So...What's your hurry? I had the 'oh my god, nothing is getting accomplished, I should be doing something right now' feeling at the beginning of the week. Then I realized. What's your hurry? It's summer. Relax a bit. After months of pushing through 5th grade lessons with James and all my class stuff, now that we're done, I still feel like I should be doing something. Like planning 6th grade, researching writing classes, setting up a schedule, writing more..... This past week I let the air out of the balloon. I deflated and flopped. Stopped, relaxed and read, read, read. I was *gasp* lazy. I flaked on the morning pages and wrote only a couple days this week on the WIP (but I was thinking about it alot). I was good though and did the treadmill 4 days this week. I also did my cheer-leading duties and visited lots of ROW80 folks. I did my darnedest to visit as many folks as I could, leave encouraging comments. And got a case of the nasty green eyed comparison monster.
It happens occasionally. All these prolific experienced writers, plugging away, making a lot of progress and then there's me - the tortoise, moving oh so slowly. Then I read author Jody Hedlund's blog and she always has the wisest things to say and there's always some synchronicity to it. Her latest: "Why are so many writers in such a hurry? which made a heck of a lot sense.
I really respect Bob’s balanced approach. Here’s what he said: “The problem right now is too many writers are putting their first manuscript up and spending 75% of their time trying to promote as they try to write their second book. The focus isn’t on the writing, it’s on the selling.”
He goes on to suggest waiting until completing three books before taking the next steps forward, focusing first on learning the craft of writing before jumping into publication and promotion.
In other words, we don’t need to rush the process. We don’t need to race forward, getting ahead of ourselves, and fostering discontent for where we’re at.
Deep breath and pick myself up off the ground, dust myself off and continue on with the reminder once again to follow my own path and not trot along behind in someone elses footprints. I'll get there - hopefully sooner than later, but in the process going to try and enjoy and savor the journey as much as possible. And applaud the successes of my ROW80 friends at whatever stage they are at, because they deserve it. Huzzah!
Goals for the next week:
1. Write for at least 1/2 hour every morning towards finishing first draft of Red Thief.
2. Morning pages - using as creativity journal working out issues on the page and if feel the need to whine, taking it to the pages.
3. Blog - write up What's on the Nightstand post with reading plans for August
4. G.I.T. training - Treadmill for 40 minutes 5 days this week.
5. Cheerleading duties as sponsor visit other participants and provide encouragement and high fives. Happy Writing!
There is nothing wrong with being lazy now and then. I'm pretty lazy during the summer!!!
ReplyDeleteExactly! Writers write. Yes, in this day and age we also have to sell our own stuff, but first we need stuff to sell. *g*
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the new goals!
Glad to hear that you took some time out to be lazy! I was supposed to spend the last couple of days grading papers and working on my writing, but instead I decided to lay in bed and just read. It was glorious, and now my brain feels a bit more recharged for the week.
ReplyDeleteThanks for adding Jody's post - I hadn't seen it before now. I totally understand that 'green eyed monster' feeling; I think we all encounter it from time to time. When I started writing again a few months ago, I promised myself that I would focus on the process, on the actual joy of crafting a tale and generating ideas, rather than stressing out about publishing and everything that goes with it. We have to work at our own pace, and allow our stories to take shape in their own time.
Have a wonderful week!
DOn't think of it as being lazy! It's recharging those brain cells. Thanks for putting me on to Jody's post--great thoughts there.
ReplyDeleteAs for comparing word counts--I look seasick sometimes after running around to some of these ROW80 posts. I start to think that I write too slow, that I'll never . . . blah! So I try to fight the comparison in its tracks!
Hope you have a lovely week!
Nancy
Great advice! I've been thinking along those lines lately so I could give my first ms time to air out before I jump back into further editing.
ReplyDelete@Staci - yeah for laziness. Always need to be so every now and then.
ReplyDelete@Ruth - so true.
@Jamila and Belle - recharging is good. :)
@shannon - thanks for stopping by.