, with me, it’s slow going anyhow. So, who cares?

I couldn’t write. I couldn’t even think enough to write. Writing definitely takes more brain power than reading. Unless, of course, you’re reading a textbook or Shakespeare. Both of which I have done.

I mean, I did graduate from high school, and I took some college courses. I even took a course on Shakespeare!

Then again, I was rather good at translating the Old English into modern language.

I remember one time my fellow students were trying to figure out what was being said, and I translated it before the professor could.

I just thought they weren’t using all their brain cells; it’s still English!

Okay, yeah, maybe I’m weird!

And yes, I like Shakespeare.

Anyway, happy writing, everyone!