You made it through the first week!
Most of you.
If you were able to write at least 15 minutes a day for the last week then HUZZAH!! What (if anything) felt different about this past week’s writing?
If you stumbled, then I will pat the back of your hand, brew you a cup of tea and murmur soothing sounds. It’s OK. I understand. That’s why we do this project in the first place, because we all fumble and stumble a lot when it comes to our writing.
If you don’t want to be soothed and find yourself wishing I was more of a drill sergeant, then brace yourself. The following paragraph is for you and you only:
Stop whining and write. Get off your ass and write. Turn off the television and write. Take all the time you use to complain about not-writing and write. Just do the damn thing already!
(I don’t like yelling. Can I stop now, please? And I have the overwhelming urge to make you some tea. Do you take sugar or honey?)
In the Comments yesterday, Jeni asked “Do you ever revise one project and work on a new one at the same time?”
I always have at least two projects going, often more. There is always the Number One Priority Project, but I find it’s helpful to be doing research or scribbling notes on something different at the same time. Jane Yolen once told me she always has many projects going at once and she doesn’t decide what she’s going to work on until she sits down at her desk in the morning and figures out what kind of mood she’s in.
And then there is the difference between writer-projects and author-projects. Right now these are my writer-projects:
- Draft of new YA
- Research for next historical
- Research for next non-fiction picture book
- Notes for next series book
- play with ideas for fictional picture book
These are my author projects:
- Continue generating new website content
- Prepare presentations for book tour
- Daily blogging for WFMAD
Pretty much every author I know could generate a similar list, if you asked them.
Ready…
“First, find out what your hero wants, then just follow him!” Ray Bradbury
Set….
Turn off the phone and step away from the Internet. And the television. And, and, and…
Today’s prompt:
Write 25 one-sentence descriptions of books that you want to write. You heard me; 25.
If there is still time in your 15 minutes when you are done with the list (or you want to write longer!), expand on the five projects that are the most exciting OR terrifying. Actually, the terrifying ones would be more interesting.
Scribble…Scribble…Scribble!!!