Exciting and stressful but totally worth it. I’ve been trying to add another floor to our house but my husband insists it will end in bloodshed. They say remodels can test a marriage.
Nora Ephron always said that remodeling kept her marriage intact. She and her husband always had a mutual enemy -- the general or subcontractor. All their animosity went toward the project manager, instead of each other.
Last week at Hindsight, when Eric read the line "We were really good at hating the same things. That's what kept our marriage together." That struck me as the perfect sentiment.
Dissociation/hyperfocus have their benefits. Writing through high schoolers being very loud in a used bookstore/coffee shop. Gonna ask them if theyd like to host a story night.
Ive always wondered - Why do you not like coffee shops? Im gonna try your method, but at the climbing gym soon.
Oh this reminds me about you saying that writing with a bunch of noise around can make you write sentences that are more engaging. The last time I was on an airplane a baby started to cry and I took out a pen, so thank you for that. What’s the worst noise you’ve written through?
So, I think I'm going to submit my winning answers tomorrow. Funny, knowing I can win takes my competitive spirit away but I did my homework last week and I've just been dilly dallying...
If suffering builds character I guess it’ll be helpful in someway. Torture? No -- insight and inspiration is what it is. (*This reasoning may not hold up in a court of law).
Reminds me of growing up while my folks were flipping houses. Once my father finished the renovations, everything was quiet. This pattern of cacophony to quiet meant it was time to sell the house. Time to move yet again. Time to be the new kid on the block; new kid at school. Time to get my ass kicked by the new variety of bullies, punks, and thugs.
My parents moved 5 times before I turned 13. Relocating to new blocks at an early age felt like moving to another country. Overall same culture, and language yet, the social dynamics are different. It's not all negative though, It builds adaptability.
I feel ya but, there's way worse, dude, way worse. In the recent past, I lived in 2 story house in city center, that's above a mechanic garage and a mini aluminum factory. Glued next to it was a traditional sauna ( Hammam), adding atleast 10 degrees c of heat. ( Hey, it was cheap, and urban planning here is something out of a Bunuel movie. Everything's all over the place). The heat and the noise, from morning to night, non-stop, every day, all year, while me grinding online Poker. No wonder Arabs get a rep for being loud and crazy.
I'm sure there's way worse stories but, I just hope this cognitively reframes things, so you'd keep writing for us!
Your house looks incredibly cozy! And it's odd to hear you work when there's a bunch of chaos going around. It isn't hard for you to concentrate? I'd be distracted lol
that sky tho. I cant wait to visit the nw. I'm from rural ok and Oregon and washington have always called to my heart. Woe for the man who wakes up 1200 miles in the wrong direction!
I’ve heard you say a bunch of times that writing in a chaotic environment helps you. I understand the train of thought of “if I can write here, then I can write anywhere...” But are there any specifics on this that you feel help you, mechanically, to be that much more focused? I’m trying to think of some spots near me that I could give this a shot. For some reason, the first thing that comes to mind is IKEA since it’s right around the corner. Plenty of spots to sit!
Hey, I just deep dived your story. I liked it, very sophisticated tone.
And I wrote chunks of 'Invisible Monsters' while loitering in the furniture displays of the old Meier & Frank department store in downtown Portland. Each was like a little stage set. IKEA sounds ideal.
Cool! I’ll check out IKEA then!! And thanks so much for the deep dive. I just wrote up a comment with a few questions on your feedback. Super stoked! As always, thanks so much for giving back to your fans.
Exciting and stressful but totally worth it. I’ve been trying to add another floor to our house but my husband insists it will end in bloodshed. They say remodels can test a marriage.
Behold my future! I am in the process of buying my first home. Definitely have some remodeling to do once everything closes.
What kind of flooring did you get done?
Search me.
Nora Ephron always said that remodeling kept her marriage intact. She and her husband always had a mutual enemy -- the general or subcontractor. All their animosity went toward the project manager, instead of each other.
Last week at Hindsight, when Eric read the line "We were really good at hating the same things. That's what kept our marriage together." That struck me as the perfect sentiment.
I’m going to rent a scissor lift to put out my window and see if it enhances my writing.
Makes you a Yankee Doodle ass tho
My ass is microscopic
That's a great plan....
Off to Home Depot.
Go in the door handle isle. I can spend all day turning door knobs.
I’m more of a light fixture person. I love the rows and rows of shiny new lights.
Someone used to steal the screens out of the display sink fixtures for marijuana purposes when they were in HS.
Haha I remember kids taking them from the smoke detectors too.
No one ever told me! That would have been valuable information in 1999
That's some evil genius!
Scissor me timbers
He said 'scissor lift' - teehee
Scissor beam
Scissor Kicks?
Edward Scissor Kicks Winona Ryder in the face. Id pay to see that sequel. Chucks pop would like it.
Wow, your house is not what I expected but I love it!
Dissociation/hyperfocus have their benefits. Writing through high schoolers being very loud in a used bookstore/coffee shop. Gonna ask them if theyd like to host a story night.
Ive always wondered - Why do you not like coffee shops? Im gonna try your method, but at the climbing gym soon.
Oh this reminds me about you saying that writing with a bunch of noise around can make you write sentences that are more engaging. The last time I was on an airplane a baby started to cry and I took out a pen, so thank you for that. What’s the worst noise you’ve written through?
The Freightliner assembly line. Pneumatic tools. Shouting.
So, I think I'm going to submit my winning answers tomorrow. Funny, knowing I can win takes my competitive spirit away but I did my homework last week and I've just been dilly dallying...
That’s a soundproofed torture room in development if I ever saw one.
Notice that you didnt hear it. The beam is reinforced to maximize the capacity of aspiring writers strung upside down by their toes.
If suffering builds character I guess it’ll be helpful in someway. Torture? No -- insight and inspiration is what it is. (*This reasoning may not hold up in a court of law).
Shared suffering builds community. Its why we love hazing so much. Maybe Chuck could string us all up with notebooks and pens?
And now I’m picturing Brandan saying to John “I want you to hit me, as hard as you can.”
This ones for Masterpiece Theater!
Have you seen Green Street Hooligans? Another great young angry man in a foam padded world film.
I hadn’t heard of it before
Highly recommend. Theres an old Gary Oldman film with a similar premise. Believe its called The Firm.
Fun fact: Gary Numan is 13 days older than Gary Oldman. Iron Knee.
For not using attribution with their quotes.
I attribute, but dont use quotation marks. Or apostrophes. Blame Cubby Selby. He doesnt even indent dialogue.
Reminds me of growing up while my folks were flipping houses. Once my father finished the renovations, everything was quiet. This pattern of cacophony to quiet meant it was time to sell the house. Time to move yet again. Time to be the new kid on the block; new kid at school. Time to get my ass kicked by the new variety of bullies, punks, and thugs.
May your construction project be never- ending.
My parents moved 5 times before I turned 13. Relocating to new blocks at an early age felt like moving to another country. Overall same culture, and language yet, the social dynamics are different. It's not all negative though, It builds adaptability.
Ah, the joy of a mobile home. We'd move often, but always be living in the same "house."
I feel ya but, there's way worse, dude, way worse. In the recent past, I lived in 2 story house in city center, that's above a mechanic garage and a mini aluminum factory. Glued next to it was a traditional sauna ( Hammam), adding atleast 10 degrees c of heat. ( Hey, it was cheap, and urban planning here is something out of a Bunuel movie. Everything's all over the place). The heat and the noise, from morning to night, non-stop, every day, all year, while me grinding online Poker. No wonder Arabs get a rep for being loud and crazy.
I'm sure there's way worse stories but, I just hope this cognitively reframes things, so you'd keep writing for us!
Your house looks incredibly cozy! And it's odd to hear you work when there's a bunch of chaos going around. It isn't hard for you to concentrate? I'd be distracted lol
The writing tends to go better in a busy, chaotic place. An airport. The gym. I'm not haunted by loneliness.
Legend!
that sky tho. I cant wait to visit the nw. I'm from rural ok and Oregon and washington have always called to my heart. Woe for the man who wakes up 1200 miles in the wrong direction!
"Could you hammer a little quieter, guys?"
"Could you hammer a little quieter, guys?"
Skills! I struggle with a lot of extraneous noise that is not Nine Inch Nails when I write.
Got some serious dungeon writing done to this one. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yppksBz-JuI&ab_channel=keeykey
I’ve heard you say a bunch of times that writing in a chaotic environment helps you. I understand the train of thought of “if I can write here, then I can write anywhere...” But are there any specifics on this that you feel help you, mechanically, to be that much more focused? I’m trying to think of some spots near me that I could give this a shot. For some reason, the first thing that comes to mind is IKEA since it’s right around the corner. Plenty of spots to sit!
Hey, I just deep dived your story. I liked it, very sophisticated tone.
And I wrote chunks of 'Invisible Monsters' while loitering in the furniture displays of the old Meier & Frank department store in downtown Portland. Each was like a little stage set. IKEA sounds ideal.
Cool! I’ll check out IKEA then!! And thanks so much for the deep dive. I just wrote up a comment with a few questions on your feedback. Super stoked! As always, thanks so much for giving back to your fans.