THE GREAT E-MAIL BATTLE.
THE WRITER AS BUTCHER—THE BUTCHER AS WRITER
I LOST IT BADLY LAST YEAR
SO FAR THIS YEAR IT IS SOMETHING OF A DRAW—NOT GOOD ENOUGH—AT THIS RATE I’LL BE SENDING OUT CHRISTMAS 2014 GREETINGS ON ST. PATRICK’S DAY!
MY APOLIGIES. MORE CUTTING IS CLEARLY REQUIRED
THE GOOD NEWS: I’M WRITING AS NEVER BEFORE—SO SOMETHING IS WORKING!
Last year I ran two e-mail tests which were unexpectedly successful so I was swamped. I ran them simultaneously so I didn’t learn lesson from one in time to apply it to the other. Foolish of me.
The problem was compounded by the fact that this occurred about the time I was injured so I was unable to fight back for some time. I was badly concussed and in pain for four months. I continued to try and work, but I was way below par.
I would like to think I’ll be wiser next time I do this sort of thing—and send the responses to a different e-mail address, apart from anything else..
But my primary concern is not the devastation caused by overly successful tests—or the the consequences of being injured—but the difficulties of dealing with routine incoming e-mail.
Over the last four years or so, I have built up a terrific range of useful sources on the areas that interest me—including the book market, military matters, and economics—so I’m reluctant to cut anyone in that group.
It appears I’ll have to. Carnage is called for.
Right now, I’m so busy keeping myself well informed that my social correspondence is suffering. The business aspect is more or less under control. Frankly, I doubt that e-mail can ever be completely tamed.
Because I like writing to friends, I tend to put that aside until I can find the time to give them the attention they deserve—which rarely comes—and so the people I most care about are most neglected (subject to a couple of exceptions).
I could, of course, give up blogging, but that has helped me so much—in so many ways—I absolutely refuse to.
I have made a great deal of progress re productivity in other ways. but e-mail remains remarkably intractable.
So what is the good news in all this? I guess it is the fact that I’m not complaining about writer’s block or some fundamental writing problem.
You know, that is quite a comforting thought. I remember the days when my writing life was very different…
Blank screen. Blank mind.
Not any more.
VOR words 415
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