Letting it Go

by Jinky on Thursday, September 16th, 2010 | On Writing ⋅ Writing Life | 3 Comments

I’m on day four of Book in a Week, and my brain feels like it’s been put through a juicer. But it isn’t the writing that’s taking its toll, it’s the other stuff.

The stuff I keep telling myself I shouldn’t be doing.

Like editing.

Or avoiding.

Or fixing.

Or scrapping.

Book in a Week is all about dumping. You start typing and you DO. NOT. STOP. And at the end of the week, BOOM! A book!

(OK, so maybe it’s a little more complex than that. But you get the idea.)

In order to make my word goal (which I only managed to do on Monday so far), I’ve had to let go of a lot of stuff: timesuckers, like playing games online or watching TV reruns; friends I talk to on the phone every day; food that can’t be microwaved; books I want to read; even the cats are feeling the pinch, since they’re used to the Human Belly-Rubbing Machine being on call 24/7.

And on top of all that ‘real’ stuff, I had to get rid of some of the ‘fake’ stuff, too.

Like fear.

And insecurity.

And frustration.

And self-pity.

It wasn’t easy, but it had to be done, because after the norepinephrine wears off, you really only have enough energy left to focus on one or the other: writing or making excuses why you can’t write.

It’s your choice to make. Which would you rather be known for?

(3 people have commented on this entry.)

Tags book in a week ⋅ confidence ⋅ do it anyway ⋅ Neuroses ⋅ Productivity ⋅ Writing ⋅ writing advice

The Tale of a Mona

by Victoria on Wednesday, September 15th, 2010 | Cautionary Tales ⋅ Daily ⋅ On Writing ⋅ Writing Life | 2 Comments

Monday, I was asked why I didn’t jump at the offer of a new position at the company where I work. There are plenty of reasons why the job wouldn’t be a good fit for me: more meetings, travel, a recently divorced boss who is using alcohol and hookers to deal with his midlife crisis. No, I’m not making this up; my imagination is just not that good. The main reason why it wouldn’t be right for me is that ~~I would beat him to death with my laptop~~ it would be a lateral move for me.

However, the person who asked the question joined the company this past spring and makes no secret of the fact she accepted the job solely because she needs the money. She makes no bones about the fact that she hates the department she is in and the job she was hired for is beneath her. She considers the position I was eligible for her dream job and it kills her that I don’t want it.

This person – let’s call her Mona- applied for the job and received a rejection almost immediately. Climbing the ladder is encouraged within the company, but you have to prove you are willing to work hard and either have or are willing to obtain the skills needed for the job. Mona has neither worked hard nor worked on her skills since her hire date. She shows up, but that’s basically it. (As for that old saying, showing up is 95% of it – bullshit. Get out there and play.)

Instead of asking HR what she could do to improve her chances next time around, Mona made a beeline for me and asked why I hadn’t taken the job, was I crazy? She didn’t ask me if I had any suggestions for her. She just bitched about how unfair it was.

Mona makes me think of some of the folks on some writing forums where I lurk. The Monas of the world submit a piece of writing and wait for it to be embraced and lauded as the Second Coming. What brilliance! What talent! Step aside, Shakespeare.

When Monas get a rejection notice, they are furious, but they never turn their anger into anything constructive. Note for anyone who wants to torment me – use reverse psychology. Works like a charm. I look at a rejection and think, all right, I’ll show you. I’ll do this and that and revise this and add that …. Ha! How do you like me now?

No, the Monas of the world sit and stew about their rejection and come up with hundreds of reasons why they were rejected. The editor has no taste, doesn’t know how to read, or needs new glasses. The contest was rigged, the judges only chose their friends. Monas never think, maybe my characters needed more development or if I use this plot twist … They throw the manuscript into a drawer and flounce off, thinking, those fools don’t know what they’re missing!

Mona, everyone knows exactly what they’re missing by not hiring you: nothing. Step up to the plate. Learn the skills you need in order to do the best job you can. Stick with it, even when it sucks. That’s how you get the job, that’s how you sell the manuscript.

Now, let me take my own advice and get back to writing so I can sell the damn manuscript.