July 4, 2009
Sometimes, you have to make small sacrifices to pursue the writing life. Today, for example, instead of making the most of the Fourth of July holiday, I spent most of the day in my home office, working on writing-related tasks. For one thing, I finished the first draft of the rewrite of a chapter of one of my novels; I recently gained some perspective on this book, realized it needed a rewrite of one critical chapter…and had to get it done soon in response to a request for the full manuscript. Another task that ate a lot of time was reading a hundred pages of a book for an upcoming workshop. Next weekend, I start another full-tilt writing workshop in Oregon, and I have to read two full books in preparation. Though I received the assignment a few weeks ago, the intervening time has been jam-packed (especially with my full week in New York City and the week of follow-up activities immediately thereafter), so until today, I’d done hardly any reading. At least I’ve made a start now, even if it meant missing out on some Fourth of July fun. And I did get to enjoy part of a picnic, at least. As long as I get a hamburger and a hot dog, the Fourth hasn’t been a total loss. I just have to keep my eyes on the prize, always remembering that my small sacrifices in the here and now could fuel big successes in days to come. That’s what the writing life is all about, really. Okay, it’s part of what the writing life is about. Not to mention artisitic satisfaction, the creative impulse, making a contribution to society, etc. Either way, it’s a great life. See you soon!
