 Drama: December 27, 2011 Issue [#4784] |
  Drama
This week: Life Storms and Silver Linings Edited by: NickiD89  
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| Like many of you, I've considered myself a writer my whole life. But in 2007, I shifted out of hobbyist mode, started writing for an audience, and embarked on the exciting journey towards publication. As I continue on that path and delve ever deeper into the craft, I feed an insatiable appetite for creative writing theory. I seek out how-to books and workshop experiences to augment and amplify whatever talent I possess. For those of you like me, here's a little theory to appease your hunger. |
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I'm an optimistic person who believes all of life's storm clouds have silver, writerly linings. Life storms are what we write about. A story with no catastrophic spike on the plot arc isn't compelling and exciting. Who wants to write about a bunch of people who have no problems, no steep challenges to face? So when a life storm erupts over my head, I try to survive it with courage, patience and grace -- all while I'm taking notes for possible story ideas.
A few weeks ago, I found myself in the eye of an F2 life storm. I'd woken in the night with a headache, which I often do. A glance at the clock told me it was only one in the morning, so I knew I needed to pop a few Tylenol or I'd have monster head pain by morning. So I got up and went to the kitchen for some pills.
The events that followed are hazy in my memory. I remember being hit by a sudden and violent wave of nausea, and I knew I was going to be sick right then and there. The next thing I remember, I was sitting up from the kitchen floor in a pool of vomit. I had passed out.
I was disoriented but not panicked. You see, my whole life I've suffered from the Vasovagal Response, which means my heart slows down when I'm subjected to certain stimuli, such as needles and blood, and my brain doesn't get enough oxygen. When it happens, I pass out. I've lost consciousness many times; passing out is familiar to me. But throwing up? That's extremely rare for me. So in my disoriented state, I was only concerned about the mess I'd made on the kitchen floor. I cleaned it up before going back to bed.
I still felt very nauseous, and I woke my husband up to tell him I was sick. Apparently I didn't tell him I'd passed out. He looked at his clock and saw it was two o'clock in the morning. Between two and five a.m., I vomited four more times. But at five, an alarming new symptom arose. I was losing blood and fluid from my right ear. Time to panic.
My husband recalls I said, "Maybe I hurt my ear when I fell." By telling him I'd passed out he had the missing piece to the puzzle, and five minutes later he was helping me dress.
The ER physician could see I'd ruptured my right ear drum. He ordered a CAT scan to determine whether the trauma had caused internal injuries. That's when I learned I'd fractured my skull.
The big question was why I'd vomited and passed out in the first place. An EKG showed I have an irregular heartbeat, something called Long QT Syndrome. I was admitted into the hospital for observation and spent the following twenty-four hours hooked up to a cardiograph.
After a night with no crazy heart activity, I was discharged. Thank goodness. Anyone who has ever been in the hospital knows it's no place for a person to rest and heal. Under the watchful care of my husband and kids, I'm doing better every day, and right after Christmas I meet with an ENT and a cardiologist to determine what longer-term treatment, if any, I need.
So, what was the silver, writerly lining to this life storm? I now know firsthand what it's like to be treated in an emergency room - the pain of having to move when you're injured and sick, the fear of needles that prod and test, the different bedside manners of doctors and nurses. I had a CAT scan. I now know the cold environment of that ominous, humming machine, and the unease one feels being fed head-first into its tunnel-like mouth. I also had a sonogram of my heart. That was cool! My heart looked so graceful, the valves opening and closing with the rhythmic grace of a jellyfish hover-swimming through the ocean depths.
When I was transported for the sonogram, my wheelchair was pushed through the hospital by a stoic nurse. When we passed through the wide, automatic doors of the cardiac ward, we headed down a door-lined corridor. It was perfectly silent; I couldn't even hear the rubber-soled steps of the woman slowly pushing me. On either side of the corridor, there were patients in wheelchairs just like me. Each had been draped with a white blanket around the shoulders, right under their chins, just like me. They sat motionless, one chair parked behind the next. Waiting. It was a chilling sight, an image Stephen King would have a field day with. Suddenly my chair stopped next to the wall a few feet from a door. I heard the nurse engage the brake. From behind me, she said, "We're here. Hope you get to feelin' better." And then she turned and left me there with the other silent ones. Eerie.
Life is a stormy place. But like the characters we write about, we need to brave those storms in order to learn, grow, and evolve. So when the next storm brews on your horizon, pray for strength to get through it. Open your eyes and heart in readiness for the lessons to come. And, grab your pen.
Thanks for reading and Happy New Year!
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Question for next time: What kind of note-taker are you? Do you always have pen and notebook with you? Or do you use your cell phone's notepad feature, or a netbook/laptop/tablet? Or do you scribble stuff down on napkins and scraps of paper?
Last month's question was: What's your favorite strategy for powering through the first draft? Maybe you wear a certain shirt or pair of socks? Do you dangle reward-carrots in front of yourself for motivation? Something else? Here's what readers had to say:
dejavu_BIG computerprobs  -- Fantastic Newsletter as always, Nicki! Thank you for featuring my story; 'The Caller'
My favorite stratedgy for getting through the first draft is to buy a book of a favorite author, once that first draft is done - I get to read my new novel. Definately rewards and carrots. In a pinch, chocolate bars work miracles, too. 
Me -- I love it! Rewards work for me too -- although they keep getting more elaborate with each draft... 
BIG BAD WOLF is Howling  -- Have a drink, you'll fell better, unless your hostess is a werewolf who wants you for some "dark" reason. (Sumbitted Item: "Eggnog and Werewolves Part 2" )
Me: Hm, have to think about that advice...
ChrisDaltro-Chasing Moonbeams  -- Dear Nicki,
Thank you for featuring my short story Like Water on Fire in your WDC Newsletter - Drama, as one of Editor's Picks.
Christina Daltro
Me: My pleasure!
Mara ♣ McBain  -- It sounds like you took a lot away from NaNo! I have a horrible time with my inner editor. I agonize over EVERYYYY word.  The Write In sounds AWESOME! I wish I lived close enough to you to do that.
Me: I wish we lived closer too! A write in would be such a blast with all of us!!!
atwhatcost -- (Submitted Item: "Invalid Item" ) I've already "powered-through" my first draft. I've included the outline of my mountain climbing-novel writing theory with this comment. It explains my anticipated journey, even if I wrote this back on my "week-off" between the first and second camp. I've passed Camp Get-the-Story-Written. I think tomorrow I get to enjoy Camp Get-the-Damn-Thing-Right. My snow-covered tent beckons me. My carrots are to take a week off before pressing forward. With that, the face of Mount Everest loams before me. Since I wrote the analogy, I've learned how much more is ahead of me just to climb to the top. (Yeah. This comment only makes sense, if you read my theory, too.)
Me: I love your metaphor here and this theory-based item is fantastic. Thanks so much for sharing it with me! It's going to become part of my visualization techniques!! Best of luck with your WiP!
Quick-Quill  -- (Submitted Item: "The Teachings-Draft only" ) I did do an outline, plot and character descriptions. On WDC I wrote notes on each "chapter" but as I got to writing, the words flowed fast and furious for the first 30,000 words. I needed no motivation to keep going, the idea that I-could-do-it was enough. It was getting to the end of the plot and still had 10,00o words to go. I brainstormed with my sister, another 5,000 and it was the 29th and I needed to get those in.
Me: How exciting your NaNo experience must have been! I love when the words flow so furiously -- such a rush. Congrats on all your November success!!!
Nixie🦊  -- Hi Nicki!
Your totem is my talisman; the bottom of a broken bottle from the 1800's. I used to buy and sell antique bottles.
Me: Awesome! I love the idea of a talisman. Really gets the creativity flowing!
See you all back here on January 25, 2012. Until then, have a Happy New Years!
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