check in for 9/28/2012—start your engines!

[erika]

ALL DRIVERS: Don't forget to sign up for the October WIP Challenge if that's your thing!

This poll was inspired by the E.L. Doctorow quote about writing:

It's like driving a car at night. You never see further than your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.

Poll #11759 check in for 9/28/2012—start your engines!

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 8

View Respondents

How was your drive today?

View Answers
Mean: 5.00 Median: 4.5 Std. Dev 3.16

road rage 1		1 (16.7%)
2		1 (16.7%)
3		0 (0.0%)
4		1 (16.7%)
5		1 (16.7%)
6		0 (0.0%)
7		0 (0.0%)
8		1 (16.7%)
9		0 (0.0%)
easy like Sunday morning 10		1 (16.7%)

Today, I felt like my time in the car was spent:

View Answers

really getting somewhere (writing)
3 (37.5%)

having to do maintenance (editing)
1 (12.5%)

trying to figure out if this was the right vehicle for the job (research!)
1 (12.5%)

actually arriving at my destination (posted!)
0 (0.0%)

taking a break from the drive (leisure time or other activities took precedence)
3 (37.5%)

fantasizing about where i'd like to go (general not listed writing activities)
3 (37.5%)

If your writing were a car, what type of car would you be driving?

View Answers

Sports car-- I get where I'm going pretty fast (unless the cops pull me over ...)
1 (12.5%)

Family van-- I want everyone to enjoy what I'm doing, and it may take me a little longer
0 (0.0%)

SUV -- I have my own goals, and I'm gonna go off-road when I want.
2 (25.0%)

Regular sedan -- I keep going at my own pace, and I'm okay with that.
2 (25.0%)

Motorcycle -- I don't have much support, really, but I'm having a great time enjoying the ride!
2 (25.0%)

Mini -- I can't carry much baggage, but there's room for a friend and everything I need!
0 (0.0%)

Convertible-- I don't tend to speed, but I do really enjoy out of the way places & just enjoying the scenery.
0 (0.0%)

Some other car you neglected to mention in this poll, heathen.
1 (12.5%)

My apologies for not posting this until after midnight my time; I had some distressing health news today.

However, this does lead into our discussion question: What do you do when real life infringes on what you want to write about? Whether it's by time, or finding a novel that STOLE YOUR IDEA GRRRRRR (even if it was written 20 years previously ;) ) or just because you can't spare the energy... how do you deal with it?