A YEAR FROM NOW
YOU WILL WISH
YOU HAD STARTED
TODAY.
(Karen Lamb)
I've been talking a lot lately about getting back to my WiP - the horror manuscript that will not die. Or live. Or do whatever it's supposed to do. I don't know anymore.
I've mentioned getting back to doing collage work. To riding my bike again. To de-cluttering my house. To pretending I'm a tourist in my own town.
As of this writing, I have done exactly none of those things. None.
And why? No reason. Oh, wait. Yes, there's this - The project is overwhelming. And this - I don't know where to start. And these - I'm tired. It's hot. I'm lazy. I'd rather watch Game of Thrones because now I'm addicted to it in almost the same way I'm addicted to The Walking Dead.
So what are you not doing? And why?
Let's pick something and start today. Even if it's the smallest step imaginable, let's take it. Come on, we'll do it together. Ready… Set… Go!
*****
And in the spirit of starting something, I'm taking a blogging break this week. I'll be around but not as much. I've got writing to do, art to create, places to go….
And so do you. Get going!
Perhaps an epiphany would occur as to where to start while you're on one of those bike rides :) ya never know. Oh and I LOVE Game of Thrones. I have been DVR-ing this season and I cannot wait to catch up. I am going to wait until after the season finale and then watch it binge-style. I always have to be careful to avoid spoilers though!
ReplyDeleteOh, I would love an epiphany right about now. :)
DeleteMy husband and I just started Season 1 of GoT so we're way behind but I sense a marathon coming on for this upcoming weekend…. :)
Don't let it overwhelm you. Just start on one of those things.
ReplyDeleteI've not done as much work on my manuscript as I would like this month. Time to change that.
Okay, Alex - we'll both get going on those manuscripts. :)
DeleteHave a great week, rest, create, go on bike rides, live and have fun! Things won't seem so daunting when you get back to your wip. And enjoy GOT, we're totally hooked on that series too. See you when you get back. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not quite sure I remember how to have fun. Or how to be creative. Or how to ride my bike. But I'm going to give it all a good try and hopefully I'll remember! :)
DeleteHi Madeline! Apparently the thing I've been neglecting is blogging...maybe I should be better at that. :)
ReplyDeleteI know how frustrating it can be to have goals and hopes and not see them come to fruition. Don't be too hard on yourself. We all have those days, weeks, months...Just get crackin'! Good luck this week!
Thanks, Kristin. And good luck with getting back to blogging. :)
DeleteI'd rather watch Game of Thrones than do most anything else, too. It just makes sense, really.
ReplyDeleteAnd I was just about to go for a run/walk, even though it's gray and cold outside today. But maybe I'll stay in and watch Game of Thrones instead...
Enjoy your blogging break!
I'm really not trying to be a bad influence….
DeleteMy mom has a saying: "The best time to plant an oak tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now." I find that applies to many areas of life. It's never too late!
ReplyDeleteLove that saying! Your mom is a wise woman. :)
DeleteI was putting off checking the balance on my credit card. Yikes! Just did it.
ReplyDeleteGood for you, Jay. At least now you know what you're facing, right?
DeleteYou caught me. I have good intentions each day but....
ReplyDeleteWelcome to my world, Susan….
DeleteThe writing is never hard for me to get back to, but it's the editing that is overwhelming--that I often put off. I know how huge it is and just don't want to jump in.
ReplyDeleteIt's not so much the writing for me but the organizing of all my thoughts and ideas and notes. I end up throwing them all into the air and walking out of the room. Sigh.
DeleteSometimes I end up not doing the things I want to because I think of everything I want to do and it's so overwhelming and I have no idea where to start. Stepping back and picking one thing and focusing on that usually helps me get going.
ReplyDeleteThat's how it feels for me sometimes, too. I'm hoping this will be a week of focusing...and some fun, too. :)
DeleteEnjoy your steps forward, wherever they lead you!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Liza!
DeleteI love that quote.
ReplyDeleteLittle steps is all we can do. And if we do, then not only are most things possible, but we're moving forward.
And moving forward is usually better than standing still, frozen, paralyzed, overwhelmed. :)
DeleteI love that quote too!
ReplyDeleteWhat am I not doing? I am not doing my coursework. I should be doing it, but I keep making excuses - I don't have enough time to settle down to it, I need to take the puppy for a walk, I really should clean while the puppy is in his cage rather than waste that time doing coursework... Oh it's a never ending list.
I really love your plan to be a tourist in your home town. On my sister's birthday a couple of years ago, I took her to lunch and we ended up in a museum in an Elizabethan house.
My husband always reminds me that we live in a place where people actually pay to come and visit, to go on vacation. We should definitely make more of our time and our town. :)
DeleteHey lady! You stole my list of things I should, but don't do. Lately, I've been too lazy to even make the list of things I need to do. How sad is that?
ReplyDeleteYou live at the beach, right? You should definitely be there. I get to go to the beach in three weeks. I am so ready!!
Well, making the list could be your first step. :)
DeleteWe live about fifteen, twenty minutes from the beach and we definitely don't make enough of an effort to get there as often as we'd like. How sad is that?!
Very sad. LOL. Twenty minutes away would be perfect...far fewer of us tourists getting in your way!
DeleteCaught up with GoT just before the new season. We couldn't get HBO for a while. As for procrastination, that lovely word, I have been putting off cleaning out my closet. I did the floor and threw out 20 years of shoes but now I need to hit the clothes. I'd rather be writing! Glad to know I have a sister-in-habit here!
ReplyDeleteHey, tackling the floor and shoes is great! You can do the clothes - come on, one handful at a time. :)
DeleteI love this--what I'm NOT doing is painting, which I totally should because we're in the middle of fixing up our house. But I'm blogging instead, and then I will be revising this afternoon. So take that, painting! :-p
ReplyDeleteAnd good luck getting to that
Take that painting is right! You're doing the more important thing - writing work. :)
DeleteI really needed to see this post for many reasons, but thanks for this motivational post!
ReplyDeletewww.modernworld4.blogspot.com
You're very welcome, Gina. :)
DeleteOh yes, I hear the I'm tired, hot, lazy, wanna read or whatever. I have made inroads on getting the outside projects done--I just tackle a little bit everyday. I have a list of writing projects I haven't gotten to, declutter projects inside that have a few things ticked off but not all. Work in progress with the emphasis on work (doing). :-)
ReplyDeleteSia McKye Over Coffee
Making inroads and checking a few things off the list are great steps. Keep at them! :)
DeleteWell, if that isn't motivating, I don't know what is! I better get writing.... :)
ReplyDeleteGet going.... :)
DeleteThat quote is exactly what keeps me going with my schooling! And it's just what I needed to keep me going with my writing! Love it!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear it! :)
DeleteAh! No! You have to write your horror story. It's going to be epic and my goodness, you deal with psychological thrills so powerfully... If you need a cheerleader, I'll totally break out the pompoms. I can even paint a Game of Thrones logo on my shirt to help keep you focused. ;)
ReplyDeleteAw, thanks so much, Crystal! I really appreciate that. :)
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI am visiting your website for the first time. I read your guest post by Debi and found it absolutely fantastic and decided to buy your book over Amazon.
As for getting back to your writing, the only thing I can recommend is to just sit there and start, even when you don't want to. The rhythm will come.
Good luck.
Shalom,
Patricia
Patricia, thank you so much! I hope you enjoy the book. :)
DeleteEven small steps in the right direction are progress. I get overwhelmed by novel edits, but if I give myself bite-sized chunks each day (10 pages per sitting), I'll reach my goal.
ReplyDeleteGood plan, Milo. I have no doubt you'll reach your goal. :)
DeleteHi Madeline, it's me again! :)
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to drop by and let you know I nominated you for a Liebster Award! Check out my blog for details regarding this award, and you can choose whether or not you wish to accept it. I loved following you through A to Z, and I hope you'll accept it! :)
Thank you! I'll come over and check it out in the next day or so. :)
DeleteSometimes a blogging break is all we need to refocus. Hope this week was productive for you! There's always room for another good horror story. If you don't do it, it will haunt your dreams. ;)
ReplyDeleteThe break did do me some good...I think. :)
Delete