Post #4 - 3 Things Writing is Teaching Me
This whole launch of novel-writing has been exhilarating. It’s been a while since I’ve been this stoked about a project.
Possessing a penchant for pessimism, I’ve anticipated an inevitable deterioration of stoke. Unfortunately, gloom and creativity seem to be a common pairing. Multiple times, I’ve begun a venture with gusto only to let it fizzle out alongside the initial excitement.
Why does this happen? I’m sure at least one of you reading this can relate to this gradual decimation of hype as the reality of the real work sets in.
I’m increasingly aware of my proclivity to allow feelings ample screen time in my theater of life. I think this emphasis of emotions can operate as both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it serves to develop characters that feel real. Alternatively, if I get lost in feeling(s), I can begin a project prematurely or not set in place the means to complete it.
Eagerness and fervor are helpful tools…but only when wielded responsibly. I need that fire, but I also need to not burn down the house.
It’s only natural to see enthusiasm fluctuate. Motivation and drive will wax and wane from day to day. What I’m trying to bolster myself against is the complete extinguishing of that flame.
The annoying part is that I actually do have a practical course plotted at the outset of a project. But planning for success, I’m finding, is more than just directly working on the thing. Therefore, proper planning, for me, will necessitate a wider net. Mainly, I need to find ways to keep a sustainable stoke.
Knowing myself, I’ve been intentionally trying to safeguard against letting this novel-writing venture perish in the pit of apathy. A few things have been helpful so far:
Immersing myself in the work every day
I’ve read/heard over and over that authors need to “WRITE EVERY DAY” or else. I get that, but writing a book isn’t solely done by writing the actual book. There’s a lot of preparatory work—outlining, structuring, conjuring up ideas—that goes into it that may or may not include putting pen to paper. At this stage, I’m fervently growing and tweaking my story’s outline. I’m also continually learning from others about how to walk through writing an entire novel. What I’ve found is that as long as I’m daily immersing myself somehow in this novel-writing process, I’m maintaining my momentum. That may take the form of writing a few sentences, modifying my outline, adding some notes to a character profile, or reflecting on my theme/plot/character dynamic thus far. It all adds to the main goal.
Being kind to myself
Heaping shame on myself if I don’t get as much done as I hoped in a given day is not going to yield good long-term results. Being unpublished, I have the luxury of not having a deadline. I also know that my very first book won’t be perfect. And, guess what? That’s okay. Giving myself grace is helping me take the right-sized step for the day. This story is flowing out of me. As such, I ought to offer myself compassion instead of criticism if I want to produce a nice story.
Commit(ting) to the grit
Of course, I want others to share my excitement. And many have been. However, I am ultimately responsible for holding the torch of motivation. Appeasing YouTube algorithms, optimizing Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for written/video content, and actually getting seen on the internet is no easy feat and certainly doesn’t happen overnight. When my numbers are less than something to write home about or they taper off quickly, I get to choose to be grateful for the support I do have. Adopting a stance of resilience in the face of laborious beginnings is already showing dividends for me as a person. The only way is forward.
That’s all for now.
Toodles.
