Last week, a local theater ran the original Psycho. In honor of Halloween and the start of another NaNoWriMo, my husband and I went. We'd seen Psycho before but not on a big screen, not in a roomful of people with their own reasons for going. Soon, we were all lost in another time, another place.
That's pretty much what happens to me during November - I get lost in a world of my own making. I look up from my keyboard and have to blink a few times to situate myself. I walk out of my office and catch a glimpse of a character running down the hall, darting into another room. I have to ask my poor husband to repeat his question a third time because I'm busy trying to figure out how - or if! - my protagonist will manage to kill the creature lurking in the shadows.
I am not easy to live with during the best of times, but November brings its own special kind of Hell for my long-suffering, patient husband. So, while we were watching Psycho, a particular scene made me laugh out loud because I'm pretty sure it sums up what my husband thinks of me during NaNoWriMo. (Okay, maybe he feels this way all the time, but he's too nice to say it.)
"IT'S NOT LIKE [SHE'S] A MANIAC
OR A RAVING THING.
SHE JUST GOES A LITTLE MAD SOMETIMES.
WE ALL GO A LITTLE MAD SOMETIMES.
HAVEN'T YOU?"
(Norman Bates)
*****
Do you wig out (pun intended!) during NaNoWriMo? Or when you're deep into a creative project? How does your spouse/significant other/support team handle you? Do you do anything to thank them when - if?! - sanity returns?
My wife is really patient when I'm writing, mostly because it sucks up quite a few hours. I do manage to return when I wander away from my computer though.
ReplyDeleteIt's kind of neat seeing a movie like that in a theater with others.
Sometimes I can leave the story behind/at the computer, but not usually. :)
DeleteI've only ever seen older movies like that at home so it was a different experience seeing it like that, on a big screen, etc.
I try to keep my madness on an equal level so there's enough for all. :D
ReplyDeleteWhen you get old enough, they call that eccentric.
Hmm, how old is enough? Am I there yet? :)
DeleteLOL! You've got a way to go yet. :)
DeleteI don't think I want to know how my husband copes when I'm writing :-/ Good luck!
ReplyDeleteHa ha! :)
DeleteI love being lost in a world of my own making. It's the only place I do have some control--as long as the characters allow it. Good luck with NaNo!
ReplyDeleteIt really is up to the characters, isn't it? :)
DeleteAny time I'm drafting, I zone out. I think people just assume I'm an epileptic.
ReplyDeleteI know that zone well. :)
DeleteI can get caught up in the imaginary worlds I create very easily. Often, they're more entertaining than the real one.
ReplyDeleteIt's like having a movie playing on your own private, imaginary screen. Of course, most of mine tend to be horror movies. :o
DeleteLOL. I'm not doing NaNo but I do get like that on occasion like this past weekend.
ReplyDeleteI get like that other times, too. It's just that it's a given around here in November. :)
DeleteMy husband is good during NaNoWriMo as long as I announce my start and stop time for each session. The dog, however, is not quite as easy to convince. She seems to think any sit down time at the computer should be "Facebook time looking for dog videos."
ReplyDeleteHa! If only there was a way to train the dog to help with the typing, the word count, the story. Then the videos could be a reward. Sort of like how people binge-watch TV shows. :)
DeleteI'd have definitely gone to that show! It would be interesting to see Psycho done on stage. Good luck with Nanowrimo!
ReplyDeleteThis was on the big screen, not a stage, but I so think a play would be amazing! :)
DeleteMy husband has mastered the smile-and-nod when I start talking about my book. He's actually gotten pretty good at keeping his eyes from glazing over, despite the fact that he has no clue as to what I'm talking about with the exception of the characters I'm naming. I think the wigging out is a constant thing for me, and considered the norm in my household.
ReplyDeleteToo funny, Loni! :)
DeleteI'm a little mad most of the year, so it will be interesting to see how I can take it up a notch next year when I give this a go next year. Thankfully, we've been together long enough that he knows to just give me some space when the voices get too loud. :-)
ReplyDeleteIf you don't want to wait until next November, there's always Camp NaNo.
DeleteAnd aren't supportive, understanding spouses the best? :)
I've always had a tendency to develop tunnel vision when I'm immersed in reading or writing. The outside world kinda fades away, if you know what I mean. (Or course you do!) Over the years, I've learned to keep one foot in reality, so it doesn't take my husband five tries to get my attention. (Only four!)
ReplyDeleteHey, four is better than five! Unless we're talking about chocolate because then five is definitely better than four. :)
DeleteI'm not sure my hubby's learned to be patient with my writing yet. LOL
ReplyDeleteWell, give him some time. My husband and I have been together - friends/dating/married - for over 20 years. :)
DeleteI'm in something pretty new, with someone I rarely get to see (how's that for vague?), so I admit NaNo has taken a back seat to him a couple of times, along with some other drama that's recently consumed me.
ReplyDeleteSo I'm behind, but trying not to let it wig me out too much. I've had tough NaNos before...I'll catch up.
My sympathies to your husband. :)
Interesting! :)
DeleteYou'll totally catch up, no doubt here.
And my poor husband deserves lots of sympathy and lots of french fries. (He doesn't have much of a sweet-tooth so he can take-or-leave chocolate.)