What is diversion? Amusement. Deflection. Departure. Detour, Digression. Distraction. Entertainment. Game. Hobby. Levity. Merriment. Recreation. Red Herring. Relaxation. Sport.
Yes. Yes. And definitely, yes. I can do all of these. I am a master of doing whatever it takes to not start work. Work being writing, of course. Something we all adore. So, why would any writer call up these diversions in order not to do this thing we love to do?
Perversity, that’s why.
Amusement. Writing these blogs, for example.
Deflection. Surely the printer is out of ink, go to the store and buy.
Departure. A friend just called. Wanna see a movie? Out the door in 20 seconds.
Detour. The fridge is on my path to my office. Chocolate pinwheels cry out to me.
Digression. I swerve from my day’s work. There are so many
emails to answer.
Distraction. Oh, my, the brown pelicans are gliding past my window. How lovely.
Entertainment. Drop dead Diva. Masterpiece Theater. Lost
reruns. Shameless. Dexter. Antique Roadshow. Movies I scripted (such as Women in Chains--see the promo below. These women need a little diversion themselves!). Etc. etc. etc.
Game. The crossword puzzle awaits. Always comes first.
Hobby. Reading, of course. I must finish that mystery. Only five more pages to go.
Levity. Going to lunch with other writers, laughing at not being at the computer.
Merriment. Telling old age jokes. Seventy year old Sadie walks into the rec room carrying a large purse. She faces the old guys playing cards. I’ll have sex with the guy who can guess what’s in my purse. Al says, an elephant. Sadie says, close enough.
Red Herring. I will quickly scribble some notes, pretending they will go into The Book.
Relaxation. Ah, a needed nap and then, of course, I’ll get to work.
Sport. Sport? Are they kidding? Me? Not in this lifetime. Oh, they must mean watch a sport. The Giants are playing the Dodgers. Stop and watch. Only takes up three hours.
Hey, admit it, what are your diversions?
All of the above except watching the bird. If I had the view out your window, I'd never divert!
BTW, since when is 70 old? But I love that joke!
Posted by: Camille Minichino | October 05, 2012 at 08:28 AM
LOL Camille
Come on, admit it. You must have looked out your window once.
Posted by: rita lakin | October 05, 2012 at 10:16 AM
Biggest diversion for me? The siren song of the Internet, hands down. That includes scanning 3 online newspapers, checking 2 email accounts, dropping in on Facebook to read my friends' political rants, adding a new movie to my 250-title Netflix list, posting a comment on LadyKillers, and looking up a new-to-me writer I just read about in one of the online newspapers. And that's just the first pass! Who has time to write?
Posted by: Susan Shea | October 05, 2012 at 10:41 AM
way to go, Susan. You are a member of the famous diversion club.
How we get our books done is a miracle to me.
Posted by: rita lakin | October 05, 2012 at 03:57 PM
I'm with you on that, too, Susan.
And, no Rita, I have no idea what's outside my window in Alameda County!
Posted by: Camille Minichino | October 05, 2012 at 04:42 PM
Birds absolutely. Feeder outside for the cats to watch (but never touch). Refrigerator on way to office? It is in mine... Great ideas, Rita. Add football. Gladiator sports keep me from watching the bloodier sport of politics.
Posted by: Priscilla | October 06, 2012 at 01:19 PM