Heights
Heights can have a weird effect on some people, can’t they? What is it about looking down from a high balcony that makes you think you’re in danger of falling — or even that you might take it into your head to jump over it, even though you have no suicidal tendencies. I’m told it’s called “the call of the void” and around 60% of people feel it.
I’m only on the 7th floor here at my writing retreat, but two of my friends have a 2 bedroom apartment on the 16th floor. And one of them can’t even make herself look out at the view, let alone step out onto the balcony.
To give you an idea, their balcony looks down onto the tops of those tall Norfolk Island pines — way down — looking like model trees, and in the street were tiny toy cars..
And this morning, I was sitting outside, working at the small table on my balcony, and I shifted it close to the balcony rails so I’d get a little bit of morning sun, my daily dose of Vitamin D.
And I caught myself feeling as though I was putting the balcony in danger of tipping over and falling. Which I know is ridiculous. Nevertheless . . .
But I’m getting some good work done, which I’m pleased about. We’re working through the day, with a short break for lunch, and then in the evening, we meet to talk about some aspect of writing. Tonight’s topic is about AI (Artificial Intelligence).
The pic on the left is where I work in the mornings before it gets too hot. And then I come inside to air-conditioned comfort.
It’s also where if I look directly down, I get a wee bit nervous. The call of the void. . .
What about you — do you get nervous of heights at all? Ever felt the seductive call of the void?
I 100% have that ‘call of the void’. Terrifying! I also get a fluttery tummy and tingly palms and feet when I look down from heights, sometimes even when I just look in a picture of heights, Clearly not mountaineer material.
Me neither, Malvina. I’m not as bad as some of my friends but I definitely get a funny feeling when I gaze into the void.
Interesting about AI. There are some incredibly short novels (<60 pages) that have been recently published and they read “funny”. Slightly automatic with very little flavour or serendipity. But the i’s were dotted and the t’s were crossed. And I’m trying to remember the authors’ name….
That’s the kind of AI I hate, Lynne. But it’s a fact of life and we all have to find a way through it. There will be more and more. I just hope that readers will continue to buy books that are “real” and reflect the author’s original voice.