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Misti Little's avatar

Janisse. But what about those of us with 5-6 different book ideas in our brains?? *sobs* Do we work on them simultaneously of pick the one standing out to us most and move forward with it?

And I think this resolves a NaNo book I made to 50K in 2021 but the book isn't complete. I have been planning on working on revising it and add in some details, but just haven't done it, before starting the back half of the book. But I think you are 100% right, I need to finish the entire thing and then back in and edit and add in some details.

I feel a very hurried and desperate push to get some of these ideas written this year and am doing my best to cut out some other projects and distractions (*cough cough, social media, cough*) to get it done this year. With my On Texas Nature essays I can ruminate on them for a day or two and then the words just flow. I need to get it out of me and after brief revisions, it is done. Longer pieces seem to be harder to pull out of me and I know what has to be done but dang, if it isn't hard.

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Jane Pike's avatar

I love this Janisse. Writing (as far as my creative writing) is not my main business. I am self employed, have two young boys who are home schooled, am the breadwinner for the family and run a farm. Life is full.

I started a Substack page as a love letter to myself and my writing, to be something to show up for, a declaration of importance. It’s been a joy to produce, and sometimes painful to do- which I understand to all be a part of jt.

You certainly have to carve out the time because it doesn’t appear. But I have noticed that the more you “do” the more you want to do and it generates its own energy that way.

On the days I don’t get to write a lot, I still read through what I’m working on or do something in service of it, however tiny, so the creative spirits keep the ideas flowing even if I’m not free to capture them immediately.

I so appreciate everything you share, your work and teaching is such a balm and inspiration to me xx

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