The Writer’s Life – Working From Home
Now don’t get me wrong. The current situation is serious, and like everyone I know, I’m doing my share of worrying about my friends and family, especially my elderly mum back in the UK. We speak every day over Messenger and I know that’s she’s in as safe a situation as is possible at a time like this.
But me? Y’know, in the current atmosphere of lock-down and Oh, how will I fill my time? we introvert writers have never had it so good.
Instead of having to field my mum’s regular questions of Oh, you’re so isolated there… and Don’t you get lonely/bored/frustrated? Now it’s, Aren’t you lucky to be in a place like that…
The fact is, I live in the depths of rural Spain, half-way up a mountain, in a casa rurale that is, if not actually isolated, puts up a good show of being so. Our nearest neighbour is 1/4 mile away and the local village a ten-minute drive. I chose it this way because I’m one of life’s natural introverts and being able to tuck up in my writer’s cave and shut out the world is my personal idea of Heaven.
And just now, the practical result is that, with the house well-stocked with everything I need for all the house occupants, whether of the two or four-legged variety, I don’t need to stick my nose out to the corona-infested world for some time to come. I can retire into my hole and pull the blankets over my head.
And even better, I have the perfect excuse, nay, instruction, to do so.
Bliss!
Long John Silver Helps
So, working from my home office as a full-time writer, I thought I might share with you an idea of how my typical day goes. Feel free to let me have the feedback on your version 🙂
- Wake. Examine inside of eyeballs. Listen…
- Beside me, He is still asleep. No sound of dogs. Rain whooshing down outside. Cats yowling for breakfast.
- Time for coffee.
- Get up. Shiver. Tug on dressing gown and woolly socks. Head for kitchen.
- Pause to examine dead rat on stairs. Consider which cat, from selection of four, might have muscled the offering through the bathroom window. Question to self: Why does a cat capable of taking out a full-grown rat, insist on pacing up and down the kitchen squalling for dried kitty-munchies?
- Pick up rat by tail-tip between finger and thumb. Toss violently over edge of balcony out to garden. Wash hands.
- Make coffee. Make His breakfast. Set Him up with TV news on coronavirus and world-gone-mad
- Check e-mails – replies to messages from readers/subs/authors – especially re-coronavirus
- Check FB messages/posts/comments
- Go to run bath. Discover water is off. Pull wellies over socks and head down garden to re-prime pump. Eight flights of steps down to pump-house. Five minutes faffing with pump, spanner, water feed and valving. Eight flights of steps up again, back to house.
- Relaxing bath. Cup of coffee – Aaahhh…
- Load washing machine. Switch on. Question to self: Is dodgy socket okay that knocks off house electric supply whenever it rains? Wait to see if washing machine put house into darkness… Okayyy….
- Post links to promo blog post for ‘How I Became An Author of Erotica‘. Post links to personal page, author page, FB group, Instagram and Pinterest. Diary note for an author share in the next newsletter.
- Send copy of book to reader having download problems.
- Post links for newly active thriller giveaway: website giveaway page, personal page, author page, FB group
- Exchange chat with English friend of thirty years – news, weddings and the hazards of sneezing in public right now
- Check yesterday’s sales. Update spreadsheet.
- Writing! – ‘Prey’ Target output for day: 2,000 words.
- 138 words: Stop for scratchy ears and quick discussion of important plot points with Honey.
- Arrange large mastiff-sized cushion in passing beam of sunshine on the floor by desk and settle Honey down.
- Writing… 456 words… Stop for lickey hand and explanation of story beats to Rosie.
- Turf Rosie off Honey’s cushion.
- Set up Rosie’s basket next to Honey’s cushion
- Check with FB forensics ‘expert’ group for plot detail.
- Writing… 732 words. Explain to Harley chimera kitty that she doesn’t have big enough paws to help me with the typing. Sitting on the keyboard is not an adequate substitute.
- Writing… 1046 words… Electric goes off taking lights, water supply and internet with it.
- F**k!
- Down twelve flights of garden steps to main supply box on wall outside garden. Click mains switch, wait to see that it stays on then return to house back up twelve flights of garden steps.
- Check fuse box. Flick off fuse for dodgy socket circuit. Washing can wait. nowhere to dry it anyway in this weather.
- Return to keyboard… Write…
- Type three words then get distracted by small moving object on office floor.
- WTF?
- Peer in. Retrieve spectacles. Peer in again to see acorn-sized shrew heading for cover of bookcase. Cats Harley and Goldie in hot pursuit. Dogs come to investigate and join in fun. Eject whole damn lot of them from office. Move furniture. Catch shrew in cupped hands.
- Suck thumb and bleeding shrew-bite. Transport shrew out to garden. Dip thumb in iodine.
- Return to keyboard… Write… Stare at screen. Damn! Mind is a blank…
- Work on book cover for Prey
- Work on memes for Prey – Facebook, Website, Instagram… Hit Publish…
- Electric goes off…
Buy me a coffee?
Wow what a great start to my day you made me laugh when I needed it th most thanks for that, keep safe .
Glad I gave you a laugh ☺️
Better you than me with the unplanned pet visitors!
lol! Happens all the time to me 🙂
Maybe a dual-directional zip-line?
I started laughing as I read this, and am still smiling!! My lap just got vacated by Oslo (the cat I’m house-sitting for), as he has decided that Dad’s recliner is a better fit. Especially since Dad isn’t here to make him move (they are up north, avoiding civilization, such as it is).
So far, he hasn’t brought me any mice, which he is prone to doing when I’m here long enough, but I’m sure that will change in the next few days.
Many thanks for all your books, articles, short stories, and musings – they make my days ever so much more brighter!!
Glad you enjoyed it. Hugs to Oslo 🙂
This really made me laugh and reminded me of how things were when I stayed with my parents and our cat Oscar wanted attention.
His peculiarity was that he would only drink water if it was from a running tap, bathroom, kitchen, dribbled from a bottle, it didn’t matter.
The jumping on to your lap when you’re seated at the keyboard, tail wafting in front of your face for attention and if that failed, settling onto the keyboard until you’d given him the attention he deserved, all these memories came back.
Absolutely loved it.
lol! Only running water? That’s a new one on me. I had a dog once who loved curry, but afterwards would dash to the bathroom to suck the flannel…
Take care. stay safe 🙂
I so enjoyed reading about you “faffing” about with your water pump that I laughed out loud. It’s been 40 years since I heard anyone use that expression, it was one of my father’s favourites. I think it’s a good old Yorkshire saying. Keep safe and well.
Got it right in one. Yes, I’m from Yorkshire.
Take care. stay safe 🙂
Simone
Wow! What a day. Happy youre at least staying healthy!
Hi Lorri – yes thanks. Def staying healthy. Having my healthy pint of morning coffee as I write this.
Take care. Stay safe.
Simone 🙂
I appreciated starting my day today with some major belly laughs and smiles!! I’ve loved your injections of humor in most of your Romantic Suspense books before. Maybe you should do some out-and-out Rom-Coms? You’ve got considerable comedic talent too, Simone!
Hi Emily – In fact I’ve considered Rom-Com. Wasn’t too sure how it would go down with my current audience. But I might try a short story or two to see how it’s received 🙂
Thanks for the laugh. You’re life is not dull and the kids keep you active. Enjoy your books and newsletters. Stay safe and healthy also your Mom. I’m a healthy senior living on Long Island NY and life is very quite here. I truly wish that the “experts” would explain to people that the amount( droplets) of exposure probably leads to amount of disease you exhibit. This would explain some of the serverity of the illness. Just saying as a common sense RN. Of course if you already have a compromised body you will get sicker, once again common sense. Panic is such a waste of energy. ENOUGH!!
Yes, common sense is important at a time like this. Stick to the rules. Stay indoors. Stay safe.
S xx
So refreshing to see you experience all the distractions as the rest of us working from home. I have never read another author who has used the word “faffing”. That definitely marks you down as British in my estimation.
Thanks for such an amusing article and I hope you and yours stay safe. We are hearing such awful things about the situation in Spain back here in the UK.
lol! Yes, genuinely British. And genuinely with my own version of all the irritations of everyday life.
And you take care too. Stay safe 🙂
Oh my stars. Thanks for the smile. What a perfect family you have. I’m glad your safe and sane with the adorable fur babies and him. Please continue to write and share. We love you….
Thanks Pam. I’ll do my best 🙂
S xx
And that was just your morning right?! 😁. At least you got your exercise in for today.
Sounds idyllic! Find an opossum for the feline: a three course meal ; )
lol! – Never been brought an opossum – they’re a bit thin in this part of the world. A pine marten gave me pause for thought though. as did the wild boar piglets.
Wow, what a start to your day! Thank you for your diligents and humor as you write. I live in Hermosa, South Dakota USA, not far from Mount Rushmore. Thank God we don’t have many cases of the virus here as yet, we are a very rural area state. I’m staying home as I’m a high risk person; diabetes and heart issues. (I do not work) Keeping busy reading, doing puzzles, crocheting an Afghan and watching tv old reruns and home improvement shows. Mostly trying to keep up with our puppy, Kay, we got in December. She is now 5 months old and keeps me on my toes trying to keep up with her, she is a Brittany Spaniel. I will continue to stay safe and take each day as it comes. Thank you for your books that help so many get through these tough times. God Bless you and yours. Sincerely JoAnna Fanning
Thankyou, JoAnna. Nothing like a nice sensible breed like a spaniel to keep you on your toes 😉 lol!
Thanks for the bit of levity in our crazy lives!
You’re welcome Lori 🙂
You need a ski lift and make me so glad that Pugs can’t get up to my keyboard. Stay safe
lol! a ski lift would be a great idea…
So enjoyed you sharing your day! Hope your mom stays safe and glad you have all you need. It sounds so terrible in Spain.
Thanks Mae. Yes, my mum’s taking all the precautions. so ar, she’s fine. Thank you 🙂 xx