Um . . . hi all.
Last night I had a heart-to-brain talk with my spouse, who’s always been super-supportive of my writing. I told him I’d had a mini-panic attack that day because I actually had plans to write, which I haven’t found time for lately.
You have to write. We’re–all of us–sacrificing so you can follow your dream, he said.
Gulp.
But it’s so hard, my whiny inner voice said (thankfully, I did not utter that out loud. Scott works 50+hours a week, PLUS does freelance writing).
A whole book? Writing a whole book? Again?
And then I put it in perspective; say I wanted to make movies. I’d have a camera, maybe a few friends who would tolerate being ordered around, and a few ideas. I couldn’t ever make the movie of my dreams, not without a whole lotta money and some clout.
If I wanted to paint, I’d need a dedicated workspace, a lot of oil paints, training and someone willing to exhibit my work. Not sure how long it takes to paint a painting, but I bet it’s a long time. And I am guessing the art world is harder to break into than the book world.
Or music; okay, never mind, it’s easier to distribute music these days. But would I make money? (not with me singing, my son would be happy to point out) Probably not. And I would need to work with other musicians, and have time and training and expensive instruments and recording equipment.
But a book?
I can write the book of my dreams on my own (I’ve already got a computer. And an imagination). Theoretically, of course.
So today’s post is short, since I’ve got to finish other work, and then get to writing. I’ve got a dream to follow.
Thanks for putting up with my whining,
Well you’re right thinking you need a computer and an imagination to write a book, but I think you’re selling yourself short as far as that being all you need. It’s not easy to break into publishing just like it’s not easy to break into the art world. It’s not easy to write a novel. I know everyone thinks they can just write a book and bam! they make millions. But you can’t. And there are so many things you have to keep track of as well. I’m updating Northanger Abbey so I don’t have to come up with tons, but the stuff I have to remember….my main character has this color eyes and went to this school and in the first chapter I had her doing this and so on and so forth. Plus you have to be consistent throughout. You can’t change tense or narrative styles. It takes a lot. So saying all you need is a computer and an imagination is like saying to be an artist you need some paint and a paint by numbers picture. There’s so much more. Authors are artists just like musicians, actors, movie directors and painters. It’s just a different type of art.
I feel your pain, Megan! Sometimes this writing thing HURTS !! And wow, Jane, what a great take on what it takes to write a book. Thank you! So many people say “I’m going to write a book.” the same way they say, I’m going to bake a cake. To bake a cake all you need are a few basic ingredients and an imagination. The same may apply to writing BUT (and this is a big BUT) it is what you DO with those ingredients that makes art. And art takes time. Ask Michelangelo about that little chapel job he took!
You go, girl!
Go Megan go!
I’m in a similar position of having to show something for my bon-bon eating lifestyle.(I was encouraged to quit the job that was giving me an ulcer.)
It does get difficult when I’m in that floaty disconnected place between projects. But when I’m inside a project it becomes my happy place and the momentum takes over. That can actually be the scariest thing, relinquishing myself to the demands of the book, because my other roles of wife, mother and litter box attendant get pushed aside.
I did write today, btw, which is better than the previous couple of months (and yesterday, too!)
Yeah, writing’s hard. But it’s what I do, right?
Thank you, Megan, for sharing what I often think. I am grateful that I can be a nonworking spouse, community volunteer, and romance reader but sometimes I just can’t seem to focus on the little things that have to get done, such as laundry, dusting, and bills (paradise is so distracting).
I respect authors for their talent, creativity, and initiative. I don’t know how you do it all – writing, editing, submitting, waiting, promoting, and starting over for a product that you won’t see for some time.
Today is Abraham Lincoln’s 201st birthday, so I offer you his words of wisdom, “Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.”
Megan, writing is hard! and writing without a contract, with only your talent and your hopes and dreams is even harder. I agree with Carolyn–You Go Girl!
Good luck, such inspiring advice to all of us writer’s out there.
Writing IS hard! It needs not only a computer and an imagination but a lot of blood. 🙂 I’ve decided to give up more than a few times, but something always pulls me back–just like it does for you. It won;t let us give up.
And I like that pic, too.
OMG…my husband and I had this exact talk Thursday night, and it was hard to hear because I know I’ve been slacking…
It is a sacrifice, for us, for our spouses and children. Time spent that could be done doing so many other things. And if I’m not consistently using my time efficiently, it’s like being in limbo…they’re not happy because I’m not with them and I’m not happy because I haven’t accomplished what I wanted to.
I have to take a hard look at the things I’m allowing to come before my writing…other than my toddler and spouse, of course. A biggie is the internet, blogging, FB, Twitter, etc. Sometimes it’s so much easier to waste time surfing than it is the hard work of writing. Not to mention chapter meetings, etc.
This post just confirms for me what I know is true.
Really, I need to give up everything but my critique group and get the darned WIP done.
All this to say, I feel your pain. WTG writing today…better than I did. Hopefully, tomorrow will be the day I get my tush in gear.
Some times you just need a little nudge from someone to et you started. Maybe this was it.
I think I needed to hear this today. Thanks Megan, for reminding me too that my family misses the time I spend “away” from them at my computer, chasing this dream. And that by supporting me, they are effectively saying they believe in me.
It’s a good boost. 🙂
Good luck getting back into your writing groove. Writing is hard, but my mom always said nothing worth doing was easy. I bet I’ll use that one some day…. LOL!
You can do this, Megan! Yes, it’s hard. Damn hard. But you’ve a wonderful imagination and talent. Trust it.