I know I've showed you this photo before, taken during my Writer's Runaway in the Little Hotel On the Prairie where a week of total WIP immersion helped me really get going on this one. But now I'm back in the real world, and one thing after another conspires to impede my progress. Mostly it's family stuff, and the truth is that whether it's the best of times or the worst of times, Real Time does more of a number on me these days than it used to.
Writing requires sustained concentration. I really had it going when I locked myself in this small space with nothing but the laptop (had to make friends with that little contraption--hadn't used one before--but now I like it) and a window on the prairie. I keep taking this picture out and trying to get back into this place mentally. But then comes the call or the writing on the calendar, and I go and do. When I get back, the words aren't there. Not even the crappy ones that will do for now until I find better ones.
So it's my day to blog, and blogging requires words, and I have no words. My brain is behaving like a stubborn child, refusing to do its chores. My theory is that if I start functioning in the left side of the brain, which is more cooperative, I can sneak over to the right side when that recalcitrant child isn't looking. So I start thinking about right vs left brain, and I google it because I can't ever remember which is which at the moment, and I find a quiz. Ah, distraction. I take the quiz, and it tells me I'm 40% left brained, 60% right. It could be worse, I guess. If I were 50-50 I'd be really conflicted.
Okay, words are coming now. My fingers are moving. I actually did something--got off square one. So here's a question for you: What do you think your percentages might be? Mine surprised me a little. Try predicting yourself first, then you can take the test here: http://www.blogthings.com/areyourightorleftbrainedquiz
15 comments:
I got 50/50... so I guess I'm really conflicted... lol
It gave me 45% left, 55 % right. Which surprised me; I'm quite logical in a lot of things, and really good at math and science.
But I'm messy and disorganized about a lot of things, and it seemed that there were a lot of questions about that.
Except I'm really not. There are just a lot of things that I don't thing are worth the trouble. But my books and spices are alphabetized, and my bills are always paid on time, and it's VERY unusual for me to be late to anything. In other words, the things that are important to me.
But remembering where I put, say, the Halloween pumpkin - not so much.
Susie
Okay, I'm really freaked out. According to the quiz I'm 25% left-brained and 75% right!!! Aghhhhh! I am seriously out of balance here!
What's weird is, I do a lot of logical process stuff, what I consider really left-brained, rational stuff. But then I do use intuitition a lot in problem solving and I remember faces rather than names and am more a Geometry person than an Algebra one. (What the heck's THAT got to do with it, anyway?) But, I'm a former science teacher, for pity's sake. Doesn't that count for anything?
I would protest the obvious slant of some of the questions, but I'm too busy listening to music and petting my dog.
You know, what creeped me out was how perfectly they got the combination of my life in the summary:
"Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet."
"YOur right brain is all about creativity and flexibility. . . Your right brain perfers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports."
Okay, except for the itty bitty "sports" thing, they've got me nailed.
Oh, wait. . . it also says the left side of the brain controls verbal ability. Well. That explains it. Nobody loves to talk more than me.
So. . . I guess I'm good. Thanks, Kathy, for the link-- this was really fun!
;) Betina
Thanks for the link, Kathy. I'm 50/50. What do you expect from a CPA turned writer? But now I don't know if I'm coming or going.
Guess I'm going ... back to that website to find out what Superhero I am!!
Well, now...here's a shocker. I'm 80-20. 80% left brained. Gosh, who would ever have guessed I'd have a whole 20% of the right brain? I have double my original guess. LOL!
However, I think the questions were a tad transparent. (says the logical left-brained thinker)
On one of those placement tests they make you take in high school, I was supposed to be either an accountant or a writer. I kid you not. Helen and I have had somewhat similar careers.
I didn't pay any attention to that testing at the time because they were obviously all wrong. My *original* major in college was a Anthropology with a minor in Pleistocene Geology. i intended to be an Ice Age archeologist. Then I found out I might a) starve or b) have to dig in the dirt. So I looked around for a career that paid real money.
Okay, more quizzes! I love quizzes!
I got Betina beat. I'm 5% left brained and 95% right. That's why I married a man who's good at math and logic.
I think the geometry-algebra thing must be telling because I was really good in geometry, but algebra makes no sense to me. Horrible at math. But the talking with the hands/choosing words carefully--I had trouble with that. I think I do both...or would choose carefully if I had a choice. Of late, I'm lucky to remember one. Oh, what is that word for the thing you use to turn on the TV that I can never find and if I do somebody usually takes it from me before I break the thing because I can't get it to...oh, you know...it's coming...starts with an r...
LOVE dogs, reading and quiet. So many of the left-brained traits are things I wish I did more or better. Organize, get stuff in order, I LOVED anthro--good in that--but really had to work at geology. Found it fascinating--I really dig rocks in a sort of mystical way--but the chemistry part of it was hard for me.
And I think this is one of those quizzes you have to go with your first instinct, which I don't do well. Always trying to second-guess.
Wow, Jaye Wells. . .95%! You hang onto that husband of yours. . . I'm sure he comes in handy!
LOL!
We ought to do more quizzes! This is fun!
:) Betina
Oh, yeah. . . and Deb. . . 80% left brain? LOL. Is that the cause or the effect of being a publisher?
;) Betina
susan f and jaye: nice to see you over here again!
i was 40/60 -- which seems about right.
kathleen, i've really noticed that i have a much harder time focusing on a project as i've gotten older. if a distraction comes along, i can't get back on track. and the distraction doesn't have to be very big.
but then the other day i sat at a STOP SIGN and waited for it to turn green for about five minutes. WTF? i felt fine, but it was like i just shut off.
Betina--
It's the cause of being a publisher! I have analyze-itis. I once foolishly said in a hotel room full of authors about 7-8 years ago, "With the consolidation we're seeing in the industry, the rise of the internet as a viable way to reach niche markets, and the technologies available to small companies, anyone with half-a-brain would start a publishing company."
Famous last words! LOL! Five authors swivelled their heads to look at each other and then swivelled their heads back to me and in unison said, "So how much money do you need?"
Left-brainedness is the cause of my being a publisher today.
My partners are all pretty much right-brainers.
SusanF-- Hey, you sound *balanced* to me! Seems like a great combination.
Jaye-- Who says right-brainers can't plan? You married a guy with the perfect skill set for you!
Kathleen--
I think the anthro and the geology did appeal to both sides of the brain for me. I didn't mind the digging in the dirt so much because it was quiet time. I do like quiet.
Interesting, one of the most creative things I'm doing in the last few years is quilting. Once again I'm blending the two types of brains.
The good news is that it said right brainers are good creative writers. At 95% I should be about as creative as they come. Of course, this is also why I am looking for an agent. Apparently I'm lucky to be able to count to ten much less negotiate advances and royalties.
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