I read a ton of blogs each day. Some I skim through. Some I read casually and some I am compelled to cry or laugh from the very first sentence.
I use my blogger dashboard much like I do the back of a book jacket. If the first few sentences catch my eye, I stop.
I write posts to hopefully encourage writers no matter what stage of writing they are in. But sometimes, I think, what more can I write about? I’ve done posts on almost everything connected with writing (except THE CALL). So has everyone else.
I wanted to keep this blog real and the reality is that the writing process can be slow. Extremely slow. Last week I wrote over 10,000 words on my new novel and read two books by Elizabeth Berg (my new favorite author).
You probably did the same.
We all get to similar crossroads in our writing. That’s the beauty of this journey. Should I query yet? Should I choose another agent to target? Should I get this book edited by a professional and hope it is worth it? Should I stick to short stories or non-fiction? Should I attend a conference?
We’ve all got so much in common.
But some days all I can write is this:
Just write. Just wait. Just keep trying. Just believe.
What are your writing plans this week?
48 comments:
Terri, this is a courageous topic. Your blog entices; I love your honesty and fresh approach to the craft.I've read a couple of Berg novels and liked them, too.
To teach some of the basics to a bunch of squirmy 2nd-6th graders kindly driven to my home by their devoted and encouraging mothers.
~ Wendy
Well, this is a blog I ALWAYS try to read for honesty, inspiration, sometimes a giggle.
LOVE your mantra. Keep saying it.
Hmmm. Tackle the WIP in a big way, put together lesson plans for a teaching stint with Julie Lessman (you would not BELIEVE the passion she's put in her lesson plans). Host a BBQ tonight.
Then the usual house stuff!
Um, that's all!
LOL,
Patti
Hello Terri...My writing goal this week is to send out at least two freelance articles.
Take care. Susan
well since you asked, I'm self publishing my children's book, submitting an article on several magazines and teaching a writer's WORDshop today on Gabriele Rico's book Writing the Natural Way focused on poetry-free verse. Also going to advertise my latest book for sale on my blog...
My goal is smaller than I would like it to be, but that's the fact of the matter as I work full-time. I hope to get two more chapters revised.
Computer back up and running and so am I until i run out of steam. I have almost two weeks's worth of catching up to do. I enjoy your blog.
Hi Terri...my writing goal this week is to work on the antagonist in my current WIP. He requires drastic reworking.
Great post!
Well said Terri. I think we are all in the same boat. Whether agented or not, published or not, it's all about writing and waiting and trying and believing something will work out eventually.
I'm going to try to get a little writing done this week and I'll probably read a book or two. (I have really easy, non-specific goals these days!)
It is a slow process, isn't it? My plans are to keep plodding along with edits and pitch prep for the ACFW conference.
I have a similar perspective on blogging. Keep plugging along and write! :O)
I think most bloggers get to this point, both in how they read and write posts. I go through times when I'm very thorough with my contacts, and times when I can barely browse.
This week I hope to tackle another section of my project in revising. Today I need to finish an article about the book for the JDRF. Turns out writing a book is sometimes easier than writing about it. :)
My plans? Just write, wait, write some more and push through to the end. Like you said, this business is a slow moving one. You have to be in it for the long haul. We all love your posts!
"...write...wait...try...believe..."--great words for the week! I'm going in several directions: queries, practicing my pitch (oppportunity coming in October for that) and new work. Oh, and I also want to spend time reading :-)
Well said, Terri!
My plans. I hope to get a little done on my WIP but I'm preparing for a tirp so we'll see. Plus, I should be getting some line edits back from my agent and if I get those this week I'll probably work on those b/f the WIP.
Congrats on that great word count last week. Impressive!
you are so right on with this one. there are times i wonder what i have to say that matters...but as you said, we're all writers! so we find a new way to reinvent something that's already been done.
oh - and i have an award for you at my blog :)
My writing plans this week? I think I'm going to adopt your motto: Just write, just keep trying, just believe...I'll even try that just wait part, but I'm not very patient.
Mainly, I'm polishing a piece for the contest entry of the writer's conference I will be attending in October. I will also be working on my novel and saying lots of prayers, LOL.
My plans? To get the column wrapped up. Otherwise, it's your line-up: writing, waiting, trying, believing with a dash of chomping (at the bit).
My goal is to try and stop working in two projects simultaneously. It's starting to hurt my brain.
Err...one of my biggest challenges in the last several weeks is trying to figure out what to blog about. I can't tell if it's because I'm just not inspired or because I'm too busy with other writing tasks to put blogging as a priority.
My writing plans this week are to work on a synopsis and edit some pages on my own story to polish it for the ACFW conference.
I'm unplugging (okay, after this:) and writing lesson plans for my online writing courses.
Have a good week!
Blessings,
Karen
This is just the inspiration I needed~ thanks Terri. You have a very real passion for sharing this journey and connecting with all who visit.
it's your honesty that draws me in...you're so real. My writing focus - the dreaded query and proposal...it bores me though. I keep putting it off. ☺
Just had to say I love the banner on the corner of your blog - As for me and my blog...
Glad I'm not the only one who feels she's blogged about just about everything there is to blog about! Hmmmm - maybe that's a book topic in itself! Have a blessed week, Terri!
Don't know how you can keep ups that blog reading schedule. Good job!
Writing goals this week - 3 chapters.
YES! It is SO incredibly slow it almost hurts. But even when we think things are movin backward, God's working. Thanks for the pep talk, Terri.
The only goal I have this week is to find a number of missing items that I'm certain reside in the garage.
Packing/moving/unpacking is daunting, especially going from 4300 sf to roughly 1500. The way I see it, that's a 70% reduction. Trouble is, I only got rid of 40%. So you might say my new goal is to downsize AGAIN.
Hi Terri -
I'm catching up after the Philly Conference. Editing, writing a couple of blog posts to report on the conference, my email update, and once again cleaning my desk top the list.
Blessings,
Susan :)
Finished a book by T.L. Hines. I want to write in that mystical, other realm genre and this was a good example. Mulling over conference attendance but have yet to work up the motivation to try one.
I'm polishing up two picture book manuscripts. One of them must be in the mail TOMORROW. I have to come up with elevator pitches for both of them as well. I have to practice reading the second one aloud for a critique group. I'm attending the SCBWI conference in Kansas City next month. I'm very excited. Marietta Zacker is going to be there!
Great post Terri. I try and be an encouragement when I write comments. Thank you for sharing dear. Blessings.
Oh, Terri, this is so funny/strange! You and I wrote about similar posts on the same day! Mine was later at night, but I swear I didn't "copy" yours!! :)
You are awesome! Writing 10,000 in one week AND read 2 books??!! Wow, I am very impressed!! OH, and I love Elizabeth Berg, too. Did you just recently discover her? Send me an e-mail about which ones you've read and liked, etc,Okay? Hugs! :)
Hi Terri! I am not sure as yet but I am sure to figure out in a day or two. Depends:D
Hi Terri. This is great... and I can feel your passion for writing in this post. My writing goals for this week are to finish up a devotional that I'm co-authoring. It's due Sept 1st and I want to have a few weeks to edit my entries before they go to the pub.
I want to ditch it all and write poetry! No, that's not true, but I've squelched the poet inside for so long that she wants to break out in song and dance. I'm sending my most recently finished book to a beta today, and then I need to start working on the query/synopsis/proposal stuff. Yuck! Can't I just write poetry, instead????
Writing plans this week...hmm. I think I need to finish plotting my WWII thriller novel. I may also "play" with my other novel, one that I haven't looked at for awhile.
Zip. None. Just trying to survive the "extras". That being said, I've been thinking about dusting off my current WIP that I thought I finished in March. Recent situations have prompted me to add a fresh perspective to it all. I'm just so tired... I don't have any energy right now.
Love you, friend. Always appreciate your take on things. As for the blogger dashboard, I haven't consulted mine in ages. I just click around from time to time.
peace~elaine
Thank you, Terri, for this inspiration. I'm so impressed with 10,000 words. And Elizabeth Berg has been a favorite for years.
One of my favorite quotes (which your words reminded me of):
Do not be impatient with your seemingly slow progress. Do not try to run faster than you presently can. If you are studying, reflecting and trying, you are making progress whether you are aware of it or not. A traveler walking the road in the darkness of night is still going forward. Someday, some way, everything will break open, like the natural unfolding of a rosebud.
Vernon Howard, 1918-1992 American Author and Spiritual Teacher
Blessings.
I've been feeling the same way lately. Not much new to share on my blog. I like your philosophy. Just wait. Just write. Just keep trying. Just believe. THanks!
I should be finishing my first draft of my current WIP. Then I'll take a 2 week break from it and write some short stories -- or start another novel. After the two weeks, I'll go back and start the slow editing process.
The thing is, I NEED more focus. I need better weekly goals. On the positive side, I'm building good daily habits -- caring for myself, writing every day, reading worthy books, making myself accountable. It's always an uphill climb.
I'm convinced of this: better blog posts arise from a better life. It makes no sense to sit down to write when we have not lived something to tell.
Hi Terri,
Thanks for writing this! I love your "just keep..." at the end.
What I discovered about myself earlier in the year is that I needed to let myself off the hook. There are people called to write and there are people called to other things but enjoy writing.
I am a minister of the Gospel/Bible Teacher/Speaker and have been full time for 15 years but have in some capacity seen GOD use me in that way for longer than that. I'm not a writer. I'm a minister who likes to write. Make sense?
That really let me off the hook because "others" would attempt to make demands on me to "get something written...a certain word count etc in a certain time frame...to join this group and that group" and while that's great for people called to write, it's not for me who is called in a different way.
Since that prayerful revelation I have actually seen the pen to paper or should I say fingers to keyboard flowing EVEN MORE. Pressure lifted, words could flow!
I so LOVE GOD and the wisdom nuggets HE so graciously pours down upon us.
I appreciate you Terri. When I'm able to visit even if I don't comment, I always walk away with something that makes me think.
Praying for you. Love and blessings!
I was at the "I've said it all" phase of my blog already now, too. I decided I didn't want to quit. So I prayed and I know I'm heading for some more great ideas. They are on the way. Each day, something interesting happens. Life is full, so there will always be something to say, if I can just pick it out of the sky and catch it.
Sorry to say, I haven't written much this summer. Summer has been so busy and I was kind of burn out. I'm getting ready to start in again, though, and am very anxious to do so. I miss it.
If I can just get in a bit of writing, I'm relieved. Time flies so fast!
Pat
www.critteralley.blogspot.com
Terri,
Thanks for your comment at my blog. You said you preferred a visit to your blog and a comment instead of an acknowledgement of what you wrote, so here goes.
My plans this week? Makes no difference, since my writing plans go out the window more often than not when Kay and I are needed for grandparent duty. But that's important, too.
This is why I love your blog! You're honest.
My writing plans this week are to keep working on my wip. I'm in the middle, and I'm a bit nervous. But, I'll keep working hard!
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