The “Duh” Factor
Posted on January 10, 2015 Posted by John Scalzi 24 Comments
Another possible measure of advancing age: I wrote 15,000 words this week, which was good, but at the end of each day my brain felt a bit wrung out, and today, when I’m not writing on the book but did want to write about politics a bit, my brain was still a bit mush. Whoa there, deep thoughts, it’s saying. Yeah, no, not gonna happen today.
So, sorry. I was going to be all insightful and smart, but then my brain went on strike. Maybe tomorrow.
Yep. Ain’t growing old fun….
JANUARY 2015
130 wds, Thursday 1 Jan 2015, adds to “L.A.N. Ark”, 78 pages, to 19,895 words total
600 wds, Thursday 1 Jan 2015, adds to “Anomaly-Austria”, 571 pages, to 263,430 words total
5,540 wds, Thursday 1 Jan 2015, “Bumma Midsumma”, 17 pp.,; #18 of my O. Henry rewrites
320 wds, Friday 2 Jan 2015, adds to “Anomaly-Austria”, 572 pages, to 263,750 words total
230 wds, Friday 2 Jan 2015, adds to “L.A.N. Ark”, 79 pages, to 20,125 words
2,320 wds, Saturday 3 January…“World-Riler” 7 pp.,; #19 of my O. Henry rewrites
0 words, 4-5 January, in San Diego
2,600 wds, Tuesday 6 January 2015, “Weddingistics”, 8 pages, #20 of my O. Henry rewrites
245 wds, Wednesday 7 January 2015, adds to “L.A.N. Ark”, 80 pages, to 20,370 words
2,400 wds, Wednesday 7 January 2015, “ArtConscience”, 8 pp.,; #21 of my O. Henry rewrites
400 wds, Thursday 8 January 2015, adds to “Anomaly-Austria”, 574 pages, to 264,150 words total
350 wds, Friday 9 January 2015, adds to “Anomaly-Austria”, 576 pages, to 264,500 words total
260 wds, Friday 9 January 2015, adds to “L.A.N. Ark”, 81 pages, to 20,630 words
8,700 wds, Friday 9 January 2015, “Glory Road”, 27 pp.,; #22 of my O. Henry rewrites
130 wds, Saturday 10 January 2015, adds to “L.A.N. Ark”, 82 pages, to 20,760 words
940 wds, Saturday 10 January 2015, adds to “Anomaly-Austria”, 579 pages, to 265,440 words total
================================================
25,165 words as of 10:30 a.m., Saturday 10 January 2015,
130 + 600 + 5,540 + 320 + 230 + 2,320 + 2,600 + 245 + 2,400 + 400 + 350 + 260 + 8,700 + 130 + 940 = 25,165
25,165/10 = 2,517 words/day, 2,517 words/day, is 25.8% above daily fiction writing quota (2,000 words/day)
Pie. We can all think about pie.
Coconut custard.
Apple.
Pumpkin.
Blueberry
Pear.
Peach.
Lemon Merengue.
Shepherd’s.
Nesselrode. (I’ve recreated that once, but not to my satisfaction)
Key lime.
Mmmm. Pie.
Happens to me all the time, trying to think Deep Thoughts and failing. But I’m 30 years older than you.
Josh, you left out Schadenfreude!
What was the question again?
Josh Jasper,
Cottage
Humble
Life of
…in the sky.
Lazy. When some such occurs to me after in punch in i am called lazy. Sometimes not as a joke…..and as i get older on the job….the jokes seem more like sarcasm. Soooo.
Not saying. Just saying.
But…here…to you…meant as a jok
ing reminder.
Ugh…sorry john….had a few beers….if you can just delete my posts. No harm meant. Hopefully none done sorry. Dont hold it against me, please.
I am humbled and apologetic scalzi fans.
John I have one word for you: Cheesecake.
Cheesecake will make you forget that laggard brain you got sloshing around inside your skull. :-)
No need to apologize. After all, guv’ment workers do the same thing, except it takes them about three months after starting the job to wind up like that.
Even though you’re pretty decent at it, writing about politics is a much less worthy enterprise than writing books for me to read….
Yeah, it’s all energy and trying to recharge takes longer than, well, before. That’s what getting old does. Bring the bar down a little to make sure goals can still be met at a satisfying frequency. Keep at it. Like a fake police officer with a really big pistol once said, “A man’s got to know his limitations.” I take more naps. Actually, I take naps. Never did that in days of yore. That’s life for ya. Roll with it!
It could be a lot worse. (Husband has Alzheimer’s / dementia, not fun..)
Well, it’s winter in the upper Midwest, the most likely time for brains to run slowly because of restricted activity and short sunlight. That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it.
“want to write about politics a bit, my brain was still a bit mush”
There seems to be a cause-and-effect happening here, but I can’t tell which one is which.
Here’s a link to a potential brain plasticity breakthrough, and to hoping you get your old (young) brain back before you actually become really old and decrepit, John: http://www.neomatica.com/2014/11/04/drug-unlocks-malleable-fast-learning-child-like-state-adult-brain/?fb_action_ids=10152959699493313&fb_action_types=og.likes
Of all the things I’ve ever lost, I miss my mind the most…
Fuck, I’m getting old!
Brain uses a butt-load (metric or Imperial) of calories. And writing/thinking a lot is like running a marathon. You need to recharge. Weight lifting is a good idea, followed by protein shake and hot bath.