I’m trying to remember how all this began. A framed photo fell behind my desk (my immovable desk) over a year ago. Other than attempting to rescue it without moving the desk, I did nothing. It was too much effort.
In my last blog, I mentioned the chart to track Quantum Quest’s themes and characters. Once finished, I got enthusiastic about the prospect of—again—going through and revising the book, section by section. (The sections equal chapters, though I don’t call them that this time around.)
The charting was done at a table in another room because my desk was a mess. And no way could I begin to revise until I sorted out all those scattered notes that cluttered up that immovable object.
I could clear off the desktop. Or (trumpet sounds) the whole thing could be emptied out—so that the desk could be moved. Enthusiasm struck again.
On Saturday I cleared the desk and drawers. I also emptied out a filing cabinet because that had to be shifted too. Once the desk was dusted, I went off to the other room with that pile of loose papers to be reviewed, tossing most of them. Whew! I was tired!
On Sunday my moving crew (my sons) arrived. In no more than five minutes the desk was shifted, photograph rescued, floor swept, and it was back in place. The rest of the day was devoted to shifting furniture and restoring contents to drawers. Except—
I found a better spot for my printer—but to move that required the further emptying of two tall bookcases, shifting them a few inches, dusting and restoring the books. I even managed to cull a box of giveaways in the process.
On Monday, I dragged myself to do the final floor sweep. There are still some empty boxes and a pile of empty file folders to be sorted, but they will have to wait.
I am so tired! What took me so long to move that desk and rescue a photo? A lack of enthusiasm.
And now for the whole reason for all this—those book revisions. The enthusiasm for it is still inside somewhere, waiting for the energy to emerge.
Maybe next time, I’ll stick to cleaning off the desktop.
Kate Harrington 