Saturday, August 8, 2009

Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated

It's true, they are. I really am not dead. Well, not as far as I know, anyway. I've not noticed any strange smells or worms or anything like that. I've just become a totally shite blogger. So much so I've even managed to forget Very Important Things like Blog Birthdays. My blogs' birthdays. Can you believe it that I started Atyllah the Hen three years ago and Absolute Vanilla two years ago. Perhaps I'm just worn out. Perhaps the blogging appeal has finally lost its lovely shiny glow. Perhaps it's a permanent meltdown. Maybe it's just a temporary glitch. Time will tell.

Of course, it may just be that I'm very goal directed on the scribbling front - and that I seem to be horribly sidetracked by Facebook - so much so that the bloody thing has taken to sending me warning notices, assuring me that I am indulging in spam or abusive behaviour. I hasten to assure you that I'm not - I'm just too sociable, flitting from one status update to another offering up my two cents worth of observation or opinion. Clearly the greatest social networking site of the decade thinks this is a bad thing. Evidently, I got the whole point of social networking horribly wrong. Apparently you're not meant to be that sociable. So, hang on, remind me again about the point of social networking? No, I don't get it either. So I'm just blowing a large, wet raspberry at Facebook and will go to the bottom of the garden and eat worms. Or not.

I'm wittering here, aren't I...? It comes from having very little to say - and from having been plagued all night by words. 01h30; 02h30; 06h30; 07h30... - all the hours of the night and morning I've been beset by words on the rewrite of my other novel (no not the one I've just rewritten). Clearly words have utterly no concept of time, or my need for sleep. I look like I've gone ten rounds with a panda. My bedside notebook is filled with scrawls - odd phrases, whole chunks of text, and sparkling metaphors. Okay, I'm not sure that they really do sparkle, it was 3am after all.

Still, lest you think I've popped my clogs, or dropped off the planet, I haven't. I'm still here, just, as I've now told you on several occasions, otherwise occupied. I'm sure that won't stop you from having a totally stunning weekend! :-)

Oh, I did somewhere, inbetween the scribbling, make time to find my desk. It was hidden under a mountain paper, as were large tracts of carpet. I therefore, given this is a rare occasion, offer you a glimpse of the writing cave. Please note the giant magic squirrel in the window. Yes of course he's photoshopped in - unless he really did eat ALL the nuts...

31 comments:

Gail said...

Glad to hear you are still breathing and still creating.

lakeviewer said...

Wittering? I knew you were doing important work; and come spring, you'd pop back out with the new shoots. Hey, you got to forge on when the iron is hot.

Now, about Facebook. That's another malady.

Bonnie Jacobs said...

I love your study. Looks like a great place to work.

Ropi said...

Well, sometimes people don't have inspiration/mood for writing. That's so simple.

Rob said...

Nice writing cave. Seems very comfortable, especially with the large bookcases.

Angela said...

I`m so glad you`re still around! No, I knew that - I did get your occasional jokes and things. But I was beginning to get a little worried, not hearing more.
Don`t put yourself under pressure, though. We all sometimes feel the same about blogging. And facebook? I hardly ever go there anymore. Too much!!!

Baino said...

Haha . . I think for those of us who follow you on Facebook, we understand why you're time poor on the blog! Very glad to hear you're inspired though. I've been keeping similar hours but more through isomnia than inspiration! Love your workspace. Mines just stuck one end of the lounge!

karen said...

Yes, I had noticed a lot of FB activity! I do love the squirrel!! Keep on battling with those words :)

Lola said...

I love your office...

Advice from a Facebook rehab inmate: STAY AWAY FROM THE GAMES.

Ciao dear dear friend,
Lola xx

mum said...

oh yeah. About words, I mean. Guess they like to social-network, too.

Carry on, av. Just grab the words when they fly by and good writing to you.

laughingwolf said...

lol... your place is neat! glad i can't show you my mess ;)

Megan said...

Wish I could enlarge that pic a bit more so I could get a glimpse of your titles!

VioletSky said...

I hate Facebook even more when it starts kidnapping bloggy friends. Like your bright 'cave', though.

Bonnie Jacobs said...

Oh, me, oh, my! Do I spy a friend of Atyllah's atop the bookcase at the left? I'm back to say I can't find you on Facebook, but I'd like to "friend" you, if you are willing:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1248648711&ref=name

Le laquet said...

Equally guilty as charged on all counts! *wanders off to FB/twit*

Rob Inukshuk said...

Happy to know you're still there and perfectly understand that there is life beyond the blog....I know.

All the best with the wordsmithing!

Absolute Vanilla (and Atyllah) said...

Still very much here, Gail! ;-)

Facebook truly is a malady, Lakeviewer! But the writing really does take precedence! ;-)

I like it too, Bonnie, it's a good writing cave! ;-)

Yep, that's very true, Ropi, though for now my inspiration and mood for writing all go around my fiction.

It is a good writing cave, Rob! ;-)

Actually, I find facebook a lot easier, Geli - it's more "instant" and conversational ;-)

Well, yes, Baino, what can I say... Guilty as charged! ;-)

I think the appeal of FB, Karen, is that I get to be more chatty! And I can be chatty in short bursts - also it takes me less time to pop around fb than it does popping around the blogs! ;-)

Too late, Lola!!! I'm hooked on games! ;-) xx

Words are definitely keen on social networking, in any form, RLB! ;-)

Mine's only neat, Wolf, 'cos it got a massive spring clean last weekend!

It's a very eclectic mix of titles, Megan, and that's only part of the stash... ;-)

Well, you know what they say, VioletSky, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em! :-)

You do indeed spy Atyllah on top of the bookcase, Bonnie, well spotted! I've looked you up and sent you a friend request :-)

Yes, well, you and me both, eh, Laquet.

Thanks, Rob, do so hope all things are going well for you guys.

jay said...

Glad you're still with us! LOL!

I think a lot of bloggers post less in summer anyway. I suppose we all spend a little more time outside while the weather is good.

I've heard the same thing from other people about FB. I don't post that much to have ever been accused of spamming, but yes, I thought that was the whole point of the social networking thing. Why penalise people when they take advantage of the facilities? Crazy!

Absolute Vanilla (and Atyllah) said...

I don't even have the "summer" excuse, Jay, it's winter here! ;-)

steph said...

AV

Lovely to see you around. I wasn't worrying about you 'cos I knew you were in a creative phase of your writing.

Long may it continue!

btw I've succeeded in resisting FB so far although the pressure is mounting :-)

Elise said...

Hello, just wanted to leave a comment to say how much I've enjoyed reading some of your posts. Your pictures are amazing and your blog is really cool. Thank you for sharing them !

Saaleha said...

Oh Daahling, I absolutely luuurve the study. It shimmers in a haze of creativity.

Bwaah haaah I want one too :P

S

Absolute Vanilla (and Atyllah) said...

Aw c'mon, Steph, give in to pressure and join us on Facebook! ;-)

Hi, Elise, thanks for stopping by! :-)

Saaleha, darling! where've you been!?! So nice to see your name pop up! :-)

A Cuban In London said...

Word overload is better than word drought. And on top of that it's summer. I think at this time of year we're all shite bloggers, pardon my French. I am counting down the days until we're in our hired car driving through the mountains of northern Spain.

Greetings from London.

jay said...

Ah .. you're in South Africa? I missed that! Well, you have the winter blues then. LOL!

i am storm. said...

glad to hear all is well. no worries...i have been as bad at blogging lately as you feel you have been!!!

be well.

storm

Carol said...

Sheesh, facebook is bloody addictive isn't it!! I love the fact that it e-mail's you when someone has commented on your status.... (Don't go and eat worms...they are endangered apparently and I don't think they would taste very nice!!)

I'm not jealous of your workspace...I'm not jealous at all!!

C x

Vesper said...

What a lovely study, Vanilla!
But I don't see your novel on the screen... :-) :-) :-)

xoxoxo

Tessa said...

Whew - so pleased you are still 'with' us, Nicky! I've been a bad blogger as well lately, but as you can probably imagine, I've been busy like a crazy lady with prospective buyers coming to view our house. Oh, it's a mad, mad world this selling property malarkey! However, I think I can take a bit of a breather now because we've had an offer and the house is off the market while surveys are done. Hopefully, the Surveyor won't find anything untoward and contracts can be exchanged! If this happens, we'll have to start looking around for our teeny tiny cottage.....

Oooh, love that study - such a perfectly perfect place to create!

Absolute Vanilla (and Atyllah) said...

Well, I don't have the excuse of summer, Cuban, it's the middle of a mostly miserable winter here, which means perfect writing time! ;-)

No, I can't even lay claim to the winter blues, Jay! ;-)

I think we all get periodically overwhelmed with blogging, Storm and need to take time out. After three years, I know full well this is the case! ;-)

I am very cunning about FB alerts in my mailbox - mine go to an account I hardly ever use - otherwise I'd never see my mail for the FB mai, Carol!
So glad you're not jealous of my workspace... ;-)

No, what you probably see on my screen is my Facebook profile page, Vesper, which speaks volumes, doesn't it! ;-)

You're selling your house, Tessa?! Are you staying in the same area or moving someplace else? I don't envy you any of the house selling, house moving stuff, especially not in current market conditions. No fun. Good luck with it all.

Debi said...

Ha! I knew Facebook was the work of the devil ...