Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Livin' on Love...and Hate

I hate waiting.

Do you hate waiting?

I'd rather drive the long way around -- even if it takes the same amount of time rather than sitting in traffic.

I'd rather be cleaning my house than sitting around until an appointment (and I don't like cleaning).

I'd rather run around the block fifteen times that sit in front of my computer for that one anticipated email.

Is there an elegant way to wait?

Or maybe like this?

Or this?

And yet that is so much of life -- especially lately. Too many things are out of our control, so how do you develop patience?

Me? I read books. Or write my books. Or play piano. Or build a puzzle. Legos. Balance Cheetos on my nose... (but only the Simply ones).

There are no easy paths to patience. It's only in practicing it that we gain it.

So this is me. Waiting. The next big thing is coming but who knows when or how. Not holding my breath.

Maybe I'll start a soccer club while waiting. (I wish that was a joke.)

And let's be clear, this isn't passive waiting. This is working my rear end off while hoping for the intended outcome.



The awesome co-hosts for IWSG this month are J Lenni Dorner, Victoria Marie Lees, and Sandra Cox!

Question - Many writers have written about the experience of rereading their work years later. Have you reread any of your early works? What was that experience like for you?

I major cringe when I read most of my old old works. If it was only a decade ago, it's usually okay to "Hey, that was a really inspired turn of a phrase." If it was six months ago, I usually like what I wrote. It's funny how time changes your perspective, but my goal is to always be learning more, so it doesn't matter how much I like something I've written, I will have new thoughts to apply.

What about you. How do you feel about old projects you've completed? Are you waiting on something? How do you keep yourself busy while waiting?

41 comments:

  1. I'll go the long way around as well!
    I also cringe when reading older pieces. So I usually just don't.

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  2. It can be hard to look back on things we wrote years ago, but it does help us to grow as writers, Crystal. Waiting isn't easy for me, either, but patience is a virtue we all have to learn. Have a blessed day!

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    1. I agree. I do read them, but the cringing is real. Patience -- one of the hardest, most important lessons, eh?

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  3. I enjoy my older stuff. Waiting, not so much. I am a punctual person and impatient, especially behind the wheel.

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    1. RIGHT?! Make the appointment, keep the appointment. I'm 5 minutes early, so this is...well, not killing me, but difficult.

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  4. Yes, we have to develop patience as a writer. And you're right that there's so much we can't control. I think focusing on what you do is a good way to handle it all.

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  5. I think patience is one thing that writing taught me. I won't say that I learned it though:)

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  6. Perfect timing for me with this post because I am actually waiting for a mail from my publisher today LOL and it ain't coming, which means I will spend days checking out the inbox. I usually turn off the computer, glue myself to my reading armchair and take a book.

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    1. That sounds like a plan. I'm wishing you sanity while you wait!

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  7. This! - "There are no easy paths to patience. It's only in practicing it that we gain it." I'm working on it. :)

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  8. I used to think I was a very patient and methodical person. Then I started doing art and discovered I have no patience to spend hours and hours or days and days working on any particular piece. I want everything finished in 2 hours, max! This discovery shook my whole self-image, LOL.

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    1. LOL! It's so interesting how we can be patient in one sphere of life and NOT in others, eh? Good to know our limits though.

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  9. My fingers are crossed that you get the right outcome. Until then write your next great story. Distraction is only part of it. If god forbid you get the wrong outcome, you have the thing you're working on to ease the blow.

    Sending you positive thoughts. Hope you hear soon.

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  10. Agreed, the farther back I go with projects, the more cringe. Everything I've written that has been published, I'm pretty okay with even now, but before that? We don't speak of those horrors. LOL

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  11. I hate waiting. I'm not very good at being idle at all.

    My old projects are extremely cringeworthy. Funny, but super embarrassing. I like to think I've grown and improved and am a far better writer now.

    Hope you get that intended outcome soon!

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  12. I hear you -- I think we all hope that. No way to know except with outside perspective, eh?

    Thank you!

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  13. Waiting is so much of the writing journey! And yes, it's hard when things are out of your control. Like you, I try to dive into a new project/manuscript and that helps a lot. It's always interesting to look at old manuscripts and see how much I've changed.

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    1. Agreed. And the longer it has been, the greater the change.

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  14. Hi Crystal, Waiting in traffic is the pits, isn't it?
    I don't have a problem reading what's in my current writing genre, before that---umm, maybe not:) Have a creative day.

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  15. Waiting in traffic is unavoidable if you ride the buses (I don't drive) so I always have a book with me. Reading is my way of waiting. Patience is something I always had though these days I'm getting a little short on patience in certain circumstances.

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    1. Oh yeah -- subway or bus, great. It's when actively driving, unable to relax. Isn't it always the way though, changing, finding new challenges? I hear you on patience wearing thin in some regards.

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  16. Sometimes you find great things the long way around! As to my older writing, I'm mostly amused by it.

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    1. It's true. But I'm such a clock/time person. Maybe I just need to let things go, eh?

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  17. I'm also terrible at waiting…but I find some great things trying to distract myself from the pain of waiting! @samanthabwriter from
    Balancing Act

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    1. Too true! I do love the pretty distractions that crop up along the way.

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  18. Sometimes I feel proud of a "turn of phrase" when I write it, but it's rare to feel that way when I reread it later, haha. Maybe I just need more time to pass until I forget what I wrote entirely.

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    1. I understand that. I have come back 10+ years later though and found some awesome little nuggets. Maybe because I used to fancy myself a poet. -- Forgetting is always good. I love when I read over something from ages ago and am surprised. LOL!

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  19. Oh! My! Gosh, Crystal! Do I hate waiting. For anything. Although you have some new ideas that I hadn't thought about to do while waiting. And as for how perspective changes the way we feel about our previous work, I'm with you. Stay strong!

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    1. You mean, balancing cheetos on your nose? Come on! Who doesn't dream of that?

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  20. It's weird. I enjoy reading what I wrote as long as it isn't my journal entries. I hate reading what I wrote in journal form.

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  21. Omigosh, that's the perfect way of putting it, Crystal. That fiction I wrote 6 months ago, no problem, in fact, I enjoy reading it, but the further back I go, the harder it is to keep reading. Even stories I was incredibly proud of back in the day, I start to read and then, nope! You've given me a new framework for looking at this situation. :-)

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  22. Waiting is a terrible bore, Crystal. I always feel as if I'm wasting my time and look for some useful way of filling it, even if only checking my phone. Until recently I used to work as an exam invigilator which involved a lot of waiting around.

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  23. I love the gif with the girl hanging upside down. And the helicopter upside down. They made me laugh. What is it with me and upside downs?
    As for waiting, I always try to be prepared for the worst outcome. Anything better than that comes as a gift (think of a result of a medical test).

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  24. "I'd rather drive the long way around -- even if it takes the same amount of time rather than sitting in traffic." 100% THIS! LOL

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Hit me with your cheese!