Lately, I get asked, “Hey how’s your book going?” Or, “Written anything lately?” On one level I appreciate it because it’s really nice of them to ask. They are showing an interest in something that I care about and that is really generous of them. On the other hand, having to answer that question over and over is getting really tiring.
The other thing is that it is often the same people asking me each week. So I feel a pressure to give them a different answer than the last one despite the fact that usually all a writer does is write. It’s the same activity over and over. I feel like that if I can’t give an answer that shows progress I will disappoint them and/or I feel like a failure. That is a separate issue. Progress and failure. What everybody wants and avoids respectively. Some things just can’t be measured in a linear way and that is especially true of writing and living. We age linearly, but we not mature linearly. Growing as person, character, integrity, and all of that stuff is a choice that is followed by action and not everyone goes for it.
I am making progress, lots of it, just not in a way that is easily explained to a non-writer. So when I give them the same answer this week I will just have to know for myself that I am not a failure. Actually I am on the verge of great change and break through. The more I write the more I improve, I can’t mess this up. If I can convey my excitement then maybe I will distract from the stock phrase, “It’s going great!”
Editing and rewriting is a very slow process. I love rewriting because it allows me to be very intentional about my choices now that I know the story in full. However, for any writer that likes to get a sense of achievement from their increasing word count, rewriting will be a huge hurdle. This week I haven’t actually written anything. I have two scenes printed out that I carry around and contemplate in those in between moments like while riding the train and trying to go to sleep. Mulling is a vital part of my writing process, but it does not involve any writing. In four to six weeks it will hit me and the re-writing will begin again.
For now, in case anyone asks: I am working on my sixth draft and I hope to have it ready for submission soon. Thank you for asking.
The other thing is that it is often the same people asking me each week. So I feel a pressure to give them a different answer than the last one despite the fact that usually all a writer does is write. It’s the same activity over and over. I feel like that if I can’t give an answer that shows progress I will disappoint them and/or I feel like a failure. That is a separate issue. Progress and failure. What everybody wants and avoids respectively. Some things just can’t be measured in a linear way and that is especially true of writing and living. We age linearly, but we not mature linearly. Growing as person, character, integrity, and all of that stuff is a choice that is followed by action and not everyone goes for it.
I am making progress, lots of it, just not in a way that is easily explained to a non-writer. So when I give them the same answer this week I will just have to know for myself that I am not a failure. Actually I am on the verge of great change and break through. The more I write the more I improve, I can’t mess this up. If I can convey my excitement then maybe I will distract from the stock phrase, “It’s going great!”
Editing and rewriting is a very slow process. I love rewriting because it allows me to be very intentional about my choices now that I know the story in full. However, for any writer that likes to get a sense of achievement from their increasing word count, rewriting will be a huge hurdle. This week I haven’t actually written anything. I have two scenes printed out that I carry around and contemplate in those in between moments like while riding the train and trying to go to sleep. Mulling is a vital part of my writing process, but it does not involve any writing. In four to six weeks it will hit me and the re-writing will begin again.
For now, in case anyone asks: I am working on my sixth draft and I hope to have it ready for submission soon. Thank you for asking.
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