Saturday, June 26, 2010

THE PAJAMA GAME

I used to jump out of bed at the sound of the alarm, rush through a shower, and then get dressed and start the day. This has pretty much been the pattern of my life for as long as I can remember. Up and at it. Rise and shine.

But then I became a “writer.” I am sure I am not the only person with literary leanings that has trouble getting dressed in the morning. Perhaps it comes with the territory, but I am still a little ashamed of the fact that there are days when I look at the clock, and realize that it is long past noon, and I am still wearing bedclothes.

I like to think that I have joined a sorority of literary women who also write in their pajamas. I imagine Nora Ephron typing hilarious things while wearing a flannel nightshirt. I cherish the fantasy that Erma Bombeck sometimes dashed off one of her columns while wearing a nightie. There is no doubt in my mind that Julie Powell wrote her famous blog without getting completely dressed.

However, I am sure that not all writers would agree about the pajamas. Ayn Rand probably wrote her revolutionary prose wearing a business suit, or at least man- tailored slacks. I know that Emily Dickinson was always in a proper peplum. Jane Austen would have been scandalized to see me at my desk wearing coffee stained boxer shorts and an old Metallica T-shirt.

I know my Mom would be horrified at my creative writing uniform. This is a woman who never let the sun rise on her nightgowns. She wore tube tops and pedal pushers, but she was always DRESSED. She always, as I recall, wore shoes as well. Her opinion of people in pajamas after waking was that they must be either unwell or oversexed. I feel a little guilty when I think about this, but then I console myself that my mother came from a different age, and that the fact that I am writing this while wearing the Metallica T-shirt is really ok.

So I sit here, shoeless and attired in what would shock my Mom, “writing.” It is quarter to three. Soon, I will have to think about what to make for dinner. In just a little while, I will go upstairs, comb my hair and get some regular clothes on. Although I “write,” I still have some standards. I have never served dinner to my family while wearing pajamas.

But there is a first time for everything…

34 comments:

  1. Hmmm . . . dinner in pajamas - my husband would like, my kids . . .

    I have found for myself that I do better if I shower and dress first thing in the morning - seems to be my motivator whether it is to write or do laundry.

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  2. Never had a Metallica t-shirt, but wore my Bon Jovi shirt until it was so thin you could almost read through it. You have reminded me how much I miss it. PJ's for lunch, often, for dinner, not yet.

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  3. I write first thing when I get up. I have to say, nothin' wrong with a good pair of pyjamas. But I have to have a cup of tea first. Some decorum is necessary:).

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  4. Considering that I'm sitting here reading your post in the favorite old t-shirt and mens' plaid boxer shorts that I went to sleep in last night, and that it's now well past noon, may I flatter myself by joining your sorority of literary women?

    "Delighted to meet you, Ms. Austin! What? Oh, that's right--'Ms.' doesn't mean anything to you, does it? And is that Julie Powell? I thought so from the beignet crumbs on your t-shirt."

    Interesting that I feel no guilt whatsoever wearing my pajamas all day (comfort wins over style for me every time), but sleeping in and "wasting the morning" feels like a cardinal sin. Still, in such company, I won't complain. :o)

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  5. LOL, Molly. I just got dressed 10 minutes ago, and only because someone stopped by to say hello (Ok, I draw the line at greeting visitors in my nightgown.)

    Since it seems normal to do so, perhaps I should work on writing more when I'm still dressed for bed. Maybe that's what will cure my writer's block?

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  6. I love wearing my pjs. I even wore them to high school some days (crazy public school kids!) I have definitely gone to bed in the same pjs that I have wore the whole day (including dinner). If wearing pjs to the playground was acceptable, I would do it.
    I wish there were pajama colonies instead just old-fashioned nudist colonies.

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  7. Pajama colonies: what a genius idea! And boy, oh, boy, do you all make me feel so much better about myself! xo

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  8. I think that is one of the benefits of being a writer ... the dress code is lax. The pay, though, for most, sucks pretty bad!!!

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  9. This is exactly why I want to be a career writer. There's nothing like eating lunch in your boxers.

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  10. I'm sure all the best writers write in their jim-jams. Another great post Molly, I look forward to the next instalment of Life With The Campbells.

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  11. When to consider getting dressed? ...If it's past 3pm - screw it. Ya gotta go to bed soon anyway.

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  12. Too hot here for pyjamas, and I think the neighbours would complain if I wrote naked. If I didn't have to take the kids to school in winter mornings I definitely would definitely join the club then...

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  13. Some days I go from PJ's to bathing suit, and then back to PJ's. Perfect summer attire in FL as far as I'm concerned!

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  14. An advantage of being a writer ~ we can determine our dress code. Nice post.

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  15. Great post as always, Molly! I love the "bed clothes" terminology, so classy. It is 9:15 & I am in my jammies. I am with Michelle in that I will not answer the door unless I am fully clad. For their sake & mine!! lol.

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  16. Like Jenners said...
    "I think that is one of the benefits of being a writer ... the dress code is lax. The pay, though, for most, sucks pretty bad!!!

    The pay does "suck" pretty bad - but, at least we can afford pajamas!

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  17. I'm in pajamas right now! Emily Dickinson's era was so very formal that I'm thinking her pajamas had peplum... :)

    As long as you're comfortable and don't have to go out (though I've seen people in grocery stores here wear pajamas bottoms!), you should not worry.

    After all, James Hetfield would be the first to tell you Nothing Else Matters!

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  18. I just want to tell all of you that I am now going upstairs to get dressed. It is 2:30. Nothing has changed. As a matter of fact, you have all made me PROUD TO BE A SEMI CLAD WRITER. XO

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  19. I am SO going to have to get a pair of boxers and an oversized "Don't criticize me or you'll end up in my next novel" shirt.

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  20. I love this though I have a little problem. I um don't don attire for the bed, so finding me writing in my 'sleep wear' would be a little, how shall I put this, arresting? Love the idea of Nora writing in her flannels. I've been to Jane Austen's house and even got a pix of her writing table. I'm certain she didn't go down the stairs in her nightdress, though she did share a room with her sister!

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  21. I work at home, totally in pajamas all day. And while I don't do it everyday, I have served dinner in my pajamas. My laundry is 80 percent pajamas, 20 percent clothes. I have not yet gone out in public in them, you have to draw the line somewhere!

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  22. When I first started writing, I met with a fellow writer who said, "I take this job seriously, so I never write in my pajamas. I'm always fully dressed when I work." I resolved to be exactly like her.

    That lasted for exactly one day. As I write, it is almost 11:00 am and I am in pajama-type clothing. Some days, even when I get dressed, it's in sweatpants and a ratty t-shirt. My friends make fun of me, but when they complain about uncomfortable shoes, I just smile sweetly to myself because I almost never have to deal with that.

    What's the point of working from home if you can't dress how you want? As long as I sound professional in the interviews and manage to dress myself to go out, I see no problem with it.

    Fantastic post, as always...

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  23. Well, that writer who was always dressed must be a bit like Ayn Rand, I guess. Or my Mom. Has she published anything? I would love to read it! molly

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  24. I'm not gonna lie...if I could get away from staying in my jammies all day, I totally would! But I gotta set an example for the kids and all so I don't get to do it :(

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  25. Hmmm . . . I do not wear jammies. Writing in the nude would be slightly distracting. So I generally get dressed before I sit down at the computer.

    Generally.

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  26. As a freelancer working from home, I have forced myself to get dressed in the morning. Hubby finds it weird to see me in the same outfit forom last night as the one in the morning when he leaves for work, and as he comes back... I see his point. ;)

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  27. Your blog has affirmed my own belief that pajamas are essential to comfort and comfort is essential to writing. I can't write in a tight pair of jeans. What kind of stiff, unimaginative prose would I come up with in "proper clothes?" Although, I do manage to get dressed before my husband gets home for dinner, and splash a little Mr. Clean behind my ears to give him the impression that I've been slaving over housework all day:)

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  28. There are writers who say you should treat writing at home as if it were a job; in other words, you need to be showered, dressed, and ready to work by a certain time. I completely agree: That's exactly what THEY should do. But I love sitting at my desk in tee-shirt, underwear, and bare feet, typing away in cool comfort. And if the phone should ring (which it almost never does), I'm happy to conduct business with the showered, well-dressed person on the other end.

    I'm also happy I discovered your blog (through The Happy Freelancer), and have thoroughly enjoyed the posts I've read.

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  29. It's funny, i forget how people in other countries actually wear their shoes indoors! Here in Finland it is considered really bad manners to keep your shoes on if you visit someone's house and no would dream of keeping their shoes on at home.

    Interesting how one countries 'undressed' is another's 'over dressed'

    I do some of my best writing whilst still in my pj's.

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  30. It is now official. If you are a writer, you mostly don't get dressed. Unless you are like Kris. And I am now going right out to get some Mr. Clean! xo

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  31. I write my best blog posts while still in jammies. It's a comfort thing. Less clothes let the words flow freely or some such ridiculous thing. Oh. btw it's past 4pm and I'm still in jammies. Will make it easier to get ready for bed tonight. lol love ur blog@

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  33. I find that clothes restrict my creative mind. I'll be honest. I do all my writing in bed. Or at my desk in my bedroom. And not a single person sees me.

    And there are minimal clothes.

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