Wendy, let me explain something to you.

The video you've just watched for those of you don't know it, is from Stanley Kubrick's film version of "The Shining" by Stephen King. While watching this scene you probably are thinking, Jack is a complete a-hole to his wife, Wendy. He could have simply said, "Hey, hon, I know you're interested in what I'm doing, but when I stop, sometimes it's impossible to get my creative groove back. I need your help, if you hear me clacking away, wait till I take a break to ask me something. Unless the hotel is on fire, I really need to write." 

That's how he could have phrased it, right? But then that wouldn't make for a very interesting tale of a man slowly descending into madness now would it? However, this isn't the point of my blog. My point is how many of you authors out there can identify with this moment? You're in a groove, things are happening, you're characters are cooperating and you are writing the best stuff ever—then the phone rings...it's your mom.

Mom: What are you doing?
Me: writing.
Mom: A letter?
Me: No, I'm writing my novel.
Mom: Oh, you're still doing that?
Me: Yes mom, I'm a writer, it's what I do.
Mom: Didn't you already write a book?
Me: Yes.
Mom: So why are you writing another one?
Me: Because it's something I love to do and I'm trying to make a living at it.

OR the doorbell rings and it's either, a solicitor, who ignores your No Soliciting sign, or JW's with their latest copy of the Watch Tower.

OR the kids starting arguing over a toy...the neighbors suddenly decide to have a porch party, and Mariachi music is the theme until long after midnight.

Whatever the distraction is, I'm sure all of us have suddenly felt that moment where we want to scream!
Writing isn't easy in spite of what people would think. I'm always perplexed by people who say the stupidest crap like: "I could have written Harry Potter in three months." or "Do people still read?"

It really grinds me when it's a parent who stops a child from taking an interest in reading or writing.
Parent: What are you doing in your room all day?
Child: I'm writing a book! (excitedly)
Parent: Oh (disappointed) Why can't you go play football like normal kids do?
(That previous line is NOT made up...it was said by a real parent to a real child.)

Writing a novel takes time, it takes effort, research, while it may appear easy to people who don't do it, let me assure you, no author will tell you, writing a book was easy. We really dig in and get serious about our story, characters, plot. And we don't take any of those things lightly. So when you're in your groove and someone stops you for what may be the tenth time that day...it's not surprising that Jack Torrance shows up.

I will use a personal example in closing. While writing "Forever Me" my latest YA release. I was in the middle of writing the climax of the story. I had just written a line that took my breath away and I actually started to cry. This had never happened to me before. I had never experienced emotion while writing. This euphoria took me by surprise in such a way I knew I was writing from the heart. THEN...the phone rang...someone needed something...it wasn't anything truly important...but they couldn't wait a day or to do it themselves. My heart sank and inside I cried NO! NOT NOW!!!! Of all times NOT NOW!

But this person had helped me on many occasion and rarely asks for my help on anything. So I can't say no. But this will mean me leaving my computer and losing my blissful moment of inspiration. As an author I know you know what this means and how this feels! I won't go on with the rest of what happened but suffice it to say, it really made me angry because the person who stopped me, has no concept of what being creative means. I did force myself to find my muse and finish the novel that same day. But I will always be bitter about how I was robbed of the complete experience. Some may be saying, get over it. It's not a big deal. But for me...it was a big deal and anyone who writes knows exactly what I'm talking about.  So Now...with all that you've read...I ask...go back to the top of this blog and re-watch the scene in the context of all that you just read....is Jack still an A-hole? Or is he simply someone who was doing everything within his power to not become an axe wielding killer?

Moral of The Shining...."Don't piss off the writer." It just might lead to your early demise.
Moral to my story. Be smart enough next time to turn off my phone—then no one gets hurt.