What's Wrong with Me?

By Robin Weaver

Doing a mid-year assessment of my 2023 Writing goals, I realized I’ve accomplished zero percent. This is uncharacteristic. (Or was).

While I’ve never been an excessive planner, in the past, I’ve created a general outline for what I hoped to achieve and pretty much adhered to the schedule.

So what happened this year?

I thought about it and thought some more and realized: The answer is simple. I got a microwave kiln for Christmas.

The little gizmo, which cost less than $50, has taken possession of my very soul. I won’t say it’s like crack—only because I’ve never done crack, but I swear, the thing calls to me: “Come here! Precious wants you time, your money, and your first born.”

Fortunately, my first-born is over 21 and refused to consent.

Anyway, back to my problem… My more generous friends say: “At least you’re still the creating.”

The more realistic comment: “Are you ever going to write again?”

I want to get my writing back on track, truly I do. Everyday, I say I’ll write first thing. Then the day dawns, and I muse… If I cut some glass and do some fusing, and while the kiln is cooling, I’ll do some writing.

Only, I end up doing more cutting.

Sigh.

I justify my addiction by reminding myself the microwave uses about 1/50^th of the energy of a regular kiln. No idea if that’s true or not, but the notion works for me. There’s also the justification that I’m using up those stained-glass leftovers, and I’ve finally found a use for all those wine and liquor bottles I’ve been saving.

The result: 1 short story, preliminary edit of a book I finished last year—which technically still isn’t finished, and over 200 pieces of fused glass. Maybe I should create a Pinterest page.  Urrr...No.  Pinterest was my excuse for not writing before the kiln. At the risk of being redundant…sigh.

I don’t know if I get and stay so distracted because I have ADD, I’m obsessive, just writing lazy, or simply applying effort to a hobby with greater payback (if less internal reward).  Not that it matters; I’m still stuck.

While I figure out how to fix my writer's off-the-clock, here’s some more of the stuff I’ve done.

 

 Happy writing—or whatever. 😊 Stay cool.

R