Monday, April 18, 2011

A to Z Challenge Day 15: Obsessions

I have a very obsessive personality, and always have.  I become obsessed with bands, authors, people, you name it.  Once I latch onto something, that's it.
One of my big obsessions is books.  I've talked before about how much I love books.  I'm living paycheck to paycheck right now, so can't afford to buy books right now, which kills me, but I go to the library every week.  I have an obsessive-compulsive need to collect books at the library.  Even when I go in with a list and swear I'll stick to it and not get anything else, I always end up getting something else.  I'm a really slow reader, plus I'm busy with my own writing, family, and other life things, but I have to have a bunch of books at once, even though most of the time, I end up returning a couple unread and getting them again weeks or months later.  It sounds ridiculous but it's a compulsion - I know they'll still be there next time, but something in me has to have them right them.  Yesterday I finished reading Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr and started Mockingjay (the third and final book in The Hunger Games trilogy).  I have 5 or 6 other novels to read, plus 2 books on writing, one of which is only a one-week loan, so it's due next Saturday.  Plus, I won an e-book in a giveaway held by Laura Kaye for her book Hearts in Darkness, which will be released on the 20th.  I'm sure I'll end up starting it today, even though I should be working on my own novel!  **By the way, super excited to have won this book, this is the first time I've won something online!  Thanks Laura!**

Having an obsessive personality can both help and hinder me in my writing process.  I can be obsessive with finding ways to procrastinate (my procrastination habits are as unhealthy as my obsessive ones), but then I can also be obsessive about setting goals and challenging myself - when I set a goal, whether it's to finish a chapter, write so many words in a day, edit a certain number of pages - whatever - I have to do it or I can't stop thinking about it.  I guess what I really need to do is start setting goals for myself daily, especially since I set a goal for April to add 10,000 words to my WIP novel and I'm currently nowhere near that.

I'm also hoping that my obsessive nature will help me along in my career in the near future.  I found a call for submissions to an anthology a few months ago that had a theme of 'obsession'.  The title of the call caught my attention immediately and as soon as I read the submission guidelines, I got an idea for a story.  I submitted it and they weren't interested, but a couple weeks ago, I submitted it for another submissions call and I have my fingers crossed for that one.  It's a story that I'm really proud of, and as great as the money would be, along with the two free copies of the book, I think it would be amazing to have a story published in an actual book.  I've had stories published online and it always feels wonderful, but to have a story published in a book that people can go to a bookstore and buy or order online - it would be a dream come true, and would make me feel like I'm finally taking a big step in the right direction in my writing career.

*****

I couldn't think of an O band off the top of my head that I wanted to feature, so I'll feature one of my favorite TV shows instead - One Tree Hill.  I watched it religiously for the first 2 or 3 seasons until we stopped getting the channel it's on, so I'm way behind.  A friend loaned me the seasons and I'm on season 5 right now - I can't get enough of this show and watch it whenever I have a spare hour.  Since I'm writing a young adult novel, I can justify it by considering it research, right?  I love the characters, especially Lucas - I love that he ends up being a writer, and in a lot of ways he reminds me of the main character in my own novel, so he has a special place in my heart because of that.  **If you're a fan of the show, please don't tell me why Lucas and Peyton leave, I don't know yet and I don't want to know!**

This is the best video I could find with clips from the show - it's a fake movie trailer that a fan put together

Do you have obsessive tendencies?  If so, what are you obsessive about?  I know that writers in general are a crazy bunch, so I can't be the only one with OCD tendencies! lol  I love hearing from you guys, so please leave me a comment and I'll be sure to visit your blog and do the same.

3 comments:

  1. I make frequent trips to the library as well.

    Obsessions? Hmmm...do FB and food count? :-)
    I can't think of any but my husband might disagree.

    Good luck with your submission.

    ReplyDelete
  2. One of my obsessions is noticing plants and odd random things while I'm out walking. I can't *just walk* down the driveway or take a hike. I can't even just drive down my county road, and it's a long drive down a dirt road. I'm always watching for arrowheads on the shoulders or interesting plants or rocks. Drives the kids mad.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think that's a wonderful obsession Madisonwoods. Mine? Ever since I bought my Kindle I'm obsessed with buying books off Amazon. My OH is going to go crazy after he sees the next credit statement!
    Great post! Thanks for the follow.
    Sue

    ReplyDelete

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~Marie

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