It gets better!

In yesterday's post, I was bemoaning the fact that someone had questioned my article without having read it.

Today, I've got a comment on one of my knitting articles with the comment "That is the ugliest cardigan I've ever seen".

Is this the level of debate I'm to expect?

I was going to allow the comment on there, but decided to take it off after all - what would be gained, and I don't want to give currency to this low level of discussion.

I'm almost envious of this person - if I had time to comment on everything I found ugly, I'd barely have time to get dressed in the morning, let alone to anything useful.

Ho hum!

Muppetry of the first order

Goodness me, there are some f-wits out there!

I have written a Suite 101 article on Mary Wollstonecraft's life.

I received a comment on this article (nice to know that someone's reading it).

The comment is, and I quote: was she married or not duh!

Well, she was (I researched this vital piece of information from MY OWN ARTICLE) and so penned what I hope is a polite reply:

Thank you for your comment. Unfortunately, you have not specified which man. Mary Wollstonecraft did not marry Gilbert Imlay, but did marry William Godwin in 1797 (as noted in the article)

Isn't it nice that people read your work, and get involved in some kind of intellectual debate? Duh?

I chose to find this amusing.

Rejection and Depression

I really have got to deal with rejection a bit better.

I know that I'm coming off the anti-depressants, and so having a few more trips over to the dark side than previously, but really, I've got to grow up!

Synopsis

I handed my synopsis round to the writers' group, thinking that it was pretty good. Oh how wrong can I be. They absolutely pulled it apart.

Don't get me wrong, I'm in favour of the criticisms that they made, I'm just sooooo pissed off that they needed to make any!


Article.

Then I had an article flagged on Suite 101. Again, there is nothing wrong with the criticisms that were made and this is exactly the sort of thing I'm learning -but man, did I get the arse? I was ready to throw my toys out of the pram, and stop writing for them (yes, I'm sure they'd be gutted...). It took me a little while to calm down, and make the corrections, but now I'm a bit panicky about future articles. Okay, that may be a good thing, as I hopefully won't get complacent, but I'm now feeling like a nervous wreck!

Perhaps I should go back onto the happy pills after all?

Knitting is so much more civilised.

Bulimia? Aren't you supposed to throw up as well?

Life

So, John Prescott has Bulimia. I feel sorry for him, and admire his courage in speaking publicly about it.

Years ago (I have a long history of "issues" with food) I was discussing this condition, and said that I could understand the bingeing, but had never forced myself to throw up, or get rid of the food in any other unpleasant ways - I've thought about it, but never done it. This was considered funny - after all - what's more hilarious than a fat person stuffing their face? However, when John Prescott says all this (and there's been no mention of fingers down the throat or laxatives - thank God!) it's not hysterically funny after all. Is it because I'm not a politician or some other kind of public figure? Is it because I'm female? Or is it just because the sketch writers haven't put together the jokes yet?

I hope he gets over the condition - and if he raises awareness of men dealing with eating disorders too, that's all to the good. One life helped is worth it.

Anything that opens up the debate has got to be positive.

Knitting

I've finished one sock - yes, I had finished one before, but it wasn't long enough, so I've now finished the second sock, and am going back to lengthen the first one.

My stars in one of the knitting mags said that I should be less chaotic, and finish some of my UFOs (unfinished objects). Although astrology is largely bollocks, there is a certain logic in that, and so I shall finish the socks and try to finish everything else before I start anything new.

Writing

I've actually done some this morning! Well, some editing. I've had a knitting book idea rejected again, because that particular company isn't doing any more books on knitting at the mo. Ah well, shit occurs. It's a bit frustrating, as I think that I have quite a good idea, and when I see some of the books published on the subject, I do wonder who the target audience is, as they seem very limited in scope, but perhaps that's just another phrase for "specialisation" and actually, that's what I should be aiming for.

I've been editing the novel this morning, am now up to chapter three, so must keep on going. Considering I finished the first draft in November, I've done bugger all since, but I will shift the focus back.

Must. Do. Better.

It's a funny old life!

Writing



I've started torturing agents with the novel. I thought it was about time.



I've got some non-fiction work on Suite 101 about knitting and other stuff, and I've been busy with loads of stuff, so hope still springs eternal.



Knitting.


I've got five projects on the go at the moment.

1. Cinnamon bark in blue for Brenda



2. Lace shawl for me (my first attempt at a lace shawl pattern - perhaps I should have followed one rather than deciding to make my own)



3. Socks made out of the darning wool found in the loft - should be hardy!


4. Fake-isle dog coat using one of my stash balls


5. Domino crochet stash-busting afghan for the spare bed.

None of this stopped me shopping for more yarn today. Off to Wah Wah wools I went, in theory looking for 2.25mm needles (hard to get - not a standard size) and got a couple of others things instead.

Life

I was in the Oxfam shop, feeling a little down, when I met the mother of a friend of mine, and we stood chatting for a few minutes.

After we'd parted company, I felt good, and no longer felt the need to go and buy chocolate or cakes to cheer myself up.

That's the catch 22 of depression, I guess (I'm trying to wean myself off citalopram, as I'm not convinced that they're working). People stop you feeling so down, but when you're over on the dark side, you don't want to talk to anyone.

The therapeutic power of knitting

I've been on a course for the last few days, and took my knitting with me (natch).

There wasn't much opportunity for it, but there you go.

My journey home was beset by problems caused by engineering works.

Having already had to use a replacement bus service in London because of tube engineering works, I also had to get off my train and try to get another bus for 2 stops. That would have been great, had there been buses available, so we were all standing out in the rain getting bad tempered for about 20 minutes.

When our bus had eventually turned up, and taken us to where the rail service was being resumed, there was no train, and a half hour wait until the next one.

There were two options here:

1) To stand around with my fellow travellers and bemoan the poor service
or
2) Put some music in my ears, and sit knitting for half an hour. I did the latter, and the benefits were many:

I didn't feel as stressed as the others who were winding themselves up.
I was doing something creative, rather than just kicking my heels and feeling like my time was being wasted.
This was clear time - the project in question is a lace shawl, and is still at the 400 sts on the needle stage, so to be able to work through the stitch pattern without interruptions was welcome.

So, avoid stress - carry sharp pointy sticks.

The lows and highs of being a writer

First, the bad news.......

I haven't made the shortlist for the "wanna be a writer" comp.

On a realistic level, I didn't expect to, but there's always the dream.

Not only that, but when you're not given feedback (and none was promised, I'm not complaining), you have no idea of knowing if you were a nearly ran, or are, in fact, complete shite.

Then the good news......

Feedback from Assignment 4 of the Writers' Bureau course was much more positive. I should send my stuff of, says my tutor. (This is the course that has to give me my money back if I haven't earned my course fees back by the time I've finished).

Perhaps I will.

And the very exciting news........

One of my writing posse went to an "Agents and Publishers" day as part of her MA. The agent she spoke to wants to see more of her stuff. Of course I'm jealous - but very happy for her.

Onwards.....................................................