On the plus side, I've been writing. I decided to give flash fiction a go, and my goal was to have 25 first vignettes which means I don't even need a story. It's liberating to just start with a first line and let it flow.drafts by the weekend. I've reached twelve so far. I've got them all in a gorgeous notebook that I got for my birthday, and it's actually quite refreshing. I'm concentrating on
On the minus side, my head is still weird. Which actually helps a lot with writing, but isn't so good with day-to-day life. Sometimes, it really feels like I don't belong. Part of me still wants to be that hermit in the attic that I always dreamed I'd be.
Apologies...
I use Bloglovin to read blogs, but recently it was freezing on me, and I managed to delete all the unread blogs on the list... all 515 of them. So, if I haven't visited you for a few days, that's why. I've been meaning to sort out my blogroll, so this might be a good time to do that and make sure everyone is easily available to me.
Have you ever tried flash fiction?
Have you ever thought hermitism sounded awesome??
Sorry Bloglovin' froze on you.
ReplyDeleteCool you are writing the flash pieces! I admit, I've never written one.
My home is my castle and place to hide from the world. So I know how you feel about being a hermit. We have to force ourselves to socialize now and then though, because it's healthy.
A job and gym addiction means I'm always going to leave the house, but every so often it's nice to stay in my dressing gown and keep the curtains closed:-)
DeleteI can see where writing flash fiction might clear the head and refresh the Muse.
ReplyDeleteAs for being a hermit, yes I suffer from that tendency, too. I have to force myself to make social engagements.
I've written a couple of flash pieces before, but I've always had some kind of plan for the story - all I'm doing this time is writing down the first sentence as it comes to me and just let the words flow. Some have been crossed out already, but most of them are happily in first draft stage.
DeleteWell, you already know how much I enjoy flash fiction. :)
ReplyDeleteI was going to say we could start a club with all of us "hermits" but that kind of defeats the point.... :)
Madeline @ The Shellshank Redemption
I hope my flashes come out as good as yours Madeline! A hermit club online is actually a practical idea :-)
DeleteI would love the whole hermit thing, but my kid continues to insist that I socialize with others from the real world. And then I picked up an anti hermit hobby--no word on whether it'll stick.
ReplyDeleteAs for flash fiction, my favorite has a little bit of a story. Also, have you seen WRiTE CLuB? it's over at DL hammons blog http://www.dlhammons.com/search
An anti-hermit activity? Line dancing or flash-mobbing?
DeleteI'm using the 'it's what you don't say' method of storytelling.
Glad you're writing! I've never really been able to write short stories, let alone flash fiction. My ideas are always too big.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure that I AM a hermit. I just left my apartment for the first time since Sunday, and it was only to take out the trash...
I'm pretty sure War and Peace would be a short story in my hands :-) It seems hermitism is spreading!
DeleteDear Annalisa - somehow I missed your post about confusion - I hope by now you have talked to the doctor? There are any number of reasons for such a state, most of them fixable, so don't let it ride.
ReplyDeleteI was in a similar state for a year or more and finally tracked down the cause to a long-lasting urinary tract infection. But medication can also cause it - get yours changed and keep us/me posted. x
Thank you Liz. I'm actually feeling a lot better than a couple of weeks ago. The temps have cooled a little, and I think that's helped.
DeleteGood for you for getting back into your writing seat! I have tried flash fiction. I have a couple of pieces I'm really proud of and have been sending out for publication with no luck yet. And I pretty much am a hermit. I don't get out much. At all!
ReplyDeleteGood luck finding a place for those flash pieces. They are such fun to write!
Deleteflash is a lot fun and quite a challenging. All about the word choices - best bang for minimalism. I can be a loner at times, and yet still need some socialization. I don't think I could be a hermit for long. Hope your head gets unfuzzy - maybe it's inner ear. Take care
ReplyDeleteYou write flash so well, Joanne - I love your collection, and if I could do half as well, I'll be happy. You don't get any hermitism marks for that comment though!! :-)
DeleteI am a hermit and have been most of my life.Flash fiction and short fiction in general kicks my butt. That is why I admire others who can write shorter fiction. I tried to write flash fiction and actually thought it would be a good idea to query some of my short fiction and needless to say, I was horrible at it. All the rejection letters said so. So for now, I am sticking to my novel writing aspirations. Wishing you well with the writing and non-writing related matters.
ReplyDeleteWe all have strengths and weaknesses - it's just a matter of finding out what they are! Hope the novel's going well?
DeleteI've done flash fiction/drabbles before. They can be super easy I find, or super hard. Especially if you limit your word count. But I do find them to be delightful little pieces and many times the ideas stick with me and I hope to incorporate them into a larger work.
ReplyDeleteI'm not thinking about word count at all, but they're all roughly a page and a half of my notebook. I've actually gone the other way and rewritten some unused scenes from larger works.
DeleteHi Annalisa - technicalities can irritate - still 515 less things to worry about!!
ReplyDeleteHope your weirdness eases of - sounds somewhat 'funny' ... take care ...
However trying new writing ideas sounds a great relieving exercise - love your new journal - the family know their way into your heart don't they ...
I definitely don't want to be a hermit - but I'm happy with my own company .. cheers Hilary
The notebook was a present from a friend. Usually I have a hard time actually writing in such pretty books because I think all my crossings-out would ruin it. But it seems to have inspired me with these flashes.
DeleteI'm glad you're not a hermit, Hilary - you'd have nothing to post about, and that would be a shame!
If the flash fiction has you back in the groove of writing then continue.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely. I can't wait to go back and work on the second drafts, but I'm forcing myself to hit 25 first. I thought I had this morning, but the 25th story was rubbish :-)
DeleteI've never really tried writing flash fiction, maybe it is something I will try one day, glad to here it has been going well for you.
ReplyDeleteIt's worth a try, even if you only use it as an exercise to get into the POV of a new character.
DeleteI love flash fiction! I used to do quite a bit of it but stopped for some reason I can't remember. I should start again.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
I have writing fads - short for a couple of years, then much longer, and now back to short. Have fun with it :-)
DeleteAt times I'm close to being a hermit, but I do manage now and then to get out to socialize on a limited basis. I like a certain amount of seclusion. I can relate to what you're saying and I think it might be a normal part of leaving the greater insecurity of youth to become more comfortable with self as we get older.
ReplyDeleteI've only made a few stabs at flash fiction. I tend to jabber on a lot when I write so my attempts at brevity are not often--other than blog posts where I've been trying to keep things short.
Lee
Tossing It Out
I've always been far too comfortable in my own company - I have to make a real effort to get out and about sometimes, because I love solitude so much. Luckily I have Hubby and the kids to stop being hiding away permanently :-)
DeleteOMG you READ MY MIND! In the past few months, I've had to do all of these author events, plus a parade of friends and family through town. I just had an online blogging buddy whom I've never met say he wants to meet up while in town. Great, but as it gets closer he's asking me to pick him up at the airport and drop him off at the hotel, then go BACK to see him at his convenience (he's here for a wedding) and I'm just having the hardest time figuring a way out of it. I just don't want to hang out with people from out of town anymore! I'm SO burned out on it.
ReplyDeleteOh no, that's a terrible position to put you in. Meeting blogging and writer friends is great, but you should impose on technical strangers. I hope you sort it out... and don't let him stop you meeting other people, some of us are really nice :-D
DeleteI miss being a hermit. It's impossible to do when you have a kid! Flash fiction is fun to write and difficult. It's taught me a lot about the craft of writing.
ReplyDeleteGosh, yes, you wouldn't WANT to be shut away with a manic toddler, would you???? :-) That's a good point about the craft of it.
DeleteHi. I've never written any flash fiction, but I've read that it can do wonders for recharging your creative juices. Good luck with it.
ReplyDeleteI've been away from blogging for a really long time and I hate to think about how hard it is going to be to clean up / clear out and add to my reader. It's hard enough just trying to reconnect with old friends. So much has happened. I've only visted a few blogs, but I feel like a alien trying to navigate through a foreign planet .
I just wanted to stop by and say hello. Hope all is good with you. I will be back soon
I've got a little bit hooked on flash at the moment!
DeleteIt's good to see you back again :-)
I've written a flash here and there. nice to write something and a style different from the norm! happy writing dear girlie!
ReplyDeleteI used to write 1000 word short stories all the time. I'm enjoying going back to my roots.
Deletei would love to be a hermit for awhile. At some point, I 'd need to reconnect. If I could have 3 hermit days a week - that would be ideal. Just 3 days where I have no one around, no interruptions...that would be wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good compromise. To be honest, I think I'd need to see people occasionally - but I could probably go for one day out of seven ;-)
DeleteSorry about losing your blog roll...
ReplyDeleteI love my flash fiction. It's the first type of fiction I ever attempted.
Because of the brevity required, flash fiction is a good way to practise tight, lean writing.
You may just come to enjoy it. Who knows?
I'm pretty lean, as a writer, I'm just hoping I've got the right storylines to hook readers!
DeleteJinx Annalisa- I've been dreaming of being a hermit too. It's my fantasy. Maybe just a few days a month?
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of people like the idea of being alone - some people prefer more time than others though!
Delete