Writers, you need this book
10/6/14 01:12![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
darkemeralds"Writers, you need this book."
That was the tweet from my friend Sue last Monday morning. Ordinarily, "Yeah, yeah, whatever" would be my response, because I have never gotten anything of out of books for writers.
I'd done a whole ritual thing the previous night, officially hanging up my keyboard and admitting defeat. I'm not a writer. I have all the free time in the world and I still don't write. I'm a fake, and it's time to quit kidding myself. Restraint is never going to get revised or submitted, and I don't have another novel in me.
It was supposed to be a relief, but it wasn't. It felt funny. I didn't like it. I went to bed saying, "Okay, Universe, you're gonna have to talk louder because I am not getting the message."
So when I woke Monday morning to find Sue's tweet, I heard the Universe talking. I clicked the link. I bought the audiobook version--right there, still lying in bed. I started listening to it on Monday afternoon.
Tuesday I put in four hours of solid revising. Ringer off, social media shut down, timer going. Via another tweet (on my 15-minute lunch break), I found a professional editor.
Wednesday, five hours. I heard back from the editor.
Thursday, nine hours. I hit the 30% mark in my revisions. I sent a sample to the editor. We struck a deal. I have a deadline.
Friday, Saturday, yesterday, today: I get up, I get dressed, I put on makeup, and I go to this new job of mine. I start at 1:00 pm sharp. I don't check my email, I don't look at my phone, I don't do chores. I write. Sometimes I come back after dinner and put in a couple more hours.
I've finished revising 26 chapters in a week.
It's like a fucking miracle.
Writers, you need this book.
That was the tweet from my friend Sue last Monday morning. Ordinarily, "Yeah, yeah, whatever" would be my response, because I have never gotten anything of out of books for writers.
I'd done a whole ritual thing the previous night, officially hanging up my keyboard and admitting defeat. I'm not a writer. I have all the free time in the world and I still don't write. I'm a fake, and it's time to quit kidding myself. Restraint is never going to get revised or submitted, and I don't have another novel in me.
It was supposed to be a relief, but it wasn't. It felt funny. I didn't like it. I went to bed saying, "Okay, Universe, you're gonna have to talk louder because I am not getting the message."
So when I woke Monday morning to find Sue's tweet, I heard the Universe talking. I clicked the link. I bought the audiobook version--right there, still lying in bed. I started listening to it on Monday afternoon.
Tuesday I put in four hours of solid revising. Ringer off, social media shut down, timer going. Via another tweet (on my 15-minute lunch break), I found a professional editor.
Wednesday, five hours. I heard back from the editor.
Thursday, nine hours. I hit the 30% mark in my revisions. I sent a sample to the editor. We struck a deal. I have a deadline.
Friday, Saturday, yesterday, today: I get up, I get dressed, I put on makeup, and I go to this new job of mine. I start at 1:00 pm sharp. I don't check my email, I don't look at my phone, I don't do chores. I write. Sometimes I come back after dinner and put in a couple more hours.
I've finished revising 26 chapters in a week.
It's like a fucking miracle.
Writers, you need this book.
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(no subject)
10/6/14 11:29 (UTC)(no subject)
11/6/14 02:06 (UTC)(no subject)
10/6/14 13:14 (UTC)(no subject)
11/6/14 02:07 (UTC)(no subject)
10/6/14 14:48 (UTC)Dressing for Dinner in the Jungle
10/6/14 15:07 (UTC)Today I'm wearing actual clothes, but a lot of the time, I hit the office in my pajamas, which however have a strong resemblance to actual clothes (eg sweatpants and t-shirts).
Re: Dressing for Dinner in the Jungle
10/6/14 15:09 (UTC)I like putting on real clothes of some sort to write, especially edit. Makes me take myself more seriously.
Re: Dressing for Dinner in the Jungle
11/6/14 02:13 (UTC)So I was listening to that bit a couple of evenings ago while I took a neighborhood walk, and there in my path was a string of beautiful dark blue Mardi Gras beads. I picked them up, untangled them as I walked, and brought them home. Lucky Writing Beads! Complete with metaphor for fixing a novel.
Re: Dressing for Dinner in the Jungle
11/6/14 02:09 (UTC)Since I write in my living room in front of an uncurtained window, the underwear approach is right out.
Re: Dressing for Dinner in the Jungle
11/6/14 02:27 (UTC)(no subject)
11/6/14 02:07 (UTC)(no subject)
11/6/14 02:43 (UTC)Which is a recommendation to you, of course. (I have no interest in screenwriting, but its points about storytelling are universal.) But also, a reason why I may not read your recommendation for a little while. We can only have our butts kicked by one thing at a time.
I'm glad you found your right thing and the right time! I have coincidentally found mine for this moment as well and its a great feeling.
(no subject)
11/6/14 03:20 (UTC)(no subject)
10/6/14 16:50 (UTC)OH, I have to tell you. Outside the bookstore a few days ago I ran into a cute little older couple who were locking up their bicycles. His is blue and named Ellie the Elephant and hers is brown and named Clyde the Clydesdale. When they retired in 1981 they sold their car and bought the bikes and have never turned back, although they admit to making their "kids" (who are apparently in their 60s) drive them on errands in the winter if the weather is bad. :)
(no subject)
11/6/14 02:10 (UTC)Imagine having been retired for longer than you probably worked. What a great life!
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11/6/14 06:05 (UTC)(no subject)
12/6/14 03:53 (UTC)(no subject)
11/6/14 13:15 (UTC)(no subject)
12/6/14 03:52 (UTC)(no subject)
11/6/14 16:40 (UTC)I like your point about wanting some structure in your life now that work isn't there to impose it.
(no subject)
12/6/14 03:52 (UTC)