In today’s Journal
* Just Rambling
* On the other hand
* The Numbers
Just Rambling
I’m constantly amazed by other “professional” writers, and all too often in a negative way. That sense of amazement makes me feel really blessed that I have my particular attitude and personality.
I’m glad I can actually achieve and not simply talk about achieving. I’m glad, as a writer, I understand that actually writing is a thousand times better and more fun than talking about writing or the dreaded “deciding to be more proactive and assertive about writing.”
I know a lot of people believe in affirmations, and that’s fine. But I can’t personally imagine them working unless they’re followed with action. Without action, an affirmation is just a feel-good exercise. Maybe it makes a writer feel as if she’s accomplished something without having actually accomplished anything. That doesn’t compute in my mind, but whatever helps you sleep at night, I suppose.
Repeating an affirmation without following up with action gives me the mental image of someone attempting to race across an ice rink in street shoes when the real skaters are wearing Easy-Glide skates.
I also know I should be more understanding of those who are more comfortable with talking about what they would like to do than actually doing it. But I can’t. I’m incapable of understanding that mental process. To me, if you want to do something and you’re physically capable of doing it, then the Nike ad kicks in and you just do it.
Anyway….
I’m not talking about new writers who are at least struggling to let go of the myths and trust themselves. That was me a short 6 years ago.
Those writers actually energize me because I know they have a future, if only they will break through the final lack-of-self-trust veneer and grab it. If anything, those writers make me wish I was just at the beginning of this wonderful journey again. Everything back then was new and exciting.
I’m talking about those who call themselves professional writers but really aren’t. I read a post from one of those this morning, who felt an “at least” accomplishment: At least she “did manage to finish major revisions to a novel.” What a terrible, depressing thought that is. I wish her a better 2021. One in which she does instead of dreams.
Meanwhile, over here at the Stanbrough Hovel, I’ve felt a sense of time slipping away because I’ve chosen to recast roughly half a novel. If I’d chanced upon the new twist I took off with in the recast when I wrote Book 4 the first time, I’d at least be close to finishing Book 5 by now.
By choosing to recast Book 4, I’ve created my own setback. And even that has me feeling as if time’s slipping away. I can’t begin to imagine how I’d feel if I felt a need to write, then rewrite, then submit work to a critique group, then polish, then whatever comes next. Especially after taking a year or two or three to write the novel in the first place.
The more posts I read from “professional writers” on various sites, the more alone I feel. But I feel more accomplished too, and fortunate that I am the way I am. Or maybe that I have the attitude I have. Or something.
It’s all a matter of personality, I guess. For example, I was severely disappointed that I allowed myself to lose almost 5 months last year. I still wonder what I could have gotten done during that time had I only put my fingers on the keyboard and allowed the stories to come out. It still bothers me a little.
I have to consciously remind myself that 5 months is in the past and there’s nothing I can do about it in the here and now except try to learn from it and not let anything like that happen again.
On the other hand, I know several good (real) professional who occasionally post something that helps others if only they’ll read and listen.
I check almost every day to see whether Joe Konrath has returned yet. He hasn’t. But if you haven’t seen it before, you might want to stop by and see his “Six Things Writers Need To Stop Worrying About” (see below).
I also checked for a new post from Neil Gaiman, who actually has returned. I’ve linked to an extremely valuable Gaiman post below.
Anyway, I’ll shut up now and get this posted so you can see the good stuff in “Of Interest.” That’s the main reason I posted today anyway.
Another good day for me yesterday, but you can see that in the Numbers section below.
Talk with you again soon.
Of Interest
See “A New Year’s Thoughts, and the old ones gathered” at https://journal.neilgaiman.com/2020/12/a-new-years-thoughts-and-old-ones.html.
See “Six Things Writers Need To Stop Worrying About” at http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2019/07/five-things-writers-need-to-stop.html.
See “28 Themed Calls for Submissions” at https://www.authorspublish.com/28-themed-submission-calls-for-january-2021/.
See “Heating Up” at https://mystorydoctor.com/david-farlands-writing-tips-heating-up/. I don’t always agree with everything I post.
The Numbers
The Journal…………………………………… 850 words
Recasting of The Journey Home: Part 4
Words brought fwd (before the death)………… 24256
Day 1…… 1735 words. Total words to date…… 25991
Day 2…… 3282 words. Total words to date…… 29273
Day 3…… 4916 words. Total words to date…… 34189
Day 4…… 4687 words. Total words to date…… 38876
Writing of The Journey Home: Part 5 (novel)
Day 1…… 4179 words. Total words to date…… 4179
Day 2…… 4825 words. Total words to date…… 9004
Day 3…… 2746 words. Total words to date…… 11750
Day 4…… 4032 words. Total words to date…… 15782
Day 5…… 2873 words. Total words to date…… 18655
Total fiction words for January……… 14620
Total fiction words for the year………… 14620
Total nonfiction words for December… 3870
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 3870
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 18490
Calendar Year 2021 Novels to Date…………………… X
Calendar Year 2021 Novellas to Date……………… X
Calendar Year 2021 Short Stories to Date… X
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………………………………… 54
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)………………………………… 8
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)………………… 214
Short story collections……………………………………………… 31