Monday 19 November 2012

It's All in our Heads



**Please welcome author Gracen Miller**

Hello everyone! *waves* Thanks to Four Strong Women for allowing me to join them! 

Do we writers spend too much time in our heads? I ask because when I become a writing fiend I’m creating scenes and dialogue in my head almost non-stop. My kids are talking and I’m fantasizing about my characters. My husband is rambling about work, while I’m masterminding detailed love scenes in my mind…or demonic rebellions. On the television is my favorite football team and I’m crafting a new monster to wreak havoc on my heroine/hero.

This daydreaming has gotten me into a spot of hot water, too. My eldest son reminded me that I had promised to let him purchase a Guinea Pig with his Birthday money—he has so much money I’ve asked for a loan. *cheeky grin*. Let me just say…I do not remember having the conversation, much less agreeing to this purchase!

Holy crap!

I’ve been forgetting a lot of things lately. But this is a big one. My youngest son is backing him, arguing vehemently that I agreed, which is odd because they never agree on anything—ever. It’s like a secret brother-law or something that Moms don’t get.

I tried to wiggle my way out of it with a, “No way I’d agree to that,” while in my head I’m thinking, “No way am I taking care of another animal!!” We always have family meetings before we add a new member to the family. With two dogs—a Dachshund and a Great Dane—and my boys’ busy schedule running from guitar lessons and the sport for the season, we’re busy and a new family member is time consuming. 

But they’re not giving up. And to back up his defense he commences to remind me where we were, what we were doing, and the exact conversation when I agreed to the SNAFU. And somewhere along the way of the retelling I have an “A-ha!” moment because that was when the hero in my head said to the heroine, “Either show me your claws, kitten, or purr for me.”

Big freaking gulp!

Yep, you guessed it, hot-freaking-water! Now, how do I get myself out of it? I can’t confess to a 14 and 10 year old that I was thinking about risqué dialogue that ended up in sexual positions during our conversation. And while I’m stuttering to come up with a lame argument, they’re reminding me that I agreed with one stipulation…they take care of the Guinea Pig and if I had to do anything just once, it’d find a new home. 

Whew! That clause, in the deal from Hell, made me feel a wee bit better. You guessed it, we ended up with a Guinea Pig that the boys named Dixie. And wouldn’t you know it, a month later Dixie had babies!!

Holy smokes! I keep getting screwed in this deal. But I’ve learned my lesson. I hope.

A word of warning…writers, get out of your head when chatting with sneaky children!

I hope everyone has a fabulous Thanksgiving!

Huggles,
Gracen Miller

Where you can stalk me—not really!—but I would love to meet and interact with you:



4 comments:

Barbara Elsborg said...

ha ha, Gracen. We only had hamsters and I tried the same - you have to look after it - BUT I ended up doing everything and the blasted thing still bit me. We spent a couple of dollars on the hamster and about a hundred on the cage and tunnels for him to play in. After the second one died - I finally put my foot down. (Not on the hamster though that did happen to a friend of mine)

Karenna Colcroft said...

Just to be safe, when my 14-year-old daughter asked if she could have two pet mice from school (yes, her school actually raises and sells pet mice, among tons of other animals), I told her she had to persuade her stepfather.

Unfortunately for me, he caved. But at least she didn't get the mice because I was distracted. LOL

Marci Baun said...

This happens to me, too, but often I ask them to repeat something. They get frustrated, but, you know, their eyes glaze over when I talk about things important to me. My husband wonders why I don't discuss things with him. Well, if someone constantly changes the subject and adds little to the conversation, it doesn't make me keen to talk.

Marci

Faith Bicknell said...

I find myself in that situation way too many times. My kids and hubby are always saying that they told me such and such or asked me about this or that. I'm usually wrapped up in writing or editing something so I return with, "You only tell or ask me something when I'm busy because you know I won't have a clue what you're talking about!"