The Triumphant Return

I knew if I gave myself time, that one of these days, I would just sit down and write. Sure, I expected to write a ton that day, but the point was that I wrote. That day was Friday. And ever since then (I know, a whopping two days) I've sat down and wrote a little each day. It isn't the 500-1000 words I was used to in the spring, but I'm working towards my goal again.

It's weird how time can change your perceptions of things. I re-read what I wrote so far for my work in progress and I like where it's going. Do I know if it will work? No. But I'm motivated to work on it none-the-less. As for my previous WIP, I think I've delayed enough. It's time for the dreaded querying process. Normally, I jump to query my books. I'm so attached to them, I think they're awesome, etc. But this time, I waited. I now am not sure how I feel about the book, but I know when I left it, I liked it. And I have a query ready.

So, what was holding me back? Was my life just so busy that I didn't have time? Probably not. I think it was fear. I still was too attached to it. Sure, it'll hurt to get rejections still, but maybe it will hurt less. Or maybe I just needed to wait until I was ready to send out letters and try to sell myself and my book. Either way. This weekend is a weekend of change. Writing and querying. Has it been a triumphant return? Only time will tell...

Boredom

I'm about to embark on a wonderful little road trip this weekend to the beach. Upon arrival at work this morning, I was informed about a festival at the beach and how there will be lots of traffic. Oh no! There goes my fun, celebratory weekend, right? Not at all.

I have a theory, and it applies to me, at least. Writers don't get bored. Unless they want to.

There, I said it. I can always sit in my own world and create adventures, silly characters, anything. I only get bored when I don't want to do that. When I don't want to watch TV, or read a book, or do anything else. It's self-inflicted boredom.

Back to my trip, I'm lucky in the fact that I am traveling with two other writers. And we've already started a great list of things to do in the car. Nothing can keep us down! Have a great weekend everybody.

Guilt

Yes, this post is about guilt. Guilt I thought was only mine, but as it turns out, many writers have guilt. I should be writing this week (and more than one picture book), but I haven't. I wasn't even going to write the picture book, but just as I was falling asleep Tuesday night, it came to me and wouldn't stop until I'd written it all down. I'm glad I turned my light on and started scratching away at my notepad by my bed. But after all that...nothing!

I didn't work on my novel. And everyday I don't write, I hear that nagging voice in the back of my head. "You could be writing right now." "How will you ever become an author if you don't write everyday?" "How long will it take you to finish this book if you don't write it??" Yes, my voice is very annoying, but somewhat truthful. I know I won't just never pick up writing the novel again. It's a book I've revised many times, and this time, I'm completely rewriting it.

I'd like to blame sleep. I didn't get much the week before, and last weekend was full of family visiting time and cooking. So, this week, I've been mostly dead to the world. But a new weekend is looming ahead on the horizon, and I feel it's endless possibilities. Plus, my best friend/muse, Allie, berated me last night for feeling guilty (you know that just ends up with more guilty feelings, right?) She said that I should stop feeling guilty (duh) because I might come to feel of writing as a chore if I feel all this guilt about it. While she is partially correct, I think the guilt will always be there, and if it wasn't, that would be a sign that I didn't care anymore. That I had given up on writing. So, at the same time, guilt is a good thing. Who knew? But the one feeling that can never be beat? Complete elation when I've written tons and tons, and the words are flowing out of my fingers and accumulating on the page. That, my friends, feels wonderful.

Happy weekend and happy writing!