Sunday, July 26, 2009

My Weirdly Wonderful Weekend

No, it wasn't that weird. The days of truly strange weekends--the kind where you wake up on Monday and say, "Did all that really happen?"--are pretty much behind me. But I had another kind of weird weekend for someone with a job, two kids and a house.

I was alone all weekend.

Long story short: we needed to refinish our floors. We have terrazzo throughout the house, which I love, but every few years, it needs to be stripped, sealed and polished. We like our floors to glisten (and they were becoming embarrassing--there were paths rubbed into the stone where grubby little bare feet [mine mostly] had smudged it with dirt). So I was left in the empty house with six gallons of industrial chemicals. If you're wondering why I'm a little loopy, blame the chemicals. I'm pretty sure I can feel the brain damage.

First off, there was a point on Friday night, at about 11, when I was mopping and I thought, "Check this out. I'm alone on a Friday night, and I choose to mop the floors."

But then, on Saturday, in between applying coats of sealant, I finished my whole revision. Yep. Just like that. I wrote for six, seven hours, unable to walk through the house and trapped in my room. I spent all day in front of the computer, only stopping to take a few quick laps in the pool and sit in the sun until I dried off. And I finished the draft. I want to tell you that it's great, but I'm afraid that might be just the sealant talking.

Then ... while I was finishing the revision ... I had an idea. And oh my, it was a lovely one. I don't know about you, but I have lots of ideas. Most are crap; a few are, "Hmm, I think I can work with it"; and every so often, one comes along that is, "Yes! Start writing NOW!"

It's called Monsterology.

I think it's hooky and high concept and funny, with tons of potential for a great story and lots of room to explore some of my favorite themes. Oh yeah, and it has monsters. So I went out to dinner with some friends, then came home and sat on the couch, outlining and fooling with this idea until 1 a.m. I got the whole story, pretty much all at once. I can't say how the book will turn out, but there's nothing like starting on a (sealant) high ...

So, yeah, I was alone in the house all weekend. And I divided my time pretty much between working on the floors and writing, which means I'm about the lamest guy in the world. But it was still a great weekend. My floors are gleaming, and I got loads of writing done. I guess this is when you know you're really a writer ...


6 comments:

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Yay for the new idea! I love the title. :)

I think that sounds like a wonderful way to spend the weekend. Nothing like getting trapped at the computer to force yourself to finish. I hope you're still happy with it when the chemicals fade.

Mark Terry said...

Check out books by Dean Lorey.

And no Penaflin fumes.

Erica Orloff said...

Please . . . my dream weekend used to include things like clubbing until 3:00 a.m. Now it is silence. An empty house and a computer. Mind you, I never get that. But it is a dream. I guess I am living vicariously through you.

E

Jon VanZile said...

Melanie,

Well, the chemicals have faded and I'm still OK with it ...

Jon VanZile said...

Mark,

Thanks for the tip to Lorey. I looked up the synopsis and they're very different than the direction I'm heading. But they look interesting.

Jon VanZile said...

Erika,

Live away! Everybody's back today and I'm already worrying about scuff marks on the floor. Ha ha.