Monday, February 12, 2018

Make Something Happen

One of my big goals this year is to take my horror novella/novel as far as I can then move to the next step . . . whatever that is. Is it sending it to beta readers? Is it hiring a professional editor? Is it querying agents? I don't know. And right now, that's okay.

What I do know is that I have to Write. This. Book.

I'm tired of not writing it.

I'm tired of whining about not writing it (as are my husband and the tortoises!)

I'm tired of complaining, crying, envying, moping.

I'm tired of watching time tick by, taking my dreams with it.

So, I am heeding these words -


"YOUR CAREER IS IN YOUR HANDS NOW.
MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN."
(Janet Reid)


*****

How's your writing career going? Are you in the process of making something happen? And what does that "something" look like for you? Is it getting a novel written, going to a conference, learning a new marketing/publishing/social media tool? 

28 comments:

  1. Sounds like we both need to make time to just write the story.

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    1. I've got the time. It's the confidence and energy that's holding me back.

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  2. I was feeling this exact thing last year. I'm not sure what happened, but I suddenly had energy around my project and finally finished a complete draft. You'll find your mojo too, when the time is right.

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    1. I'm glad you found your energy and got that draft done! Maybe send some my way, when you get a chance? But only if you can spare it! :)

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  3. If I can't move, I plan. And if I can't plan, I must be dead. :)

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  4. I need to do the same thing! Here's to hoping it's a productive week for all of us.

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    1. You, Christine, are already one of the most productive people I know. :)

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  5. Good for you. I'm trying to make something happen every day. Doesn't always work, but I'm tryinig.

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    1. According to your most recent post, you are doing awesome - accomplishing things all over the place. :)

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  6. I may move into the world of self-publishing soon. Nothing like trying new adventures. As for the current wip, I'm also not getting it done and mostly complaining at myself for not getting it done. Thank goodness I'm forced to submit new work to my critique group or I'd never make any progress.

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    1. If anyone is up for a new adventure, it's you. :)

      Sometimes it's easier to actually do the thing than to keep complaining about not doing the thing.

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  7. You go, girl!

    I started off strong this year, but it's been derailed by my brother's death. Hopefully, once I get all his affairs in order, I can get back on track because I would really like to get this YA I'm working on finish and I'm almost there, but I'm exhausted from dealing with people. I'm too introverted for that! ^^;;

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    1. Please don't put too much pressure on yourself! Take it easy and do what you can, with writing and with everything. Hang in there!

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  8. I often (much too often, really) get caught up in the nuts and bolts of it all and allow myself to get bogged down to the point to lethargy and depression. Then I have to remind myself to write like no one will ever read it and enjoy. Worry about the nuts and bolts later.

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    1. I think that's a big part of what's happening to me. I'm trying so hard to get the foundation - and other nuts and bolts - as solid and tight as possible before I start writing. It's a great attitude...until those perfectionist tendencies take over....

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  9. I don't think I have a writing "career" considering I'm so slow to produce anything. But I feel you on the not making anything happen. Life likes to crowd in on us.

    Here's to making something happen this year!

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  10. Yep, that is the most important thing - getting it written. Sometimes all the variables to do with publication and querying can be a distraction - hopefully you can push them to the side until the time comes to worry about them!

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    1. I'm doing a pretty good job not worrying about the next step. I just really need to get the first step - writing it! - done. :)

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  11. You've got this! Just sit down and write. No excuses, no distractions. Just sit down somewhere all by yourself and get those words down on paper. (Or computer. I have to write on paper first... I think better that way.)

    The rewriting of my current book is going well. I decided to change one character's name, so I have to be sure it's changed throughout the entire book. Another character, I'm attempting to make more likable, so he's seen as tragic as opposed to disgusting. And I'm cutting, cutting, cutting to shorten the book a bit. Piece of cake, right? HA! Since this is only the first book of a trilogy, (and perhaps a prequel) I sometimes get a little discouraged. I'm no spring chicken, so I worry that I won't live long enough to finish it. Then I figure, so what? At least I can try.

    Have a super weekend!

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    1. No excuses! Yes!

      I don't know why this made me laugh but it did - "...so he's seen as tragic as opposed to disgusting." :)

      My husband always tells me that even if I don't have the success I want/envision, I should take pride in the fact that I spent my life going after a dream, doing something I'm passionate about.

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  12. I love Janet Reid, she has the best advice. I'm currently procrastinating on the start of something new - it's in my head, I'm just not getting it down on paper. So, I'm with you every step of the way! So, what does a fed up tortoise look like, anyway ;-)?

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    1. Let that idea keep simmering, Annalisa....

      It might be hard to believe but the tortoises - Larry especially - can look mighty grumpy when the mood strikes them.

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  13. I'm in the process of managing total chaos right now. Wrapping up a career, nursing hubs through recent unexpected surgery, in the middle of remoding (which I would never have started had his surgery been planned). I make plans and Life laughs. But still scribbling bits and pieces as they come to me. For this, too, shall pass, and in six weeks? We're going to do this!

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  14. This has been a wonderful year for me so far, but I'm behind with my "new words" goals. As it turned out, rewriting two books took much longer than I thought, swallowing January and most of February. Hoping I can catch up in March.

    As for your "whining," if you can't whine to your tortoises, what's this world coming to?

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    1. If anyone can catch up - and move ahead! - it's you. No doubt here!

      Hmm, the tortoise might disagree. They could use a break.

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