Part-time Genius - How do you cope?

[Jason Byrne]

Lol I'd say yes to that!

Good. Then I'm an optimist.

 

[Stephen Drake]

I think that's a realist, actually...

I was asked, a long time ago, if I was an optimist or a pessimist. I responded realist. After giving me a confused look I got asked,"An optimist sees a glass as half-full, a pessimist sees it as half-empty. How does a realist see it?"
I looked at him, shocked, and said,"You have a glass?" "I understand!" was all he said.

 

[Stephen Drake]

Doesn't this thread presuppose that we're geniuses? I know I'm not one!

 

[Emurelda]

I still wonder if I am an optimist or deludedly hopeful.

 

[Emurelda]

I was asked, a long time ago, if I was an optimist or a pessimist. I responded realist. After giving me a confused look I got asked,"An optimist sees a glass as half-full, a pessimist sees it as half-empty. How does a realist see it?"
I looked at him, shocked, and said,"You have a glass?" "I understand!" was all he said.

Half filled with water and topped up by air.

 

[James Marinero]

I'm a pragmatist!

 

[Jason Byrne]

Ah yes, the pragmatist, who says "dude, who cares, just drink it."

 

[Carol Rose]

As to the original question, I'm up at 4AM on weekdays, and sometimes on weekends. I do my promo stuff, and sneak in writing if there's time. Then I need to shower, etc. and drive to my EDJ. I sneak in writing at the EDJ when I can, but I have to be careful, and obviously I need to do that work first. Then I write when I get home, and most weekends as well as days off the EDJ I'm writing. I don't really separate the two, other than to not talk about my writing at work. Most of my co-workers know I write, but we don't discuss it. I work for an insurance company in corporate America so I have to be very, very careful. But my pen names are just as much a part of who I am as the person who shows up at the EDJ and does that work is. I'm always "on" under all three names - my real one, and both pen names. I couldn't separate it any more than I could change my eye color. I'm also fortunate in that my husband and daughter are 100% supportive of my obsession… I mean my writing.

 

[Katie-Ellen]

Like some, I no longer do the "9 to 5". My wife is blind (mostly) so I take her where she needs to go, when she needs me to. I spend lots of time on the computer during the week, but try to quit about 5:00 pm PST to watch tv with the wife and knit. That being said, I have to make lots of notes on most everything (memory issues). Like most of you, I plot and plan in my head a lot, make notes, etc. and work on editing my completed novel. There are times I get tired of being in the realm of my first and second book, so will spend time weaving another one. The hard part I have to remember to make a note about some insight I thought of while driving. I sometimes forget to make a note about something I wanted (or needed) to remember later. Note: My first novel started as a short-story in 1974 and then spent 30+ years banging around inside my head until it finally started to escape in 2005.

Not only a writer, not only all the other things, but also someone's rock.

 

[Stephen Drake]

Not only a writer, not only all the other things, but also someone's rock.

Gee whiz! Thanks! (blushing)

 

[Katie-Ellen]

It must be very difficult at times, for her and also sometimes for you. More men leave wives with disabilities than the other way round. In it for the long haul is the mark of a real man.