It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, founded by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.
The question for today: When you began writing, what did you imagine your life as a writer would be like? Were you right, or has this experience presented you with some surprises along the way?
I began writing when I was 13, so I had no idea what my life would be like as a writer other than doing what I enjoyed. And selling a ton of books, too!
While some books sold good, some did not. (Which is sad, as In Darkness is the best thing I’ve ever written.) But the surprise was starting a publishing company (Dancing Lemur Press, LLC) after trying to publish on my own all wrong. Even bigger surprise was becoming a professional speaker and a member of the National Speakers Association.
Go back and tell the very shy and insecure 13-year-old who began writing she’d start a business and be a professional speaker and I KNOW she’d never believe you!
* * *
Charcuterie Time!
We don’t do anything for Halloween. (Okay, we put an inflatable vampire Minion on the porch.) But for our last October game night I wanted to do something cool for the guys. It just might be my best board yet.
Today I am also beginning physical therapy. I had a second carpal tunnel surgery on my left hand and while it seemed to be healing faster than the right one did, I experienced a major setback. The last joints in my fingers won't bend all the way. As you can see from the example, I can't make a proper fist. I also have trouble typing, picking up things, holding on to things. So, hopefully the therapy and the "nerve cocktail" of a prescription drug and four vitamins makes a difference. Because otherwise, this is really, really debilitating.
What surprises have you faced? Do you do charcuterie boards? Have you gone through carpal tunnel surgery?
We don’t do anything for Halloween. (Okay, we put an inflatable vampire Minion on the porch.) But for our last October game night I wanted to do something cool for the guys. It just might be my best board yet.
* * *
Today I am also beginning physical therapy. I had a second carpal tunnel surgery on my left hand and while it seemed to be healing faster than the right one did, I experienced a major setback. The last joints in my fingers won't bend all the way. As you can see from the example, I can't make a proper fist. I also have trouble typing, picking up things, holding on to things. So, hopefully the therapy and the "nerve cocktail" of a prescription drug and four vitamins makes a difference. Because otherwise, this is really, really debilitating.
What surprises have you faced? Do you do charcuterie boards? Have you gone through carpal tunnel surgery?
26 comments:
I so understand the consequences of not making a fist. We lived on s/v La Vita (sailboat) in Mexico for over 16 years.
We were forced to sell her because Rick, my husband, could not close his fist to hold the lines (ropes).
Physical therapy can make a huge difference.
I was impressed to learn Dan Brown and Lee Child have mentioned using dictation software to draft parts of their novels.
You will be OK.
If we start writing as children, we don't have any knowledge or interest in the adulting things that might one day come along with it. It might be better if we could stay that way! Your 13 yo self would definitely be proud and amazed with what you're doing, though.
Look at that Halloween board! Impressive. Also amazing to have started a publishing company--how innovative and creative on your part. I hope your hand/arm heals soon. I know the sensation of burning nerve pain in hands and feet from herniated discs and torn muscles--no fun!
"Go back and tell the very shy and insecure 13-year-old who began writing she’d start a business and be a professional speaker and I KNOW she’d never believe you!"
I love this. Kudos!
No surprises for me. I love writing, I had some hope, but I can't say I had huge expectations. I do love your charcuterie boards! Such fun!
I didn't realize carpal tunnel had such problems. So sorry, Diane. I hope the therapy helps and very soon.
Life takes some pretty interesting twists, right? I imagine you're utilizing speech to text a lot,? If only it was actually reliable. In the meantime, I'm sending healing vibes your way.
I hope your physical therapy works. I think it's so cool that you started your own publishing company.
Dang, I hope the PT and other treatments work. That is really hard. Gorgeous Halloween charcuterie board!
Hope your hand gets better. I can't imagine how frustrating it must be! You never know where the path of writing will take you. I've certainly met a lot of people on this journey! I can't thank you enough for publishing the Bubba and Squirt books!
I find everything kind of surprising but I'm open to it, as it appears you are. Good luck with your hands - that is a very hard situation.
Love the charcuterie board! That's awesome! I hope your physical therapy helps. We don't properly appreciate hands until they don't work right and realize how much we take them for granted.
It is funny how sometimes our favorite books we've written are not the ones that sell well. Some of mine are sleepers on my backlist but I love when people ask 'what's your most favorite book you've written', because that gives me the opportunity to get those books into reader's hands.
Hands that don't work 100% are a disaster. I hope they get better with physical therapy.
Starting a publishing company is a pretty significant change.
I hope that your hand improves, Diane. How frustrating! It didn't mar your talent in making a charcuterie board though. That is a thing of beauty, and I'll bet that it tasted better than it looks. Take care of yourself!
Lynn, thank you.
Lee, they do, but they also relieve a very serious problem. At least my hands are no longer painfully numb.
Sherry, it was a joy to publish them.
Jean, love that question, too. Although I usually refer them to one of my authors' books. LOL
The surprise i faced on my writing journey was self-publishing and internet. It's why I've published what I have, even though that hasn't been much. Yet.
I hope you recover soon from your surgery so you can go back to normal typing and other daily activities.
I would eat that board!
Hope your hand improves.
Nice board. So sorry about your hand. That's an especially debilitating injury for a writer. I hope your meds help.
You have done a great job in your writing career and in helping other writers. I've never dealt with carpal tunnel stuff and hope I don't. Hope you get the issue resolved soon.
Lee
Ouch, hope the therapy helps. I can think of all the things I do that would interfere with like crocheting and typing.
It is hard to believe you were a shy introvert, but then I was too. Still in introvert but lost the shy somewhere.
The board is beautiful. I hope things go well for your hand and you heal fast.
My fingers are crossed for you. Hope it all works out. Take care. :-)
Hi Diane - you're one of my inspirations ... so it's interesting to read your backstory - especially the publishing business. I do hope your hand will heal up ... I have something that's stressful for me and I'm not sure what the future holds ... it's serious, but not cancer thankfully. I'm so glad I found the blogging world ... it inspires me and keeps me sane and dow to earth - cheers Hilary
I am so sorry to hear about your hand. Therapy is amazing. Here's hoping it, the cocktail and vitamins do the trick.
Love the board! It's great!
You've accomplished a lot in your young life:)
So sorry you are dealing with problems from the carpal tunnel surgery. How frustrating. Keep working on it and it'll get better. My husband had both wrists done. It took a while to get back to normal. Love looking back at 13 years old when the whole world holds so many opportunities. You took advantage of that! WTG!
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