Of Timely Travail February 4, 2008
Posted by Jen in : Journal, Novel , trackbackCrikey. I’ve nearly finished writing The Novel. And do you think I feel happy about the impending end of this year-long toil? Nope. Instead, I feel all swirly in the tummy department. I don’t know why I feel so odd about it; I thought I’d be galloping towards the finish line, yelling and screaming and planning my prize. In fact, I actually feel physically sick that it’s coming to an end. Has the whole thing driven me quite mad?
I spent the weekend sobbing and wailing about being useless – being without a job or any source of income becomes a bit of a worry after a while. Needless to say, the fact that I’ve been slaving away on a novel didn’t count for anything. But it’s rubbish, I wailed to anyone who’d listen. The dog, mainly. The hairy bugger agreed with me too. Sigh.
Today, however, things are falling into place. I have a temp job lined up, starting on Monday. Phew.
But. All this sitting about, writing stuff down which I have thought of in my brain, has not done much for the diet. And I have become awfully scruffy. In fact, I have become so shamefully grotty, lurching about in either jim-jams or mud-splattered dog-walking gear that lovely bf presented me with a parcel today.
He had ordered me some clean clothes. Not going-out clothes, just staying-in-but-not-being-a-complete-state type clothes.
He had done his research by reading up on what Tranny and Susannah recommend for my body shape, apparently.
‘Oh yes?’ I asked, scowling. ‘And what body shape did you decide I have?’
Lovely bf looked a bit worried at this stage, knowing that there was unlikely to be a correct answer to this particular line of questioning.
‘You’re an egg-timer,’ he declared.
Oh good. I’m so happy now.
. 
Comments»
God bless him - he probably meant Hourglass, if that’s any consolation. I too am a nightwear-lurcher (grubby dressing gown in my case) and occasional, baggy-kneed-tracky-bottoms stumbler. I’m trying to get out of this habit by FORCING myself to shower and dress before I get within a hundred paces of the ‘puter.
It’s great that the novel’s nearly finished though. Maybe you’re having separation anxiety. Fear-of-failure? Some sort of syndrome, probably. If it’s anything like this blog, you’ll soon be published and onto your next one :o)
(Sorry, too many hypens).
I think your lovely bf deserves a great big whopping kiss. What a sweetheart.
Swirly tummy is totally normal at this stage in the process - it will calm down soon enough. And don’t worry about what the dog thinks -
he can’t read.
It’s not rubbish. From the bits I’ve read so far, it’s bloody good. Go and finish it. Now.
Mya x
Good answer, bf! That’s what you call quick thinking!
Assuming of course, he had you pictured with all the sand at the top…
To me, nothing is more blissful than not having to get dressed. Pyjamas, dressing gown and a day at the computer - marvellous. Well done for the novel progress. Sounds fab.
Karen - I like the idea of having a syndrome. It sounds pleasantly swoony, as if I need some smelling salts. Beats being mental, anyway. You’re quite right - being clean and dressed before approaching the ‘puter is the only way.
Mya - he read your comment then insisted upon me kissing him. Ruddy cheek! Are you sure about the dog? He was wearing my specs at the time…
Leigh - I think my sand is all in the middle. In my pants, knowing my luck
Helen - I actually hate that whole business of getting all done up every day. Ugh. Writing should never be undertaken when wearing anything with a waistband…
Egg-timer is good, Jen. It goes in and out at all the right places. BF sounds very sweet.
Sorry you’ve had a rotten couple of days. But things are looking up, a job and the novel almost finished? Brilliant! Maybe the two of you need a little time apart (I mean you and the novel, not the lovely BF) and you’ll come back refreshed and raring to go again.
There are very many much worse answers than egg-timer. Blob, potato, or planet for example. And as for the dressed/not dressed argument, well I’m sitting here at five past ten in my pyjamas and dressing-gown so I think it’s clear which side I’m on. Don’t let that swirly-tummy stuff delay you, the word counter’s whizzing up nicely, soon you’ll be writing ‘the end’ and then you can put it down for a month and write lots of lovely posts on here about how you feel knackered, bereft, confused, scared of the next stage etc etc etc. Can’t wait to read ‘em!
Now if he’d said EGG……?
I think lovely bf deserves a big smiley face for this and you deserve an even bigger one for almost finishing.!
Keep going Jen:-)
A little award for you over at mine - don’t be scared.
Tranny and Susannah? Is there something about poor Trinny that you know that the rest of us don’t? The world should be told!
I’ve just done their much fun body shape analyser and I turn out to be a Cornet, mainly on account of my small breasts I suspect. Oh I can feel a post coming on tomorrow …
Maddie - yes, things really are looking up. Still not sure about the whole egg-timer thing though.
Zinnia - blob? potato? You can actually tell from there? Waaaaaah. Pyjamas and dressing gown, excellent. Glad to have you in the team
Lane - maybe he was thinking egg… he’s not much good with household items. I’m keeping going, I am, I am…
Karen - ooh, fanks muchly.
Monsieur Bobo - I always call her ‘Tranny’. Glad to have inspired your booby post. I bet yours are bigger than Tranny’s though
What a lovely bf you have! And well done/congrats on nearly finishing your novel too. And I bet it is NOT rubbish at all - stop being horrid to yourself at once. Life is too short. I now understand this.
Glad you found some temp work, and hope whatever you need continues to come your way. Like a publisher!
Congrats on nearly finishing your novel! Am also going through a wobble at the moment, sigh, why is it so bloody hard?!
Lovely bf is VERY lovely indeed.
My egg timer is shaped like a ladybird … hmmm ….
Nearly finishing is a huge HUGE moment. I so know how you’re feeling. Writing makes you become very insular, full of inward creative mind confusing thoughts. Coming back to the real world is very distressing … It’s so like being pregnant, as we count down to the birth through wordcounters and then rarely think of the reality of ‘having’ a novel. Shortly, you’ll have yourself a novel and then the fun really really begins!
Did I help? At all?
Egg Timer! Hee hee!
Two awards for you on my blog missy! Well done you!
Hesitant Scribe - I kind of know that life’s too short too but, well, it doesn’t stop the miseries getting us from time to time, does it? A publisher would be very nice indeed. Hope you’re doing ok; sounds as if your writing’s coming along which is fab.
Yvonne - it really IS bloody, BLOODY hard, isn’t it? At least all the wobbling burns some calories, I s’pose?
Caroline - are you, on top of all my other troubles, now telling me I’m SPOTTY? Oh, it’s truly more than I can bear. This writing lark is very much like having a baby… all that hard work and then you have this and don’t know what to do with it! The real world… ugh. And you always help, Sweetie. You’re very helpful indeed (and quite nice).
A Writer - Ooh, I’m feeling all glowy… fanks very much, young missy-yourself.
Award for you over at mine too.
Jen egg timer? surely that’s a petite hour glass so you’re alright there then . I was impressed when you were at 67% of your novel now I’m just awestruck. Just think you said I’m going to write a novel and you did
Egg timer! Yes - he surely meant hour glass. I agree it’s a good one to be though. Me, I’m a biro.
(I make Tranny look voluptuous.)
I wonder if you’re unease is because you’re not sure what comes after novel?? Any more plot lines to get going on?
*hug*
Sarah, crumbs, thanks!
Breezy - Just think - you said you were going to live in France and you did! We rock.
Nez - a biro!! That made me laugh. I’d love to have a go at being a biro. You’ve hit the unease nail on the head, I think. No more plot lines at the mo - quite the opposite: I worry that I may never have another thought again
Hmmm……I think lovely BF did well…..I dread to think what Chris would have come up with if put on the spot.
As for me…..I insist on telling everyone I’m in shape…..after all…..round is a shape!!!
You write beautifully…..you’ll have a publisher in no time!! Keep writing and don’t worry about the wobbles - I think it’s completely natural when you are coming to the end of something you have worked on for such a long time!!
C x
Got it all crossed for you honey. Bloody marvellous to be so nearly finished.
JJx
I looked at ‘ Tranny’s’ website on body shape and have decided that Tranny is a fanny. I am a brick. I think Bobo had realised that from his own research but very tactfully didn’t share that knowledge with me until I did the test for myself. Hrrrumph.
Well done for finishing the novel. The swirly tum feelings sound really normal on completing something longed for and slogged over. Poor you for feeling so grotty. Thumbs up for lovely bf treating you, aww.
H
xx
hi there, there is an award waiting for you over at mine. Hopefully, that will cheer you up a bit.
big hugs
H
xx
You will have another idea. It will sneak up on you when you’re least expecting it and shout “BOO!”
Carol - You are sooo not round! Keep sending those publisher positive vibes…
JJ - Thanks Lovely…
Hullballoo - ‘Tranny is a fanny’! Love it. If you must be brick, at least you’re a colourful one. Stupid Tranny. What does she know anyway? And thanks for the award. You’re a pink sweetie.
Nez - Do you think so? It might frighten me and make me fall over. Eek.
I’m sure BF meant ‘hourglass’ and it was just a slip of the tongue! I too have just finished the first draft of my novel and was feeling rather strange about it - syndrome DOES sound good! But I have cheered myself up with the thought that I have at least got to do the re-write/editing so that should keep me happy for a bit longer….if you have already done that, then there’s no time for procrastination - it’s time to let it go and search out its rightful home - be brave…good luck.
Hannah - Wow, fabulous that you’ve finished your novel too. Maybe we have some weird, writerly, Sussexy syndrome. I’m looking forward to the re-write. No bravery required yet, thank goodness.