Today is the first day of summer. Although it's gray and drizzly, it's supposed to clear up this afternoon.This is a picture of the Halifax waterfront that comes alive with people and events in the summer. It's almost like we live in a beach resort for two months of the year.
I find it tough to write in the summer with the girls off of school and crazy schedules with their part time jobs. I'll be up early in the mornings to get the writing completed before the day gets away from me. I'm determined to finish the current MS and get a proposal off by the end of the summer. And start my next one.
Right now I'm writing the 3rd quarter of the book, after the big turning point in the middle but before the black moment to come. My hero and heroine are falling in love although they haven't acknowledged their feelings yet. I still need to maintain the tension, the feeling that the other shoe is about to drop. That's a balancing act I'm struggling with. The more I write, the more I realize I still have so much to learn.
I've had a few writing friends experience great success over the past couple of months. I'm happy and inspired by their sales but a part of me wonders why I'm sitting on the sidelines watching them reach for their goals while I let things slide rather than tackling my dreams with single minded determination.
Too much self-analysis for a Monday morning?
13 comments:
Too much self-analysis? Eff knows! But you know what i reckon some things are out of our hands. You work hard and make the time to write, don't beat yourself up!
x
Rach!
LOL> Thanks Rachael. I usually don't compare myself because I know it just makes me crazy.
I think it becomes a balance between how much do you want it and how afraid are you of not getting it. The latter can have a detrimental effect on production. Or so I've found.
Move forward at the pace you're comfortable with. Set a daily goal you can make and stick to it. That's been helping me.
Halifax looks gorgous. It must be really hard to concentrate on work. And summers in our latitude are short enough as it is.
Write on!
I have issues in the summer months, too, Anne - inside at a computer when the sun is shining and the deck chair is calling?
You're philosophical question is one I struggle with almost daily. And I like to think Cat's comment speaks volume - with the cavaet that sometimes it's not how afraid you are of NOT getting it, but how afraid are you OF getting it. Does that make sense?
You are moving forward - your time will come - and you'll be ready :)
Cat, I've set a daily word count. I think my fear of failure, of not being good enough, is the voice in my head that holds me back.
And yes, when the sun is shining I just want to go for a walk on the waterfront or the beach. Then sit at an outside cafe and people watch.
Thanks Janet. I often say that I will never quit and they'll have to pry my MS out of my cold dead hands. But every once in awhile the doubts set in and I wonder why I do this to myself.
I had the same reaction but if nothing else it made me refocus and now I'm more determined than ever. I want some of that success too!
Anne - I think that is that dreaded nag called 'self-doubt', or her evil twin, 'self-sabotage'. Just keep your eyes on the prize, and knowing that you have more to learn is only a stroke in your favour, IMO. It makes you look critically at your own work, and want to improve. Just don't get so critical you stop altogether. Don't compare. Turn it around and think, why am I walking around, healthy, with a roof over my head and a decent life? Why you and not someone else? All of a sudden, you're one lucky girl, with the world of possibilities ahead of you.
Chance has something to do with it, so does fate. But the choices you make - to continue writing - are so important. Don't stop writing.
Kelly, I know your time is coming. Some days, it just feels like a long time getting here, doesn't it?
Michelle, I always tell my daughters that they won the lottery just by being born in this country.
When it comes to writing I feel time passing and I get impatient with myself for not using it more wisely.
I know the feeling, Anne. I've been very short on motivation lately, but I'm determined to finish my children's book this summer. 30k in two months isn't asking too much is it? But I want to spend a lot of time outside with my garden and my puppy dogs too.
Jenny, I think 30,000 is doable in two months. Maybe get up early to get the writing in before the day starts?
I'm using the summer to get some serious stuff done, too, Anne. Enough of this blogging already!
PS - It's okay, blog - I'm only kidding...
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