Monday, June 19, 2006

upon further reflection

DSC02620

I have rediscovered the main truth about the workings of my brain that I learned in high school: the more other work I have to get done, the more I want to write things that aren't on the obligation list.

As I focused on other tasks this weekend, ideas for the play kept popping into my mind. I wrote one full scene, plus made a post-it pad full of notes. Why is it my characters always want to talk to me whenever I'm supposed to be getting something else done?

Whatever the answer, I'm happy to have rediscovered the joy of writing plays. So the next time you find me fretting over something that is not playwriting, please remind me of this. I'd be happy to do the same for you.

But first you have to tell me: what is it that you love doing that you always seem to forget how much you love it?


More thoughts tomorrow after my brain has had time to decompress from an unnaturally busy past five days.

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posted by Jill at 1:00 AM

35 Comments:

  • Well, I like to play my guitar and write little ditties. This is something that I used to do a lot, and totally let it go. I've picked it back up again and it has been divine.

    By Blogger The Grunt, At Mon Jun 19, 02:21:00 AM 2006  

  • I wish I could recapture the music thing. It just escapes me at the moment - not enough time etc. etc. All excuses but there you are.

    Lovely photo by the way - you are one of those lucky photogenic people.

    By Blogger Further on up the road, At Mon Jun 19, 04:29:00 AM 2006  

  • Writing is also one of those things that, for me, is so enjoyable that I often forget that it's my avocation as much as my job. Because I have to write -- and blog! -- so much for work, it often escapes me that I also relax by writing and blogging ... so much so that even though I always complain that I am always writing and blogging, I find that I desperately miss it when I am not doing it.

    And, let me just respectfully echo the previous comment: Hubba hubba, Jill! :-)

    By Blogger The Chronic Curmudgeon, At Mon Jun 19, 07:18:00 AM 2006  

  • I don't forget how much I love to write, perform and record music...I just let the "urgent" other things take precedence all too often.

    Or I allow the heavy air of frenetic New York City life squeeze the energy out of me.

    The funny bit is that if I go to the gym or walk around the block and then "force" myself to sit down with my guitar, well then I suddenly have all the energy I need and invariably end up staying up far too late in the throes of a creative burst.

    So maybe creative energy isn't finite -- we're capable of creating it if we can just get the crank turned the first time...like the initial thrust of a perpetual motion machine.

    (I'm sure I'll have some Newtonian physicists upbraiding me in a bout 20 seconds for busting two laws of physics i one sentence.)

    By Blogger Ethan, At Mon Jun 19, 08:05:00 AM 2006  

  • You know I forget how much I like looking at these Jill in the mirror pics until I get back to work and start looking through my blog roll.

    By Blogger Croaker, At Mon Jun 19, 09:17:00 AM 2006  

  • This just means that you're probably supposed to be writing--even if you think that you shouldn't be.

    By Blogger Momentary Academic, At Mon Jun 19, 09:54:00 AM 2006  

  • Ohmigod, she's got three hands!

    Sorry.

    I've been getting myself back into photography lately and have been trying to regularly post new content to my Flickr account. Hopefully, later this year I'll get a digital SLR. It would be nice. Money dependent, of course.

    By Blogger kapgar, At Mon Jun 19, 10:02:00 AM 2006  

  • Sounds like a true slacker to me, you're alway the most productive on the project you're not supposed to be doing at the moment ;O)

    As for the fun thing: squirt gun fights. :O)

    By Blogger Chief Slacker, At Mon Jun 19, 10:15:00 AM 2006  

  • I love the reflection shots -- and I REALLY like the one in the public bathroom. It was totally pretty!

    By Blogger Amber, At Mon Jun 19, 10:50:00 AM 2006  

  • This is my favorite picture of you!
    I love sleeping but I never get enough of it and most of the time I have no one to blame for that but myself. I know that sounds lame that I love sleep but seriously, when you're an insomniac you really miss it.

    By Blogger Kendra, At Mon Jun 19, 10:59:00 AM 2006  

  • Lovely photo, it's true.

    I miss creating the universe. If I could do it again without hurting anyone, I would. Instead, I spend most of my time undermining the world's religions.

    Hello, Jill.

    By Blogger scott, At Mon Jun 19, 11:28:00 AM 2006  

  • You look like a baby in that photo, you young thang.

    By Blogger Megan, At Mon Jun 19, 11:42:00 AM 2006  

  • The thing that I miss the most when I am at my busiest is having the time for pleasure reading. I always manage to sneak in 10-15 pages here or there, but I always feel worse when I don't have the space to just sit for a couple of hours with a new (or old) book.

    I've been looking at Lois-Ann Yamanaka's "Blu's Hanging" for way too long, and I have a feeling it will be worth the wait.

    By Blogger Grad School Reject, At Mon Jun 19, 11:44:00 AM 2006  

  • Great photo!

    Singing. Always forget how good it can make me feel.

    By Blogger Dustin, At Mon Jun 19, 12:41:00 PM 2006  

  • Not fair!

    By Blogger Egan, At Mon Jun 19, 12:49:00 PM 2006  

  • i miss moving to faraway places, that moment when all your belongings are packed away into the uhaul and you pull out onto the freeway.

    oh, and booze. it's only been two days, but god i miss booze.

    By Blogger ducklet, At Mon Jun 19, 01:22:00 PM 2006  

  • i miss talking. i don't talk to anyone about anything anymore.

    By Blogger kat, At Mon Jun 19, 02:10:00 PM 2006  

  • I've spent the last two months doing things that weren't on the 'To Do List'.

    It doesn't work.

    By Anonymous Buffy, At Mon Jun 19, 02:30:00 PM 2006  

  • Grunt: so are you going to record any and share?

    Further on: being photogenic is all about light and angles. really, i've got a big round pumpkin head.

    CC: thanks. so are you writing that novel or what?

    Ethan: in my comments section I've been upbraided by at least one physicist, not to mention a mathematician who thought I was doing a disservice to both math and womanhood. whatever. as for the "forcing yourself" to sit down bit, I do that, too.

    Thanks, Croaker.

    M.A.: finally, I believe I only should be writing. Now to put that into action.

    Kapgar: I've only just begun playing with this camera. We shall see how it turns out. I look forward to seeing more of your photos, and I shall nag you about posting more of them. ;)

    Chief Slacker: the world would be a better place if we all tooks a break each day for a squirt gun fight.

    Thank you, Amber!

    KC, then stop being an insomniac. ;) Oh wait, it's not that easy, is it?

    I miss creating the universe as well, Scott. That's why I write plays.

    I'm hoping to continue looking young, Megan. Otherwise I might get old.

    GSR: So, I read my comments via email on my cell phone, and if a person hasn't posted a return email address, I can't see until I get to the end of an email who wrote that particular comment. But the weird thing is, halfway through the first sentence, I knew that one was you.

    Thank you, Dustin!

    Listen, curly-haired Egan, I worked darn hard that day to make sure my hair was under control. I think it's more than fair.

    Ducky, would now be a bad time to ask if you want to run someplace far, far away with me?

    Kat, you've got my phone number.

    Buffy, no relationship that I have with any to-do list ever seems to work.

    By Blogger Jill, At Mon Jun 19, 02:57:00 PM 2006  

  • I like to reflect on all of the beauty in the world. Your pictures always remind me of that.

    By Blogger -J, At Mon Jun 19, 03:23:00 PM 2006  

  • Have I become predictable and boring to you already? Because if so, I am way ahead of my curve. Usually that takes at least 6-8 months....

    By Blogger Grad School Reject, At Mon Jun 19, 03:49:00 PM 2006  

  • No, silly! I meant that it was strange that I could "hear" your voice even though I've never heard your voice.

    By Blogger Jill, At Mon Jun 19, 04:39:00 PM 2006  

  • Haven't been touching it. But - this little soujourn in Europe has made me see some things in new light. I'll keep you posted.

    By Blogger The Chronic Curmudgeon, At Mon Jun 19, 05:13:00 PM 2006  

  • First of all, let me just say- you are BEAUTIFUL!! Great pict! I'd kill for that hair!!
    Anyway... : ) I love to sing.. ever since I stopped doing it competitively, I've had no outlet and thus forget how much I love to do it. Alas, you can't just break out into song in the middle of work.. can you? : )

    By Blogger Officially Fabulous, At Mon Jun 19, 05:26:00 PM 2006  

  • Ok, Mudge. I will trust that your intellectual and cultural explorations are providing fodder enough for your brain that "active work" on your creative projects would currently be unproductive/superfluous/defeating the point/etc. Sometimes, I stare at walls when paused on a project.

    Thank you, 30 & Fab! Depending on your job, you might be able to... if I could sing, I would break out into song everywhere! Um... I already do. It's just not on key.

    By Blogger Jill, At Mon Jun 19, 06:12:00 PM 2006  

  • i tried the talking thing yesterday, but it didn't work out so well. so i've gone back to the drinking thing.

    By Blogger kat, At Mon Jun 19, 07:24:00 PM 2006  

  • Perhaps it was too fair. You look great in that picture and I've decided I'm going to hover over this particular post for a while.

    By Blogger Egan, At Mon Jun 19, 09:08:00 PM 2006  

  • Looking gorgeous as always :).

    For me, it's the thrill of writing. But not just sitting down to write. It's the rush I get when inspiration hits, the Muse speaks and I must drop everything and let the words dance on the screen.

    By Blogger ChickyBabe, At Mon Jun 19, 10:08:00 PM 2006  

  • Strat-O-Matic Baseball. Really, I can't understand how anyone would answer differently.

    By Blogger Chief Scientist, At Mon Jun 19, 10:46:00 PM 2006  

  • "Grunt: so are you going to record any and share?"

    Maybe, just maybe--if you're really good.

    By Blogger The Grunt, At Tue Jun 20, 02:28:00 AM 2006  

  • Please, nag away. It will keep me on the straight and narrow. Ideally.

    By Blogger kapgar, At Tue Jun 20, 09:31:00 AM 2006  

  • Hmmm... maybe if I were on Broadway... writing any musicals dear Jill? just kidding!
    ~Fab : )

    By Blogger Officially Fabulous, At Tue Jun 20, 04:53:00 PM 2006  

  • Holy shit, someone just made a reference to Strat-o-Matic Baseball. That brings back memories. I must check that person's blog out.

    By Blogger Egan, At Tue Jun 20, 06:45:00 PM 2006  

  • Running, long trail runs especially. Hiking in the mountains. Playing my guitar and letting the tune write itself in the moment's intersecting.

    By Blogger matt, At Wed Jun 21, 12:00:00 AM 2006  

  • ... it's 4AM and I'm browsing through your blog - since about 15 minutes.
    I don't know what that means; could be too early or too late - but now I'm hooked like snail that found the perfect lettuce leaf.
    Got to bookmark you, city girl!

    By Blogger Zee, At Mon Jun 26, 04:01:00 AM 2006  

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