The Pyrenees---Southern France

The Pyrenees---Southern France

Friday, June 27, 2014

I've Broken It, Baby!

          10,000 words might not seem like a lot, especially when a couple of months ago, I had 84,000.
      
           However, it is a lot when I started again from 0.


           This morning I worked on a longer project that I've been plagued by for the past two years. I'd gotten to 7,000 something after working on it--now and then--for the past month or so. After a few solid hours, I'd broken the 10,000 word barrier, baby!


           Writing is part talent but it's an equal part (or an even greater part) persistence. There are countless people who have a gift for writing, and yet they don't persist with it. They don't sit their butt in chair (BIC) and just write.


           I'm trying to prod/encourage/cajole/beg my WWWP writing critique group members to work on their big projects. (Warning to the WWWPs: I've got an electric cattle prod and I'm not afraid to use it.) Each woman has a "biggie" they're working on. Two of them have incredible YA manuscripts in progress. One has an adult novel they're working on (not that kind of adult novel--get your mind out of the gutter). One has a memoir that's touching and rollicking.


        Be persistent with whatever you're working on. Don't give up. Think of how you eat a T-bone or a cheeseburger or a tuna steak. You don't shove it all into your mouth at once--you eat it one bite at a time.




       Be persistent, one bite or one step or one word at a time...



20 comments:

  1. Good and true post today! Love your attitude. I would really like to sit in on your critique group someday...it is on my bucket list!~!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Claudia--Don't you think that once you reach a certain age, your attitude shifts and you're thinking more realistically, more reasonably?

      Thanks. As the turtle and the hare story points out, "slow and steady wins the race."

      Delete
  2. Replies
    1. Val--Yes, and the prod is headed your way, so tape your cheeks together to get writin'.

      Delete
  3. Good for you getting so many words down! I have a complete ms. I should share an excerpt with you all. Maybe next time.

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    Replies
    1. Linda--Well, after seeing Tammy's comment, I see I should have worded that differently, so I added a couple of lines.

      Your memoir is complete? Or is this another manuscript we know nothing about? You'll have to tell us about it on Wednesday.

      Delete
  4. Hooray! That is awesome! I'm so proud of you!

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    Replies
    1. Pat--I am sure you have SEVERAL stories in you--memoirs about your travels, along with stories about your spinning and knitting work. As you sit down at your spinning wheel, couldn't you conjure up some historical fiction?

      Think about it...

      Delete
  5. Are you saying you wrote 10,000 words IN ONE DAY?? I would need a cattle prod after that just to wake my rear end up! Seriously, you amaze me, and that alone is inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tammy--Whoopsy. I realize that what I wrote made it sound like that. There is no way I could ever write that many words in one day. I started the day with 7,000 something (which took me a month or more) and added to that to make the 10,000.

      Sorry for the mix-up.

      Delete
    2. Ohhh...gotcha. I'm still impressed at all you accomplish. You are awesome.

      Delete
  6. Yes, but I don't count the bites!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That works for you, because you're a voracious "eater" (writer) every day.

      Delete
  7. Kristen Lamb wrote a great article last year about the 5% -- what it boils down to is that you start out with a kajillion people who start writing books and by the time it narrows down only 5% every complete one. It DOES take persistence. Writing is hard work. But so worth it when all the pieces come together.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Persistence IS what makes the difference. And you're right. When the parts come together, it feels so satisfying.

      Delete
  8. Sounds like good advice! Right now, family (and wedding planning!) takes precedence for me, but I'll try to remember the cattle prod when autumn and hopefully calmer days arrive.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dianna--I don't think you need me to point my cattle prod in your direction. You're driven as a writer AND as an editor and a publisher.

      Have fun with your wedding planning. Enjoy it.

      Delete
  9. You are so right. I have 3 NaNo manuscripts that have been sitting forever. My problem is I don't do well with working on multiple pieces and am addicted to instant gratification. I focus on essays and short stories and figure "someday" I'll put other things aside to work on the big Kahuna. (BTW, I define "Someday" as when I become the multi-millionaire size six 29th wife of the Sultan of Baghdad).

    Pat
    Critter Alley

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat--I'm not interested in becoming a Sultan's wife. I'm setting my sights on Viggo Mortensen. However, I WOULD like to be six 6 (you can even double that, and I'd be happy.)

      How about doing NaNo this year, but work on revising one of the past NaNos? (I've been inspired to decide to do NaNo with my 3rd graders this year. I am REALLY excited.)

      I, too, go for the more instant gratification--Chicken and Soup and NYMB--but I am trying to carve out some time, here and there, to work on my longer piece. I'm not always successful, but I'm trying...

      Delete
  10. Just wish I were in your group! Enjoyed your post. Vickie

    ReplyDelete

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