The little things that bug me...

[Writers Plot]

Posted by Lorraine Bartlett

It's the little things in life that really bug me the most. Stuff I really don't have too much control over. Like...my mouse. Not alive, the one that sits beside my computer. For the past couple of weeks it has been unruly. I cleaned it, I squirted it with compressed air, I cleaned all the contacts and the roller ball (several times), and still it was recalcitrant.

I replaced it. I now have a nice, new laser mouse, but it feels awkward. It isn't the same. It's streamlined. I hate/love it.

This past weekend I killed 281 Japanese Beetles who were after my bean crop. I stomped them to death at 5-15 at a time. They were all small, but the damage they've done is incredible. (But I will not put poison on the food I eat. Instead, I'll stomp on them. More satisfaction, but l fear less beans overall.)

This week I'm reading two of my favorite authors: Mary Kay Andrews (Little Bitty Lies) and Dick Francis (Under Orders). I love them both. Especially their command of description. (I hate them both, because I wish I was as versatile.)

Leann is having extensive dental work which is NOT fun. I lost some porcelain on one of my crowns. Two dentists told me "eh, it's nothing to worry about." Then I lost another chunk, now I can't eat on the tooth. I should get it fixed. But I also have a leaky roof. Should I fix the tooth or the roof? Decisions, decisions....

I'm only on my second "have to write to contract" book. I've never had to write to contract during the summer. I wrote DEAD IN RED (the next installment in my Jeff Resnick series--July 2008) in a little over two months. While the story is set in summer, I wrote it during dreary winter. There was nothing interesting to look at out my office window. It was a joy to write. I wrote most of MURDER IS BINDING (April 2008) during winter/early spring (and the book was set in the fall), when it was still not very interesting outside. I'm having one heck of a time WORKING during the summer. I hate this. I want to be writing, but...I don't want to be writing. I want to do everything BUT write. But I want to be working on the book because I love the characters and what I already have is pretty good. Why can't I concentrate? (Please, turn the AC a little lower, hubby.)

I want to be working on my new website, but I've realized that in order to have a "professional" looking site, I can't go it alone. But...my consultant has other clients. I can't have it instantly. I want everything instantly. And yet, I'm going out of town. I can't have it both ways. But I want it thus.

The weather is gorgeous. Sunny, warm, not too humid (today). The garden is lovely (we pulled weeds, trimmed the tree, and wondered how on earth our gate fork got bent out of shape so that we couldn't lock it--and we have an in-ground money pit (er pool) and the law requires us to lock it up. BTW, there was no other damage to the fence or yard. How the heck did this unyielding metal...yield?

Ah, August. Did I mention how I love/hate summer?