The Journal: Boredom and the Power of I Am

In today’s Journal

* Quote of the Day
* Topic: Boredom and the Power of I Am
* Today
* Of Interest
* The Numbers

“[B]oredom comes when a reader anticipates (even subconsciously) what will happen next—and then it does.” James Scott Bell

Know how to beat boredom for your reader? Don’t plan. Just write.

Topic: Boredom and the Power of I Am

Even if you’re a non-believer, the bible and other religious texts hold important lessons for everybody. There’s much wisdom there.

In my humble opinion, the most important is the concept of I AM.

I Am is the strongest, most positive force in existence.

“I want to” and even “I will” are weak and distant secondary also-rans. They at least carry possibilities, but those possibilities exist only in an undetermined future. If you don’t believe me, the next time you hear someone say one of those things, ask, “When?” Chances are, the response will be “Tomorrow” (which as we all know, never comes) or worse “Someday.”

But “I wish,” “I hope,” “I can,” and “I might” aren’t even in the same constellation. They carry only the illusion of possibilities. They are a before-the-fact acceptance of failure.

What does this have to do with writing?

I constantly hear “I want to write a short story” or “I want to write a novel.”

Every time, the first thought in my mind is, “Then why don’t you?” As Nike says, Just Do It.

How much stronger is “I Am writing a short story” or “I Am writing a novel”?

But back to the problem of “I Want To”: Of course, critical mind moves in.

If I heard “I Want To” and actually ask, “Then why aren’t you?” the answers are always the same. And they all start with, “Well, ‘I will’ (see above), but first I have to [fill in the blank*].”

I have To *outline, research, come up with an idea, go to the store, feed the dog, get another cup of coffee, etc. etc. ad nauseam, including study or learn how to [again, fill in the blank**].

I Have To Study or Learn How To **develop characters, plot, outline, write hooks, write openings, add suspense, add tension, meet reader expectations, identify my audience, develop my voice, again etc. etc. ad nauseam.

If you want to write a short story or novel, the only thing you need to do is beat the application problem I mentioned in this Journal yesterday. If you haven’t read that topic, I urge you to do so. If you have, you know the application problem I’m talking about.

At the end of the day, either I Am a writer or I’m not. And if I’m not, that’s perfectly fine.

Because I learned this lesson a long time ago:

1. Stick your hand into a 5-gallon bucket of water. With your other hand, mark the level of the water.

2. Pull your hand out. Mark the level again.

3. That’s how much people will miss my fiction if I suddenly stop writing.

There is no middle ground, and there are no buts. “I wish,” “I hope,” “I can,” “I might” and even “I want to” and “I will” simply don’t matter.

I Am or I am not.

Today I spent the first five hours of the day in several pursuits: corresponding with a mentoring student, feeding the babies, checking the web for items for “Of Interest” and writing the stuff above. I also screwed off for awhile.

To the novel for the first session at 6.

Talk with you again soon.

Of Interest

See “WWYWTR – Story Tense” at https://prowriterswriting.com/wwywtr-story-tense/.

See “The Authors Guild Rehashes Bogus Author Income Survey as a ‘New’ Report” at https://www.thepassivevoice.com/the-authors-guild-rehashes-bogus-author-income-survey-as-a-new-report/.

See “Have Shocking Coffee With Your Lead Character” at https://killzoneblog.com/2020/02/have-shocking-coffee-with-your-lead-character.html in case it resonates with you. In response to his question at the end of the post, my characters surprise me every time I sit down to write.

See “A Detailed Review of Vellum’s Book Formatting Software” at https://kindlepreneur.com/vellum-software-review/.

See “Stop the Monkey Mindset (for writers)” at http://happyselfpublisher.com/stop-the-monkey-mindset-for-writers/.

See “Self-Publishing: Carnival of the Indies Issue #113” at https://www.thebookdesigner.com/2020/02/self-publishing-carnival-of-the-indies-issue-113/. Note: I do not recommend much of what the listed articles recommend. Submitted for your leisurely perusal.

The Numbers

Fiction words today…………………… 3030
Nonfiction words today…………… 700 (Journal)

Writing of The Three-Year Turn (novel)

Day 11… 3442 words. Total words to date…… 36545
Day 12… 2278 words. Total words to date…… 38823
Day 13… 1677 words. Total words to date…… 40500
Day 14… 3030 words. Total words to date…… 43530

Total fiction words for the month……… 56385
Total fiction words for the year………… 121929
Total nonfiction words for the month… 19240
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 50500
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 168699

Calendar Year 2020 Novels to Date…………………… 2
Calendar Year 2020 Novellas to Date……………… X
Calendar Year 2020 Short Stories to Date… 5
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………………………………… 47
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)………………………………… 8
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)………………… 201
Short story collections……………………………………………… 31