🐦⬛ Week 5, Day 1: Welcome into these last 14 days of the challenge. What a great time to circle back to original intentions and assess what got in your way of realizing them.
Here, another four chapters either worked on or created. 4400 words. This is not a shock. This is how the ending goes. We find our second wind and double down. It's that way in most things...momentum carries us.
To use a very poignant example, both my parents died when I was young. Both of them had what looked to be a full recovery near the end. "Miraculous," everyone said. We were infused with hope that they would be back with us and well again. Then they died.
This reversal made the loss that much more painful and shocking, to be sure, but also taught me a truth about life. We rally. We get sunburst energy at the last minute.
Why this matters is because in writing, we need to know the cycles in order to flow with them. Having written so many books at this point in my life, I am aware of this pattern and riding it when it comes. Now...are you aware and if yes, are you ready?
Original intention?
What got it your way?
Where is your unexpected burst and where is it taking you?
Week 5, Day 1: I guess this is like running a marathon. Which I've never wanted to do and wouldn't have the least idea how one paces oneself. But Jennifer says the trick is to keep showing up. She told me last week that is my superpower. Incredible compliment -- first half of my life, I couldn't finish anything except when the punishment seemed too severe. And even then I had to think about it. Now I do show up. I don't think about the finish line, I just think about what I learned yesterday and what I can do today. Becky says write a scene, just write a scene for Summer Session. Okay, I can do that. For one day, one hour, I will write nothing but a scene.
I told someone the other day that 'hard' is not a four letter word. That doing 'hard' can be so satisfying. Climbing a mountain and the view at the top makes all that hard worth it. Jennifer used it twice in this post: "Writing is hard". So, as if it wasn't already there, writing gets added to my list of things that are satisfyingly Hard!
Love the challenge, even if i feel like a Border Collie chasing the mail truck. Writing was always a someday for me. The Blackbird connection takes it into the present, a slow creep for real reasons now, but a tether that grounds. The craft is so elusive and expansive. Too many times, i have provided my own example of what not to do. Then it's not just glaring, it laughs like a hyena with the same backbone crawling shimmer. I try again. I get a bit closer. Grab a principle, even if it is only through an example, and try to figure it all out as i'm reaching. It's not the work i mind. I love the work. It's my own disappointing results. I am too slow.
I won't be able to attend the Zoom today due to another meeting scheduled at the same time for my editing day-job, a meeting I can't skip. I'm still in, though, facing some challenges (aren't we all) but endeavoring to continue through things that usually get me to kind of lose track of myself and put creative things dear to my heart on hold.
🐦⬛ Week 5, Day 1: Welcome into these last 14 days of the challenge. What a great time to circle back to original intentions and assess what got in your way of realizing them.
Here, another four chapters either worked on or created. 4400 words. This is not a shock. This is how the ending goes. We find our second wind and double down. It's that way in most things...momentum carries us.
To use a very poignant example, both my parents died when I was young. Both of them had what looked to be a full recovery near the end. "Miraculous," everyone said. We were infused with hope that they would be back with us and well again. Then they died.
This reversal made the loss that much more painful and shocking, to be sure, but also taught me a truth about life. We rally. We get sunburst energy at the last minute.
Why this matters is because in writing, we need to know the cycles in order to flow with them. Having written so many books at this point in my life, I am aware of this pattern and riding it when it comes. Now...are you aware and if yes, are you ready?
Original intention?
What got it your way?
Where is your unexpected burst and where is it taking you?
Welcome to week 5
Week 5, Day 1: I guess this is like running a marathon. Which I've never wanted to do and wouldn't have the least idea how one paces oneself. But Jennifer says the trick is to keep showing up. She told me last week that is my superpower. Incredible compliment -- first half of my life, I couldn't finish anything except when the punishment seemed too severe. And even then I had to think about it. Now I do show up. I don't think about the finish line, I just think about what I learned yesterday and what I can do today. Becky says write a scene, just write a scene for Summer Session. Okay, I can do that. For one day, one hour, I will write nothing but a scene.
I told someone the other day that 'hard' is not a four letter word. That doing 'hard' can be so satisfying. Climbing a mountain and the view at the top makes all that hard worth it. Jennifer used it twice in this post: "Writing is hard". So, as if it wasn't already there, writing gets added to my list of things that are satisfyingly Hard!
Totally agree. It's the hardest thing in the world...like love. 💕
Yes, I agree..."satisfyingly hard."
I'm with Sara. Day by day, scene by scene. Keep moving forward.
Jennifer, thank you for the encouragement and leading us.
Love the challenge, even if i feel like a Border Collie chasing the mail truck. Writing was always a someday for me. The Blackbird connection takes it into the present, a slow creep for real reasons now, but a tether that grounds. The craft is so elusive and expansive. Too many times, i have provided my own example of what not to do. Then it's not just glaring, it laughs like a hyena with the same backbone crawling shimmer. I try again. I get a bit closer. Grab a principle, even if it is only through an example, and try to figure it all out as i'm reaching. It's not the work i mind. I love the work. It's my own disappointing results. I am too slow.
"...even if i feel like a Border Collie chasing the mail truck." 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Pitch perfect humor and timing and imagery. EVERY TIME!
I won't be able to attend the Zoom today due to another meeting scheduled at the same time for my editing day-job, a meeting I can't skip. I'm still in, though, facing some challenges (aren't we all) but endeavoring to continue through things that usually get me to kind of lose track of myself and put creative things dear to my heart on hold.
You were missed, for sure. I'll get that video out next week! Love this line: "...endeavoring to continue." That is what I call, the line of the day.