Shhh! The Girls in the Basement are sleeping! *
By Barbara O'Neal | August 24, 2011 |
I have finally turned in a final draft of my next novel, The Garden of Happy Endings. It has been a bear. Not kidding. I know that I whine about all of
them, but this one really was hard. It was a subject I have not tackled before, and the narrative required a lot from me, and at times I felt like it was never, ever going to come together. I had to do three major rewrites, and many more lesser rewrites in between. The material grew out of my walk on the Camino de Santiago last summer, material that surprised me and challenged me and tested me.
The book was due April 15, but my son got married April 7, so I asked for a little more time, and managed to turn in a completed, but still messy, draft to my agent and editor for some feedback a month late. They read it, made recommendations and I worked on it again for two more months. Returned that draft to E & A by mid-July. It came back one more time for a minor polishing and alignment, which I’ve just returned, to—thank heaven!—rave reviews. (Agent pronounced it fresh, bold, and original.)
That was last Friday. On Monday, darling agent sent an email that said, “So, any ideas for what’s next?” She was only half-teasing, doing her job, which is to keep me on task.
I opened the door to the basement, where The Girls (muses) live and saw the curtains pulled, the air conditioner running, and every last one of them sound asleep. Snoring loudly.
I sent Agent an email that said, “I’m going to the mountains. We will talk when I get back.” Because that’s my job—to protect those girls in the basement, let them rest and regroup. They’ve worked their butts off for the book, all through a summer they thought we’d be refilling the well with the garden and some ambling long hikes and all kinds of other little pleasures. Instead, like the soldiers they are, they stood strong, offering me all that I needed for the book. Over and over.
So now, it’s my job to let them sleep, while I take care of the body they live in, and read lots of strange and different things and poke my nose into shops they never see. We are headed to the mountains for a week, where I’ll hike and pick up leaves and tchochkes and menu items for them. I’ll swim, but not to any purpose, just to lie in the water and stare at the sky. I’ll shoot photos of bugs and creeks and little girls. I’ll sleep late or get up very early and wander the village on my own. Mostly, I’ll read and read and read and read, because that’s what they love the most.
There are some who feel this kind of attitude toward the girls in the basement is indulgent, perhaps silly. But writers are not robots, not even commercial novelists. We’re artists. A little eccentric, not always in synch with the outside world and its schedules, not always the best dinner companions or party guests.
When the girls go to sleep like this, what amazes me is the quiet in my brain. There’s no four-year-old chirping, “why do you think aspen trunks turn black?” There’s no bad-ass tattooed teenager eyeing the man next to us in line, nudging me to notice his beautiful…uh…hands. No historian running commentary on every little thing we see, no philosopher or romantic spinning legends of tiny facts.
It’s just… quiet. Which must be what it is like for the rest of the world, for the muggles who are better at parties and schedules and wardrobes than I am.
To me, it’s a little lonely, but I recognize that I am as tired as they are. We all need a good solid break. I head down the stairs, make sure everyone is comfortable, covered, with a glass of water and a couple of cookies on the nightstands. I kiss their cheeks, touch their heads, give them thanks. It was a hard haul and they’ve earned their rest. I’m off to bring them some toys and books and materials. I’ll sleep a lot, too. Get some fresh air and good wholesome food.
And soon, we’ll all wake up refreshed, and ready to write…whatever they think of next. This, too, is part of the cycle.
*The Girls in the Basement was a column I wrote for several years for a group of professional commercial novelists about the writing life and how to keepthe muses—the girls in the basement—happy. Those columns are now collected and available as ebooks.)
What do you do to refill the well? How do you know when you need to stop and give the girls (or guys) a break?
Barbara O’Neal is the author of more than a dozen award-winning, bestselling novels, including the runaway bestseller, When We Believed in Mermaids, which has been published in more than 20 countries and spent many months on the Amazon Charts, as well as the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Washington Post bestseller lists. Barbara lives on the beach in rugged Oregon with her husband, a British endurance athlete who vows he’ll never lose his accent and their zoo of cats and dogs. You can find more information on her newsletter and where to find her on social media at barbaraoneal.com.
congrats on the fantastic feedback! What an achievement, after so much work.
I could feel myself sinking into your zen state as I read this – and it’s solidified what I’ve suspected the last few days: the girls are demanding a couple of weeks of time out. Sleeping in the basement.
Also – thank god published authors do things like rewrite their novels three times. I’m not going crazy, then.
Oh, trust me, I’ve rewritten some books many more times than three! My theory is that some births are easier than others. That doesn’t mean the child is any less healthy.
Congratulations! The The Girls in the Basement sounds like a great reading! Thank you for sharing and introducing it to us.
‘When the girls go to sleep like this, what amazes me is the quiet in my brain… There’s no bad-ass tattooed teenager eyeing the man next to us in line, nudging me to notice his beautiful…uh…hands… no philosopher or romantic spinning legends of tiny facts.’
That whole passage was just beautiful… I think it sums up on so many levels what it is to be a woman and what it is to be a writer. My bad-ass teenager gets me into a lot of trouble, but it’s my Jessica Rabbit that’s my real problem. ;-)
As for my girls… they get too much rest. If they’re not working constantly, they’re not working at all. Every time I’ve taken time off, they’ve taken much more time off than I anticipated. I think that’s because they agree with Dorothy Parker that having written is so much more fun than writing… I need a whip to keep them in line.
Jessica is probably doing a lot of the writing. That’s the thing. My bad ass teenager, Hillary, is always trying to make trouble and drink shots of tequila, but if I let her have a late night and a big adventure now and then, she’d fine. And she’s the one who is original and excited and into all sorts of odd things.
This is lovely — and much needed — I really need help making sure I allow the girls in the basement to get the rest they need: it’s hard for me to turn it off. Thank you for the encouragement to let them sleep in!
Thank you for reminding me to give the girls time off. I sometimes feel like I’ve wasted a day spent away from my laptop, but it might actually be necessary to come back strong. Great post!
Erika, I strongly believe that lying on the couch or reading a book are parts of the cycle.
Wonderful post, Barb! Writers are not robots, we’re artists, indeed. You are doing just as you ought. I can’t wait for the new book!!!
What a lovely post. Unfortunately I have a bad-boy muse who loves to leave me floundering in the mess he created. And when he decides to come back, he’s a monster dictator, ruling me with an iron fist. Although I can honestly say, I love him. He’s so spontaneous (Something I am NOT) and loves to kick me upside the head with often times rediculous ideas that somehow seem to work.
I love the idea of your book THE GIRLS IN THE BASEMENT and have put it on my TBR list.
I cannot tell you how much I love this post. I so agree, it is amazing when the brain is actually quiet. I just finished a first draft, and jumped right into the rewrite of a previous ms. I’m not sure I gave my muses a proper respite, but it’s too late now. They were spinning and churning this morning, even as I walked the dog on a silent, empty shore. I must let them recoup after this. I’d better get The Girls in the Basement in the meantime, to make sure I’m ready to treat them right.
Congrats on your completed project, Barbara! Thanks for a lovely start to the day.
Right, Vaughn. If they’re doing their thing, it’s work time. Clearly they aren’t too desperate for a break.
Love the breath of air I felt from the walk on the beach with your dog. Mmm. Ocean breezes would be so great on this very hot day….
LOVE this post, especially: “A little eccentric, not always in synch with the outside world and its schedules…”
My girls have worked hard all summer, getting up early and staying up late to finish my book. Soon, it will be time to refresh, refill and revive and see what they whisper about next.
Congrats on finishing The Garden of Happy Endings, can’t wait to read it!
Laughing. Because I have to keep reminding myself of this all the time, even after twenty years. I try not to look too strange in public, but honestly, I do not know a single writer who isn’t a bit odd, in all kinds of ways. Nice that we can give each other that break, isn’t it? “Hail, my fellow eccentric!”
Oh Barbara,
No hints on the new book? Ugh! Leave us hanging…
Thanks for this refreshing post. We all work hard, flogging those poor girls, and they’re the source of our sucess!
I’m going out to get mine bon-bons, Mai Tais, and cabana boys right now.
Laura, it’s a tricky tale to nail down in a tag line (not always my strong suit). A community garden, a murdered young girl, a woman who has lost her faith, and a priest who is her best friend and once upon a time, her fiance. Is that enough of a tease? :)
‘Writers are artists.’ Love this motto.
Thanks for the wonderful post.
Congratulations on celebrating in the Garden of Happy Endings! Time for a lemonade and a sugar cookie!
I just completed a book deadline and have another one in January. Eeek! Fortunately I’ve discovered the perfect way to let my Girls rest and recup. I go out into the mountains as deep in the forest as I can get, find a nice creek or stream to settle by and say “Ahhh.” Now before you think eeew, bugs, and no showers, and bears, oh my. I take my trailer which is equipped with a wonderful shower, microwave, and a blender! Even when there is no electricity I can eat, get clean and make a margarita!
Wonderful post, Barbara, and so true!
For me, it’s meeting (or hosting) friends for lunch; cooking; gardening; and lots of reading. I always begin with “Under the Tuscan Sun,” by Frances Mayes. Such beautiful writing!
Have a blissful time in the mountains. I look forward
to reading your new book.
Get my congratulations for your new book!
“Shhh! The Girls in the Basement are sleeping!” its a great name for a book. This name made me want to read it.
I’m laughing, thinking about the contrast between my holiday and yours. Pretty obvious which one of us is the pro here.
Congrats on finishing the book.
Also, brilliant idea to release The Girls as an ebook. Those of us who didn’t get to participate in your classes can now benefit.
Congrats on finishing the book! My first time here, and I loved “the girls in the basement”. Looking forward to reading more!
Welcome!
I love this! Especially “Because that’s my job—to protect those girls in the basement, let them rest and regroup.” I think that so many writers get caught in panic and let their muses pay for it… really, really adored this.
Fabulous post! Congrats and I’m so inspired by your comment about the quiet in your head. Unfortunately, my head is anything but quiet and it’s not because the girls in the basement are noisy – it’s the social media noise. I really need to turn it down so I can hear the girls in the basement. Enjoy your break!
Oy, social media! I feel your pain. (Hear your noise?)
Thanks for this. Super lovely!
Now I have a great image for when I can’t think coherent thoughts. because if those muses in the basement are too spent to perform, then it’s likely I need at minimum, a break. Perhaps even rarely, luxuriously, a nap.
I was tired enough to cry today and for the first time in mo this, I let myself close my eyes when my two year old went for his nap. I feel like a whole new person. Two hours of recharge hopefully pays off in creative spades tomorrow.
Oh, Mari, those are such trying days, when you have a little one and never get enough sleep! Naps are way more important than chores. Remember that!
Awesome, awesome post. ^^
I think that my Girls in the Basement are insomniacs. They’re always coming up with new ideas, shoving them onto my to-do list even when I’m already swamped…
They just don’t always share ALL of those ideas with me. -_-
They delight in telling me about them a year later, during the revision stages of a novel… So, yeah.
Also, they like TV. :)
What a wonderfully upbeat and encouraging perspective. Thanks for giving we word drudges permission to take a guilt-free breath now and then. Sigh.
Glad your are breathing more easily, my friend.
If a male author had “girls in the basement” he’d be arrested. Ah well. We have demons in the brain.
It’s really nice hearing someone else has those little voices in their head too :P
I’ve tried explaining it to people before, saying, “I’m not crazy, I’m a WRITER” and you see them get this look that says, “How are those two things different?”
I absolutely LOVE that image “the girls in the basement.” It’s perfect. Great post. (I really enjoyed your last one for WU too.)
This was one of the many references to muses that makes me think I need to get much more in touch with mine. Have you ever seen the movie The Muse, with Sharon Stone? It was on the other day so I saw it again. Highly recommend it!
Your posts are always such a delicious treat, and this one is no exception. Not only do I look forward to The Garden of Happy Endings, but am especially happy, happy, thrilled, that in the interim of waiting for the release of said finished novel, I can now fall headlong into reading The Girls in the Basement. Really, truly, but you are an Authorly Inspiration, Barbara :-)
I love this post to bits. Especially this: Because that’s my job—to protect those girls in the basement, let them rest and regroup. They’ve worked their butts off for the book…they stood strong, offering me all that I needed for the book. Over and over. So now, it’s my job to let them sleep, while I take care of the body they live in, and read lots of strange and different things and poke my nose into shops they never see.
The last few years have been rest-less for me, but I know that I need quiet sometimes and so does my muse. Once book two is finished, I’m going to take a big break and give the girls their well-earned vacation.
Thanks, Barbara.
Congrats on your book. I love to hear of an author getting something published. It makes me happy. I’ve never considered naming my creative ‘help’. I like that. I may have to do that. What do I do when ‘they’ need a break? Turn on a good movie, get myself some sort of yummy snack, and do everything I can to shut off my brain for a while and give it a little reboot. It seems to help. Your idea of the mountains sounds good too though. I might have to give that a try.