A blog about writing, rejection and whatever else crosses my funny little mind.
I’ve been a bit quiet lately because I am writing. (For those wondering, yes, the meet-cute scene was written. Finally!)
My first rejection opportunity is coming up soon so I am scrambling to get this manuscript ready. Even though, if everything goes according to plan, I’ll be something like this:
I am supposed to be working on one project. Laser focused on getting one thing ready for rejection.
My muse has ADD.
I’m stuck on a pivotal scene: the meet-cute. I’ve been stuck on this scene for a week. My muse has provided me with the following interesting, but not-particularly-helpful-at-this-moment information:
The meet-cute scene is still unwritten.
I know that these thoughts and ideas are coming up because my creative energy is growing and strengthening. So I write the notes in the story files and try to keep moving.
But boy, oh boy, do I need to write this meet-cute scene!
In the midst of all of that, there were still some lessons learned this weekend. Lesson #1 (or #3, if we’re counting the lessons from last weekend): Not all of my writing will be done on the computer.
My process involves a mix of long-hand writing and computer writing. And while I sometimes (read: always) wish that I could skip the long-hand part and just start typing, I write better when I follow my process. Both reveal parts of the story that I didn’t even know but I need to do both, in order to get a “finished” product that I like.
Lesson #2 (or #4): Procrastination is a form of perfectionism.
“If I’d just have had the time, this would have been good.”
This is an excuse and gives perfectionists an out.
But I don’t have time for excuses.
You know, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
I do have a Twitter account. Truly I do.
But here’s the thing: Through no fault of my own*, (Honest. If I break something, I fess up to it. {Sometimes after the statute of limitations has expired but the truth gets revealed…….eventually. Anyway, this time, it seriously wasn’t me.}) the Twitter app on my phone stopped working. This was actually kind of a blessing because it was right around the time of the impeachment hearings and I wouldn’t have been able to keep myself out of that fracas.
And then…..I just never added it back onto my phone.
Yes, I know that I can access Twitter from my computer but it felt like more of a hassle than I wanted to take on, so I left it alone. (And as my world started to steadily slide into pure chaos, tweeting didn’t even rank in the Top 100 of my concerns.)
I also have an Instagram account.
That app does works on my phone (more’s the pity).
However, even before the pandemic and lockdowns, I struggled with what I wanted for the content for the Instagram profile. (I’m a bit shy, if you haven’t guessed.)
Being stuck inside for nearly 6 months has not (yet) helped in this regard. So the account is still locked/private and still has no content.
If When I get the manuscript written, I’ll make updating my social media profiles more of a priority.
Maybe.
(Caution: This is a gif-heavy post. I will not apologize.)
I may have taken on too many things.
This has never worked out for me in the past. Yet, I also can’t seem to stop myself.
In addition to writing, which has yet to give me anything but anxiety and heartache, I am starting a new job. My old job has not yet ended. So for right now, I’m doing both. Oh, and did I mention that I have confirmed for a third (second, if the first job ends first) job on the horizon? No? Hmm, can’t imagine why I forgot. And then finally, there is my side business.
So that’s one.
Two, I am trying to reincorporate some light exercise into my schedule as the gyms are still not a safe place for a Sphinx like me. I’m trying to go slow and be reasonable because I recognize that I have a lot on my plate and I do not want to injure myself. I have kept it up for 3 days so far. Also, this is requiring me to get up earlier than I usually do, so that’s it’s own challenge.
Three, I’ve started “The Artist’s Way“. I won’t be all the way (or even nearly halfway) through it before my rejection timeline ends, but I am hoping that it helps me focus so that I can actually complete this project. Also, I’ve gotten to the point in the Self-Helpless podcast where the next episode is on The Artist’s Way and I don’t want to skip over it. (Update from my previous post: I’m still really enjoying Self-Helpless podcast.)
Four, I’m trying to get into some sort of cleaning schedule/pattern. Due to everyone being home and no weekends (see above re: my work schedule) and really enjoying the Self-Helpless episode on Feng Shui, the state of certain parts of the house are bothering me to the point of distraction. However, I can’t just take a full day off and deep clean, so I am trying to clean in shifts and become okay with cleaning in shifts.
Five (Yes, there’s more!), due to forces beyond my control, I have come into the possession of a large quantity of milk. (Like a lot! No, even bigger than what you’re thinking.) Now, I don’t really drink milk. But also due to COVID, I can’t easily give it away. So my current solution is to start adding it to my coffee. Which I also don’t really drink.
Finally (at least as far I know), Six, my local library has joined the Big Library Read. Do I have time for this? No. Do I want to do it? Absolutely. Have I already checked out the book and listened to the first few chapters? You know I have.
So yeah, I know that I’m going to crash and burn. But until then…
As you may recall, in the summer of 2019, I gave myself 100 days to get a manuscript ready for submission.
And I failed. Miserably.
So now I’m back on my bullsh*t and trying again. This time I have given myself a month. (Logically, it seems like shortening the timeline isn’t a good idea but that’s all I’ve got.) At this time, I think it will be a brand new story, instead of trying to rework one of my many other WIPs.
