But my worst sin is one that is politically incorrect and ecologically unsound—I use paper at an alarming rate because I don’t seem to be able to revise my work without printing and reading it on paper. While emptying my trash can yesterday, I heard him say, "There goes another tree."
Since I don’t yet have an e-reader (I hear a collective gasp—Christmas will solve the problem.) when I download reading material to enjoy, I end up printing it to read. Sometimes when interviewing authors for WWK, I obtain manuscripts via email attachments from the authors, which I love because I don’t have to pay for the work, but I end up printing the book’s pages because reading a 250+ work isn’t at all enjoyable on the screen. Of course, it does cost me money in paper and ink, but that expense is less than buying the books.
There are times when I end up with reams of paper that must be thrown out, and although I should put it in my recycling container, I end up hiding it. Like cleaning out the junk drawer, it happens periodically when messy build up can no longer be denied, and then I think of ways that I can dispose of the paper without my husband finding out. Sometimes I put it in my car and drive it to business dumpsters. In the winter while we have our woodstove burning, I’ll throw some in to burn, even though it creates more smoke than wood (the chemistry of which is beyond me since paper is a refined product of wood). I’ve packed it in my suitcase when going on trips by myself to be disposed in hotel cans or in my friends’
trash (but don’t tell them). It sounds ridiculous, but hiding this sin has been my way of dealing with my guilt at using so much paper.
trash (but don’t tell them). It sounds ridiculous, but hiding this sin has been my way of dealing with my guilt at using so much paper. How do you hide your writing sins?
But, EB,
ReplyDeleteJust think of the sins you might commit that you don't because you are writing. As an addiction it is quite cheap and relatively harmless. Isn't it better to write some idiot into your work and knock him/her off than to actually do the deed?
That's so true, Warren. Researching those champagnes has cost a bit more than I anticipated. But then, I mostly wear jeans and teeshirts or sweatshirts at this time of year, so maybe my research has been cheap!
ReplyDeleteI haven't exactly hidden all the paper in office. It is a fire hazard, though. Hubby takes a stack of newspapers to recycle every week or so. Why have I not thought of putting my papers on that stack? Not all at once, I think.
ReplyDeleteI don't print as much since I bought a printer that drinks ink. But I do sin. The worst is starting online research and ending up surfing down bunny trails. And calling it writing.
ReplyDeleteKaye--I think the reason we don't think to recycle printing paper is that mostly newspapers are in the recycling bin. I don't think of it as I should also. Instead of the wastecan, I should have a bin for recycling in my office.
ReplyDeletetowriteistowrite-yes, we've all gone down that bunny trail. I ended up researching persimmons yesterday. We had been on the road and stopped at a rest area in VA. A tree bearing fruit caught my attention and when I got home, I just had to find out what it was--so, no I didn't get anything done over the weekend on my WIP. But I do know that Native American's made persimmon beer way back when!
Early settlers also made beer from acorns, assuming like it Europe, it would be dangerous or even fatal to drink the water. Surely someday, somehow that will go into a story.
ReplyDeleteWOT-But persimmons must be ripe, preferably after a hard frost ripe, to be palitable. They adjectives to describe them are astringent, or here's what John Smith said.
ReplyDelete"If it be not ripe it will drawe a mans mouth awrie with much torment; but when it is ripe, it is as delicious as an Apricock," wrote Captain John Smith about an unusual orange fruit the settlers in Jamestown discovered."
www.wildmanstevebrill.com
Sorry--that was way off topic...so many sins, so little time!
ReplyDelete