Hopping
I like to blog hop. I will leap from writer to writer, enjoying the way each blogger develops a style, humor, political voice, whatever. And, I have come to the conclusion, I am basically a hopper in real life too.
What do I mean? Well, my writer pal Sara Hantz has written about taking up knitting again. My mom is visiting, and I have already spent $150 on yarn. Note that it would be cheaper to go and BUY a blanket, but I am knitting one, along with a scarf for my friend Bruce, a hat for younger daughter, a sweater for Demon Baby, and another scarf for charity. Note that I did not say first I am going to knit an afghan and THEN I am going to knit a scarf, and so on. I have all these projects going on at once. That way, whatever I am in the mood for, I can pick up (some projects require more concentration than others).
Which is how I write. On my computer right now, I have three books in progress, plus one I am waiting for editing notes from my editor so I can tackle the next draft and then give her the final manuscript. That's four that I consider actually in progress (i.e., under contract). BUT, I also have one book that is nearly done that I haven't shopped to my agent yet, one that is just a loose series of ideas, and probably twenty that are "someday" books when I get around to them.
Now . . . this may seem an insane way to work. But . . . I READ this way, too. I have four different books of prayer or philosophy on my nightstand, one physics text I am making my way through, one thriller, one atronomy textbook, and a coffeetable book on the Soviet Union I am now reading, plus a half-dozen magazines. Plus I read the NY Times online each day and hop over to CNN fairly often.
You get the idea. I have a NY Times crossword puzzle book. I NEVER finish a puzzle in order. I work on one, get bored with it, work on another, come back to the first, go to a third.
So I don't know what it is, but I am a hopper in real life. I don't think I have A.D.D. or anything clinical that can be defined in any way . . . because if I NEED to concentrate for 12 hours straight to finish something, I will. Without an ounce of problem. I don't feel scattered at all. But my brain seems to like being challenged and so I hop along to something that interests said brain as soon as I get bored.
So tell me, do you hop?
What do I mean? Well, my writer pal Sara Hantz has written about taking up knitting again. My mom is visiting, and I have already spent $150 on yarn. Note that it would be cheaper to go and BUY a blanket, but I am knitting one, along with a scarf for my friend Bruce, a hat for younger daughter, a sweater for Demon Baby, and another scarf for charity. Note that I did not say first I am going to knit an afghan and THEN I am going to knit a scarf, and so on. I have all these projects going on at once. That way, whatever I am in the mood for, I can pick up (some projects require more concentration than others).
Which is how I write. On my computer right now, I have three books in progress, plus one I am waiting for editing notes from my editor so I can tackle the next draft and then give her the final manuscript. That's four that I consider actually in progress (i.e., under contract). BUT, I also have one book that is nearly done that I haven't shopped to my agent yet, one that is just a loose series of ideas, and probably twenty that are "someday" books when I get around to them.
Now . . . this may seem an insane way to work. But . . . I READ this way, too. I have four different books of prayer or philosophy on my nightstand, one physics text I am making my way through, one thriller, one atronomy textbook, and a coffeetable book on the Soviet Union I am now reading, plus a half-dozen magazines. Plus I read the NY Times online each day and hop over to CNN fairly often.
You get the idea. I have a NY Times crossword puzzle book. I NEVER finish a puzzle in order. I work on one, get bored with it, work on another, come back to the first, go to a third.
So I don't know what it is, but I am a hopper in real life. I don't think I have A.D.D. or anything clinical that can be defined in any way . . . because if I NEED to concentrate for 12 hours straight to finish something, I will. Without an ounce of problem. I don't feel scattered at all. But my brain seems to like being challenged and so I hop along to something that interests said brain as soon as I get bored.
So tell me, do you hop?
Labels: focus
posted by Erica Orloff at 12:37 PM
13 Comments:
I hop around when reading, but I stopped doing that with writing, because it hindered my ability to finish. My thinking hops around, that's why I love OneNote so I can just spill it out and it's instantly organized.
Knitting is something I want to do again very much: it's like instant relaxation to me. But I want to fit in more volunteer work, more on the spy thriller website I want to play with, more writing, more reading, more practicing ... I was just reading Glamour, and they had a feature of a bunch of women who do an extraordinary "all" (which made me think of you, LOL), and I just have no clue how they fit all that stuff in. And I really want to know, I swear, I do!
Hi Spy:
Believe me, my list of things I want to do is a mile long. There just aren't enough hours in the day. And I do think that's the "secret"--some people can just get by with five hours sleep. I am envious. A couple of days like that, and I am a raving b*tch.
E
LOL... the day I stop hopping around on everything is the day they find me dead in mid-hop :)
Erica, bless you! I seriously thought lately I was suffering from something like ADD. I have about 6 books I'm in process of reading, 4 non-fiction, 2 fiction. The only thing constant is a WIP, cause I'm a linear writer, but revisions, new ideas jump in the fray too. Just glad you clarified it for me. I'm definitely a reader hopper.
I'm a hopper, big time, in almost everything I do.
Finding singular focus is a battle for me. And finishing is a challenge.
When I hop AND finish, I know I've accomplished something great.
It does help to know I'm not alone in my hopping ways.
Kathy
I'm exactly like LaDonna here. And I've been thinking I have a touch of ADD too. I read a lot of books at the same time, but I write one book at a time. When I write, though, I also answer my email and take blog breaks.
I'm sorry, I was reading three other blogs at the same time I was reading yours.
What did you say?
Seriously, I'm the same way. I'm working on three novels and two short stories, and the stack of books on my nightstand threatens to topple over and kill me. I do my daily chores piecemeal. I comment on blogs the same way, sometimes breaking off in the middle of a sentence in order to
ewoh:
Hop 'til we're dead. A new motto.
:-)
E
ladonna:
I used to think there was something wrong with it too, but now I accept my brain just likes different writing and different times.
E
Hi Kathy:
I do tend to finish . . . but I have a pile of unfinished stuff too. I have an unfinished needlework that's a coup;le of years old!
E
edie:
I take a lot of breaks too.
E
stephen:
LOL! I totally understand. . . .
What were you saying?
E
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