I love you and I miss you. And this is great. I'm gonna do it today, and maybe tomorrow, and possibly the day after that. And who knows what comes next after that! xo
Thank you, Abigail! I so needed to read this today. I like to feed my inner child chocolate when this desire to whine kicks in, next time I'll embrace it and stop pacifying it.
This is perfect. Whining is what I am doing now. I live alone and the only person who will be frightened is me. I am waaah-waahing all over the place. And after that, I will write and write and polish, and obsess, then get that manuscript out of here. In the meantime, you know you are a National Treasure, right?
Thank you for these wonderful suggestions that I will be sure to put into immediate practice! I just Pre-Ordered the audiobook of your upcoming release, “Still Life at Eighty, the Next Interesting Thing” through Audible. I can’t wait for it to land in my library next month and hear you reading it to me.
OH Susan! Thank you! I hope the audio thing will be good. They kept stopping me to repeat a sentence because the mic was so sensitive it picked up my stomach growliing!
I tried it...and darned if I didn't want to keep going! Happily my wife wasn't around to be annoyed...but my puppy did cock her head sides and look at me like, "Am I supposed to do something...?"
That sounds worth writing about. Was there something you didn't want to write? Can you mention it btiefly? Did you stop when your dog looked at you that way? I love your dog.
Honestly, at that point it was more about me being able to break away from the other work drawing me away from my writing. There are so many things I am writing and want to finish, and other work keeps getting in the way. Our 8 month old rescue puppy, Shorty Phillips, is the bees knees. <3
You can’t make me comment on this post. I don’t want to try to think up something funny or clever so you will respond to it. I’m not gonna do it. Just because what you said is brilliant and I’m mad that I didn’t think of it myself doesn’t mean I’m gonna do it. I’m not. I swear. Nope, I am not waiting for my husband to take the dog down to the dog park so I can practice whining. Naw. Nuh uh. You can’t make me.
We all have out ways. If I used yours, I'm afraid I'd fall asleep, but I'll give it a shot. In two seconds I'll be covered with dogs, but that might be helpful.
My brother is dying. You’re helping me keep it together by not keeping it together. Your whining makes me laugh and that makes me stare longer at the black dots on the ceiling. What would I do without you?
I love you and I miss you. And this is great. I'm gonna do it today, and maybe tomorrow, and possibly the day after that. And who knows what comes next after that! xo
hahahahahaa It really works, Nan. love to you, too.
Your writing advice has never failed me. Waaaaaah! (I feel like kicking and screaming, too.)
Good! Do it! It helps! But don't forget to whine too.
Thank you, Abigail! I so needed to read this today. I like to feed my inner child chocolate when this desire to whine kicks in, next time I'll embrace it and stop pacifying it.
Good! It really helps, and write while you're doing it.
This is perfect. Whining is what I am doing now. I live alone and the only person who will be frightened is me. I am waaah-waahing all over the place. And after that, I will write and write and polish, and obsess, then get that manuscript out of here. In the meantime, you know you are a National Treasure, right?
You are a total darling to say such a lovely thiing to me. Thank you.
Thank you for these wonderful suggestions that I will be sure to put into immediate practice! I just Pre-Ordered the audiobook of your upcoming release, “Still Life at Eighty, the Next Interesting Thing” through Audible. I can’t wait for it to land in my library next month and hear you reading it to me.
OH Susan! Thank you! I hope the audio thing will be good. They kept stopping me to repeat a sentence because the mic was so sensitive it picked up my stomach growliing!
I think stomach growls would just add a level of authenticity. ❤️ I’m sure it will be terrific.
My answer to that problem would have been to feed you, perhaps croissants warm with butter and apricot jam. I think that could quell most grumbles…
Damn, that sound delicious!
If there is ever another book to record, you and those croissants are coking with me.l But then they'll hear me eating!
I tried it...and darned if I didn't want to keep going! Happily my wife wasn't around to be annoyed...but my puppy did cock her head sides and look at me like, "Am I supposed to do something...?"
That sounds worth writing about. Was there something you didn't want to write? Can you mention it btiefly? Did you stop when your dog looked at you that way? I love your dog.
Honestly, at that point it was more about me being able to break away from the other work drawing me away from my writing. There are so many things I am writing and want to finish, and other work keeps getting in the way. Our 8 month old rescue puppy, Shorty Phillips, is the bees knees. <3
You can’t make me comment on this post. I don’t want to try to think up something funny or clever so you will respond to it. I’m not gonna do it. Just because what you said is brilliant and I’m mad that I didn’t think of it myself doesn’t mean I’m gonna do it. I’m not. I swear. Nope, I am not waiting for my husband to take the dog down to the dog park so I can practice whining. Naw. Nuh uh. You can’t make me.
My favorite writing tip is to lie on the couch with my eyes closed.
We all have out ways. If I used yours, I'm afraid I'd fall asleep, but I'll give it a shot. In two seconds I'll be covered with dogs, but that might be helpful.
Thank you.
Yes there’s always that risk (9 times out of 10 to be honest) …but sometimes things drop in that way.
My brother is dying. You’re helping me keep it together by not keeping it together. Your whining makes me laugh and that makes me stare longer at the black dots on the ceiling. What would I do without you?
I am so very sorry. Oh dear, what a sad time this much be. I am moved that you found time to read, and thank you for your extremely kind words.
Again. so very sorry.
Oh If only primal whine did the trick. I often feel like Edvard Munch THE SCREAM.
Yes, So scream.
Yes ! Those I scream to or at or when my meter goes from 1 to 10 will be forever thankful…. I never scream at my dog. He never provokes
I never scream at my dogs either except once in a while when Olive jumps on me and I almost fall down. The scream is automatic.
I’m in more of a primal scream mood these days.
I'm more in a primal curse mood these days.
I read What Comes Next and How to Like It, I believe, when it was first published. I loved the book and was delighted to find you on Substack!
OMG. Too funny. I've been putting off writing a new Substack since end of August. Maybe this will do the trick.
Give it a shot. Thank you.
I should be out raking the ton of leaves in my yard and driveway, but, instead, nooooo, I am reading your post. Good one!
A mini version of the Primal Scream:).
Better. You can get tired of screaming, but whining can go on forever.
Does whine plus wine work? Please?
Sometimes dropping the H can speed up the whine, but you can manage without it.
Yes, darling.