I want to start off by saying: I’m technically of the
computer generation. My school was one
of the ground-breakers that started putting in computer labs in the mid to late
90s. So—once again…technically—I know
how the darn things work. That being
said, my inner-octogenarian occasionally breaks free and wonders what’s so
great about the Internet, dagnabbit!
Never is my old-lady-patience tested more than during NaNoWriMo
season. While I love being able to
entrust my (frankly awesome) writing (that every publisher EVER should
DEFINITELY want to buy) to my faithful USB, there are times I want to throw my
computer out the window.
The real problem is the Internet. While this series of tubes is wonderful for
updating my word count and doing research for my book, it’s also an incredible
time-suck.
I’m sure everyone knows this, but please—this is my blog,
save your stunning(ly obvious) revelations for your own.
For me, the main culprit is Pinterest. It’s not like I’m even getting good ideas for
my novel, crafts, or anything else productive.
Mostly, I’m pinning funny things and Doctor Who paraphernalia. Without even realizing it, I’ll have gone
through 40-50 pins, and my afternoon has disappeared like dandelion seeds on
the wind.
Facebook is another one of those things pulling focus. I’m more than ready to blame Buzzfeed for
most of my FB time. Sure, sure, there
are friends and family to Poke, but Buzzfeed has an amazing amount of hilarious
subjects, quizzes, and videos. (Though
no one wants to get me started on their whole Midwest
food video. Seriously guys? It’s in the freaking USA. We’re not a bloody foreign country like all
the other videos posted!).
Recently, my newest click-bait is Twitter. The power of #NaNoWriMo has gone to my
head. It’s doubled my followers! I’m like a Twitter Goddess…with SUPER limited
powers. I’m like the undersecretary for Astraeous of Twitter. Those of you who wish to check my followers,
the answer is: Yes, I do count the spam.
Thank you VERY MUCH. And in case
you wondering, my handle is @RampagingKelpie.
Occasionally I wonder…did writers before the Internet have
it easier when it came to putting words on paper? Think of how much easier it must have been to
shut out the world before this World Wide Web reared its little head. Not to mention how much writers must have
contributed to bookstores—and other authors—when purchasing research materials. I’m sure the sweet-spot of productivity must
have been the early 90s. When the word
processor was alive and well, but only Minesweeper and Snake could pull focus—unless
you were willing to wait the ten minutes for the first vestiges of the Internet
to squeal and squawk to life.
Mostly, however, I have a feeling most of my problems stem
from my magpie-like attention span.
“Let’s see, I’ve gotten myself in a sticky situation. I’ll just Google ‘How to escape a raging
volcano’ and see if that helps me get my main characters out of trouble. Oh…hey…is that a funny cat video?”
And then I’m lost in the glories of YouTube or something
equally time-sucky. Yes, I suppose I
must admit that I can only blame the Internet for so long. In all likelihood, even if I lived before any
writing machines were invented, I’d probably still find something to distract
me. However, to live in such a world
would mean giving up my Twitter followers.
And then, where would those 17 people/companies be? Plus, who could expect me to have an accurate
accounting of my word count without my beloved NaNoWriMo?
Okay, back to vainly attempting to stay on track with my word count for Jamarian Days.
Hasta luego, bis dann, szia, and
all that jazz!
