Writing Tales, Triumphs, and Tribulations: Laziness Gets You Everywhere

December 14, 2004

Laziness Gets You Everywhere

It is amazing to me how often the whole zen, release-yourself-from-the-outcomes, just-stop-worrying-about-it attitude, well, works. After I told myself I needed a bit of a break from tracking down more magazine work, I was able to cross off a whole host of things from my to do list that had just been weighing me down.

One of these was a serious thorn in my side -- I pitched the story six weeks ago, I was going to send a follow up e-mail about two weeks later, and Christy told me I should just call. "Call Burk" has been on my to do list for literally four weeks, and every day I tell myself it's not such a big deal, just pick up the phone and call this guy (whom I have never met, who is busy, who clearly must not have liked my story or he would have called back, who won't recognize my name when I call, who clearly hates me).

I have not called. Christy keeps telling me I should. I tell myself I should. I haven't.

Yesterday, with the magic stroke of a the mouse, it was off my to do list. Gone! Done! Who cares if I get that story or not? I have other things to pay attention to!

It was a major load off my shoulders.

. . . and I got home this afternoon and he had called. He apologized for taking so long to get back to me. He wants the story.

This is so exciting I can't STAND it. It's my first article for a magazine that I would love love love to write for.

Um, but I'm just not sure what the moral should be here. Give up and good things will come to you? Laziness rules? Succomb to your fear and you will succeed? I mean really.

Posted by karenceliafox at December 14, 2004 04:51 PM

Comments

while "succumb to your fear and you will succeed" sounds like a great name for a speed-metal album, i think the maxim from dating seems to apply to proposal submission: "playing hard-to-get works".

Posted by: mike d at December 14, 2004 05:10 PM

I suppose you've learned from the Beatles' Book of Wisdom without even trying. George Harrison would be proud.

"The farther one travels
The less one knows
The less one really knows
Arrive without travelling
See all without looking
Do all without doing"

Posted by: James at December 15, 2004 08:09 AM

Hi Karen,
How was the holidays for you? Of course mine were busy with all the commercial glitter that comes with it. I was thinking the most interesting notion. I wondered where were all people were that would like to erase the name of God from everything. It occured to me in my musings that they wouldn't dare do that because all the retail stores would be angry at them LOL. I love christmas but it would be nicer if we removed all the unecessary merchandising from it. I decided to remove myself from all the glitz and just think about all those that have sacrificed for me that I might be a better person and wonder how I could pass it along to those that required the same. There have been so many that has contributed their brushstrokes and colors to my life canvas and count yourself among those I thank for that. Take care and Happy New Year to you. I wish you all the blessing for a successful and prospering next year.
Merrill

Posted by: Merrill Butterman at January 4, 2005 04:48 AM

Happy New Year to you too! Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you here. I've been enjoying your blog too. . . I hope your glitz-free holiday was great, and I wish you all the best in 2005! -- Karen

Posted by: Karen at January 11, 2005 04:17 PM



My newest book will be out in July. Preorder it now -- just click on it, go to Amazon, and help me earn royalties! And you can still buy my last book, The Big Bang Theory. Powered by Movable Type 2.661			« Letting Myself Off the Hook \| Main \| Cleaning House » December 14, 2004 Laziness Gets You Everywhere It is amazing to me how often the whole zen, release-yourself-from-the-outcomes, just-stop-worrying-about-it attitude, well, works. After I told myself I needed a bit of a break from tracking down more magazine work, I was able to cross off a whole host of things from my to do list that had just been weighing me down. One of these was a serious thorn in my side -- I pitched the story six weeks ago, I was going to send a follow up e-mail about two weeks later, and Christy told me I should just call. "Call Burk" has been on my to do list for literally four weeks, and every day I tell myself it's not such a big deal, just pick up the phone and call this guy (whom I have never met, who is busy, who clearly must not have liked my story or he would have called back, who won't recognize my name when I call, who clearly hates me). I have not called. Christy keeps telling me I should. I tell myself I should. I haven't. Yesterday, with the magic stroke of a the mouse, it was off my to do list. Gone! Done! Who cares if I get that story or not? I have other things to pay attention to! It was a major load off my shoulders. . . . and I got home this afternoon and he had called. He apologized for taking so long to get back to me. He wants the story. This is so exciting I can't STAND it. It's my first article for a magazine that I would love love love to write for. Um, but I'm just not sure what the moral should be here. Give up and good things will come to you? Laziness rules? Succomb to your fear and you will succeed? I mean really. Posted by karenceliafox at December 14, 2004 04:51 PM Comments while "succumb to your fear and you will succeed" sounds like a great name for a speed-metal album, i think the maxim from dating seems to apply to proposal submission: "playing hard-to-get works". Posted by: mike d at December 14, 2004 05:10 PM I suppose you've learned from the Beatles' Book of Wisdom without even trying. George Harrison would be proud. "The farther one travels The less one knows The less one really knows Arrive without travelling See all without looking Do all without doing" Posted by: James at December 15, 2004 08:09 AM Hi Karen, How was the holidays for you? Of course mine were busy with all the commercial glitter that comes with it. I was thinking the most interesting notion. I wondered where were all people were that would like to erase the name of God from everything. It occured to me in my musings that they wouldn't dare do that because all the retail stores would be angry at them LOL. I love christmas but it would be nicer if we removed all the unecessary merchandising from it. I decided to remove myself from all the glitz and just think about all those that have sacrificed for me that I might be a better person and wonder how I could pass it along to those that required the same. There have been so many that has contributed their brushstrokes and colors to my life canvas and count yourself among those I thank for that. Take care and Happy New Year to you. I wish you all the blessing for a successful and prospering next year. Merrill Posted by: Merrill Butterman at January 4, 2005 04:48 AM Happy New Year to you too! Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you here. I've been enjoying your blog too. . . I hope your glitz-free holiday was great, and I wish you all the best in 2005! -- Karen Posted by: Karen at January 11, 2005 04:17 PM The story of a girl trying to write some fiction. Recent Entries Einstein's Birthday Talk Good Editors Crazed Life Back in the Saddle E-mail Access! Japan. . . Writing What You Know Rewrites Writing Conflict Kyoto! Categories Book Writing Business of Writing Craft of Writing Day-to-Day Freelancing Magazine Writing When I'm Being Lame Writing Group Archives March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 October 2003 September 2003 Search Search this site: