For those who follow my Twitter/Facebook updates, you know that I’ve had trouble getting back into my novel. Due to severe morning sickness and general lack of motivation, I have barely touched my novel since last December. Add to that a healthy dose of guilt because I’m not working and let’s just say I haven’t been in a good place when it comes to writing and anything writing related.
By some miracle, though, this past week and a half I’ve had a strong desire to write. Something. Anything. Hence the increase in blog post frequency (aren’t you the lucky ones?). However, a couple of days ago, that ambition became more focused. Work on your novel. Still, every time I even pull it out and look at it, I feel totally lost. Like the time away has distanced me too much from the novel to move on. So what do I do now?
I chatted with a friend online and she tried to encourage me and help me draw up some kind of plan…but I still wasn’t feeling it. I didn’t know these characters anymore. I remembered there was a lot I wanted to change about the plot, but couldn’t recall exactly what. I began to feel that familiar sense of defeat.
Then I ran across this quote on a friend’s Facebook update:
“Successful people pull dreams from the sky, put work clothes on them and call them Goals.” –Dave Ramsey
For some reason, after reading that quote, everything snapped into place. My motivation, a plan, and a reason to keep at it. The quote itself didn’t seem to have a lot to do with my situation, I still don’t think it does. What stuck out to me was the fact that dreams take work. Not that I didn’t already know that, but I think I needed that reminder. Writing is not an easy pursuit. Like an unused muscle, I can’t expect to jump back in and be able to just go like I did before. I have to build up to it. Work at it.
I’ve decided to print out what I have of my novel and do a good read through. If at the end I feel inspired enough to finish the last 20-25K, I’ll do that. If all the stuff I want to change still weighs heavy on my mind, I might just have to go back and fix the novel first. Ready or not…here I go!
That is a great quote. Yay for writing motivation!
ReplyDeleteIt kind of reminds me about some comments Mur Lafferty made on her podcast, I Should Be Writing. She had a couple about wearing pants, sort of a metaphor, and the work clothes part of the quotation reminds me of that.
Writing is like a dream taken from the sky. But one that still requires a lot of work, and clothing can affect a person's attitude. I had a roommate once who would dress up whenever she was feeling down or upset. It always made her feel better. Putting on work clothes, so to speak, can put a person in the right mindset, more so than pajamas.
Great post and good luck to you with the novel.
Ralene, do you remember when somebody reads your writing and finds things you never thought of? Now that you have forgotten everything start by reading, have a pencil handy, or attach notes to your file, and make notes as you go. Re-write if you must, and go, go, go :)
ReplyDeleteReminds me of one of my favorite quotes, "A goal is a dream with a deadline."
ReplyDeleteI can relate with what you're saying. I tried to work on one of my chapters recently, but it's been a while I didn't work on this particular novel. It's hard to get back into it. Funny how I always think I'm the only one going through these things, and then I discover everyone else does as well. LOL
That's a very good point, Dawn, about the psychological aspect of our "clothes". Miguel, that's exactly what I was thinking. Notes galore! lol... Yes, Annie, we are part of the crazy crowd. :) hehehe...
ReplyDeleteOh goodness, girl, you sound like me! I took too long away from my novel while editing and now I have no desire to get started again. Like you, there are things to fix and I'm not sure I can. Lots of defeat!!
ReplyDeleteBut I think I'm just going to start something new and then later...maybe...I will go back to the first one. :)
Good luck to you!
oh girl. I hear ya. you'll get it back!
ReplyDelete