February 13, 2009
Well, I knew it was coming, and sure enough, I’ve reached the end of my latest writing streak. It was a good one for me, though, and I’m proud of it: for 23 days, I wrote at least 1,000 words a day on my new novel. This in spite of assorted and sundry delays, discouragements, injuries, and other “life rolls.” It wasn’t easy at times…most of the times…but I got through it. And now I have a bunch of pages written, and the novel is alive and kicking. That in itself is worth the price of admission: reaching the point where I know the novel has taken root and will thrive…that it’s worth the effort, and I have the interest and ideas to carry it all the way through. What a great feeling.
Now, as I head out of town for the weekend, I’m officially breaking the streak and taking a break in general from all responsibilities. Part of me bristles at the thought of stopping, if only for 2 days; other parts of me recognize, however, that a well-timed break can be a great thing. It can help reenergize the novel by resting the writing apparatus and giving the subconscious time to recharge. Though I’ll be away from the keyboard, I know my conscious and subconscious minds will be working on planning the next run of events and tweaking what’s already been written. By the time I get back, I’ll be ready to launch into the next slew of pages, beginning my next streak, which hopefully will be even longer than the last one.
So here we go! Time to relax and build up that charge. Time to get ready for the next streak. That’s how you have to look at things as a pro writer determined to make it in spite of the odds. Here’s one of my favorite inspirational writings, courtesy of Ray Kroc, father of McDonald’s restaurants: “Press on: Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing in the world is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”
How true it is. Might not be a bad idea to post that in your writing office. Though, really, it applies to all aspects of life, doesn’t it? Have a great weekend! See you tomorrow, if I can get online! If not, I’ll see you Sunday!
And here’s another photo from the archives to entertain you till then. This one’s also from 1990, like yesterday’s photo. It’s me at Heidelberg Castle in Heidelberg, Germany, taken during the same tour as the one I posted of me in Lucerne, Switzerland. Guten tag!
