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.
Misti, I sat on your dilemma for a minute and finally I have an answer. Your job is to serve. I know your work, and you serve your family, your community, your state, the earth. If a book remains half written, it cannot do its job. I would NOT fix the front half before creating the back half of this book. I would FINISH the entire book, and with that perspective of wholeness, go back and make it whole, "of a piece." Then I would let the book do the work that it is supposed to do in the world.
Thank you, Janisse. I appreciate that you took time to think about it when I’m sure you have so much on your own plate this time of year. Will be taking your advice to heart!
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
I was listening to "This begins with the body of a woman" as you were leaving this comment. "....As she slowly walks away." Wow. Your audio is incredible.
I love this. It made me feel good as I finished the first draft of my memoir a little over a week ago. By first draft, I actually mean draft 19, as my drafts are more like Russian dolls, and I did do some revision along the way. I completed the draft while working full time but having the summer off helped. I found pockets of time for writing and gave myself rewards. I wrote after dropping kids off at kendo and sat by a warm fire. I wrote after dropping kids off at parkour and drank a glass of good red wine. I met with two regular writing partners and sometimes we got dinner or brunch in the weekend. I think publishing short stacks here weekly helped a ton as you mention. I was a little surprised at how vulnerable and odd I felt when my draft was done. I placed it in the hands of a chosen few for edits. It felt like I was giving them my baby and waiting for them to hold her.
There's a lot of raw, straight-on truth in this piece. I tend to work in spurts -- all-in for awhile, obsessed with writing and shoving everything else aside, then the pendulum swings and suddenly I'm slacking off and shoving the writing aside in favor of other things. Need to seek/practice better balance, and your advice helps a lot. Thank you!
Jeanne, actually, I think that is balance. The way you work, I mean. I don't think the work has to be steady. And honestly, very few people produce as much as you produce, with all that you have going on. I would celebrate my writing life, if I were you, and not change a thing. (And that's me with my free advice. LOL)
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.
Misti, I sat on your dilemma for a minute and finally I have an answer. Your job is to serve. I know your work, and you serve your family, your community, your state, the earth. If a book remains half written, it cannot do its job. I would NOT fix the front half before creating the back half of this book. I would FINISH the entire book, and with that perspective of wholeness, go back and make it whole, "of a piece." Then I would let the book do the work that it is supposed to do in the world.
Thank you, Janisse. I appreciate that you took time to think about it when I’m sure you have so much on your own plate this time of year. Will be taking your advice to heart!
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
I was listening to "This begins with the body of a woman" as you were leaving this comment. "....As she slowly walks away." Wow. Your audio is incredible.
Oh thank you! I get quite into making the audios! It’s my favourite!
I love this. It made me feel good as I finished the first draft of my memoir a little over a week ago. By first draft, I actually mean draft 19, as my drafts are more like Russian dolls, and I did do some revision along the way. I completed the draft while working full time but having the summer off helped. I found pockets of time for writing and gave myself rewards. I wrote after dropping kids off at kendo and sat by a warm fire. I wrote after dropping kids off at parkour and drank a glass of good red wine. I met with two regular writing partners and sometimes we got dinner or brunch in the weekend. I think publishing short stacks here weekly helped a ton as you mention. I was a little surprised at how vulnerable and odd I felt when my draft was done. I placed it in the hands of a chosen few for edits. It felt like I was giving them my baby and waiting for them to hold her.
So many congratulations to you for getting it done, Mary. All those drafts will pay off in the end. I'm wishing you the very merry best with it.
Thanks so much. This post was a good reminder to celebrate as opposed to just jumping into anxiety over next steps.
There's a lot of raw, straight-on truth in this piece. I tend to work in spurts -- all-in for awhile, obsessed with writing and shoving everything else aside, then the pendulum swings and suddenly I'm slacking off and shoving the writing aside in favor of other things. Need to seek/practice better balance, and your advice helps a lot. Thank you!
Jeanne, actually, I think that is balance. The way you work, I mean. I don't think the work has to be steady. And honestly, very few people produce as much as you produce, with all that you have going on. I would celebrate my writing life, if I were you, and not change a thing. (And that's me with my free advice. LOL)
❤️