My Varuna Journal

Gallery Webmaster Copyright © 2003 Milli Thornton

I know I'd be advised to go find a computer repair shop and pay an "expert" to fix this problem. But I refuse to put my computer in the hands of a stranger. I've seen too many episodes where friends have done that, only to end up with much worse problems than they started with. I only trust Brian with my computer.
Blue Monster of Varuna

Wise people say we gain strength through adversity so let's see what these circumstances do for me as a writer. Right now I'm alternating between the tragic feeling that this just isn't fair, and anger that a BLOODY COMPUTER is ruining my dream writing retreat.

I've got a critical decision to make about how best to spend my time at Varuna. One of the major things I came here to achieve is the layout of the manuscript, using the submissions from workshop and writing circle participants and readers of the first book. And when I'm working with the material from other writers I'm counting on those pieces to trigger me into the linking material I need to write to make it all flow. Something like 85 - 90% of the contributions were submitted by email. I have hard copies of everything at home, but it would have weighed a ton in my luggage to bring them, so I only brought the stories that were submitted on paper and still need to be typed up for the book.
As a last resort, I may be able to work in Notepad and retrieve many of those submissions from my email inbox. I don't relish the tedious work involved in going back through months & months worth of emails hunting for submissions, but it can be done ~ as long as Notepad doesn't crash.

My other option is to blow off the sequel and work on an unrelated project, such as the anthology of YA stories. I did bring enough extra stuff with me to work on projects independent of Fear of Writing. Nice to think I could have something semi-ready to publish in a different arena when I get home . . . but what a horror to think of trying to write the sequel amid the distractions I came so far to escape.

The decision I make now will affect my writing career for months to come. Isn't writing a book daunting enough without this? I feel like a bloody idiot. Why me? Why a stupid computer problem? What a pathetic excuse for not getting a book written.
Back to Journal Main Page