Writing and math shouldn’t go together!
For years I have explained to family and friend that I do not need math, I’m a writer words trump numbers. After many years of being unable to connect the two subjects I’ve learned how to cope in a world that requires me to know math things.
If I want to know a percentage off of a price I call my friend, or I pull out my handy dandy Dave Ramsey tip card.
Math is so difficult for me that I can’t get the same answer on a calculator-ever!
Counting money? Forget it. I’ve made piles on the floor of ten ones only to end up with an extra or worse not as many as I thought
I’ve been happy to live with a lack of math knowledge until last night. As I tried to fall asleep, my brain decided it was time to work on my next novella Outlaw on the Pueblo Express (Barbour Publishing 2016). I was thinking about what my character would wear on the train. I could see her face pressed against the window and then turning and asking, “Where do you think we will be at lunch time?”
Math! Boom in my face!
What???????????? TIME????????????
Pages of word problems flashed in front of me.
The ones I could never figure out the answer to.
The ones that made me cry in frustration.
The ones where I would shout to anyone who would listen, “Why should I care what time the train will arrive to pick up Bob if it stops at point B for 17 minutes?”
So here I am, faced with my math demon. I will now have to answer the question for my character, “What time will we arrive at point B?” .
I think it is time to phone a friend.
Phone Eric or Caleb. They are the math experts in my family. I’m with you, math, except for the basics, is something my brain can’t do well.
Ha, I email Eric for German/Hebrew help as I didn’t realize he can do math too!