Happy Anniversary to Me
May 15, 2010 
Today marks the two-month anniversary of my decision to commit one hundred percent to writing.
It’s been a gradual process, building since I was four years old, though the most recent twists in the road have been concentrated over the recent months. The last year has been full of benchmarks, important moments, days I could point to and say “Hey, that was the day I took a step forward.”
Gathering the courage last spring to apply to the Odyssey Writing Workshop, quitting my full-time job in order to go, moving back home to be able to afford the afore-mentioned job quitting. Devoting myself to short stories to improve my craft, despite it not being my passion. Shelving projects that were fun in favor of projects that made me grow. Submitting a story to a magazine for the first time, and getting that first rejection letter. Getting that tenth rejection letter. Going back to novels after a long period without them, and realizing for certain that it was what I wanted to do. Facing up to the fact that novels to which I had committed time and energy and devotion weren’t examples of my best work, and I had to start from scratch.
All of these things have been part of the process over the past year, but two months ago was the hardest and most significant part of it. That was when I got the idea for my current work in progress, and realized that if I ever wanted to see it in print I was going to have to get my act together and commit to this as a career, not just something to do when I felt like it. So every day since then I’ve written at least 500 words a day–and usually significantly more than that–without fail, without skipping a single day. Some days I have really, really had to fight myself. Some nights I’ve sat my computer long past my bedtime with my forehead on my desk going “Glugurluglugurluglug” because all I want to do is sleep but the 45 words I’d written were not enough.
It seems fitting that I’ve just stepped past the 50,000 word mark in my manuscript, two months later. I’m not writing at lightning speed, not when you compare me to some particularly prolific writers, but it’s a steady pace, and I’ll be done with the first draft in another month or two.
In terms of a lifelong career, two months isn’t very long. But it marks something else for me, which I didn’t know I had: discipline. I was pretty sure I didn’t have it, because I can be a pretty lazy person, and I had that nagging suspicion that it would be the line between me and success. Turns out, though, that discipline’s really a decision, not a quality you either possess or don’t. Two months writing every day without a break is long enough to prove that I have it in spades, and that the only thing standing between me and success is time. Well, okay, and luck, but let’s not focus on that just now. Just now, I’m letting myself celebrate a little bit.
Happy anniversary, me. Good job. Keep it up. Go have some ice cream or something. Just don’t take too long, because you have to come back and sit down and do your writing for today.
What, did you think you were going to get a break?
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Aww Happy Anniversary Meg! This was such an inspiring post. You’re making me realize that I probably need to get more serious about this WIP, but I’m not sure I have the discipline that you do 🙁
Aww, thanks! And no, you TOTALLY do! It really is just a decision. Normally I’d be the last person on the planet to preach about discipline (seriously, I am L-A-Z-Y!). For me it was just realizing that it was this or nothing… if I didn’t get serious I just wasn’t going to make it. But that’s because I can’t commit partway, I would have real trouble doing this AND a bunch of other stuff. For me it has to be all or nothing, at least for now. Hopefully I can eventually get a bit more well-rounded…. 😛
Happy anniversary! I think it’s really inspiring how you took that leap of faith and started writing full time. You definitely deserve to celebrate! I wish I had the same level of discipline 🙂
Thanks! Sorry your comment didn’t show up right away — I managed to turn on some sort of screening function on this post. And I’m too much of an LJ noob to know how to fix it.
Anyway, I wish you luck with your own WIP! “Getting serious” means different things for different writers. I think it’s just about deciding on that commitment and then holding to it. It’s the sticking to it I always had problems with in the past.
*fistbump*
You. Rock.
That is all.
Word.
(I’d love to leave it at that but this so-called discipline is due in no small part to you continually telling me I was a moron for not writing more. So thanks.)
That’s why they call me Sarah “Tough Love” Maas. 😛
I’ll say. This is why we’re friends — you’re too scary to have as an enemy!
(And you know too much. >_>)
Muahahahahaha
<3
Happy anniversary! Definitely have an ice cream, maybe even go crazy and have two, you deserve it!
You’ve made such a brave decision. I love writing, but committing myself to it fully, as a career, scares the crap out of me. Putting yourself out, raw, on the line, like that, with something that’s a piece of yourself? Terrifying. So well done, I think what you’re doing is phenomenal and keep going!
Aww, thank you so much! You’re so sweet. The scary part will really be what happens when the savings runs out. Working part time is really only delaying the inevitable — and I have to admit that it’s part of what’s lit the fire under me. I know I’ve got a limited time to be THIS focused on the writing. I want to get as much out of it as I can.
I didn’t get ice cream, but I DID get a sandwich from my favorite sandwich shop. Mmmmm sandwich. I have a tremendous sweet tooth, so it’s saying something that this sandwich is equivalent to ice cream…
Congratulations! I am frequently inspired by your example.
Aww. That means a lot, coming from you. <3 <3 Thanks.
Happy anniversary! It’s so cool to see that you’ve been able to be so dedicated! Dedication can be difficult, even when it’s for something you really want to achieve. I think it’s awesome that you’re able to get those 500 words in, even when you’d rather be asleep. 🙂
Thanks! I agree, it’s not easy even if it’s something you really want. I blame human nature. Um, it’s not my fault. I was just bred this way. >_>
De-Lurking
You are all kinds of awesome.
Honestly, you’re doing what I’m attempting (and failing) to do. I took an oath to commit 500words daily 3 weeks ago, and what happens?! I don’t write for 4 days and end up writing 2000words as penance, which doesn’t really work, because let’s face it, that’s not discipline.
I want to blame it on work (I routinely come home at 9pm, sometimes at 1am…urgh!), and wedding planning, but really, I should blame it on my own lack of discipline / self-control. (That bit about the “Glugurluglugurluglug”– I totally did that too! Lolol!)
Someone kick me in the pants!
(Wish Sarah “Tough Love” Maas would dole out some advise this way…)
How do you do it Meagan? How?!
Please advise.
Sincerely,
The Crazy De-Lurker Who Rants On Other People’s Blogs
(sorry about that–)
Di W.
Re: De-Lurking
Hey, writing even every 4 days is a TON better than I was doing when I was working full time (and you’re planning a wedding? yeesh!) You probably won’t believe me but I’m impressed you’re able to do even that.
But I get what you’re saying. Try lowering your daily minimum to, say 250 words. 250 words is nothing, that’s just a page in manuscript format. The idea of the daily minimum is not that you’ll write that many words but that you’ll get your butt in the chair and commit to staying there for as long as it takes to write those words. They can be totally crappy words that you’ll take out tomorrow (and often, for me, they are). I find that while some days I hit 501 words and stop mid-sentence, more often than not by the time I’ve written my minimum, I just keep going. It’s about giving yourself time, space, and permission to get into the headspace every day. If your writerbrain doesn’t seize the opportunity, that’s fine. There’s always tomorrow.
Re: De-Lurking
I totally just wrote 1.6k words!!! Wop wop! And now I can only manage 4hours of sleep before I have to wake up for work 🙁
p/s: Would you happen to know how I can find crit-partners? I am woefully devoid of one
<3<3,
Di W.
Re: De-Lurking
Woohoo! 1.6k is certainly not to be sneezed at! Four hours of sleep, though, that is no good. I guess something’s got to give when you’ve got so much going on. :/
Unfortunately, I don’t have much advice about where to find critique partners. My readers were all friends of mine first–or people I met via the writing workshop I did last summer.
You could try joining a few online writing communities, but my opinion is that most of them are kind of like online dating sites. The people you meet there tend to not be what you’re looking for, and are often far less mature and serious-minded than you might be hoping. And, often, they’re not really in it for a mutual relationship, they really just want someone to tell them how awesome they are. (Wow, my dating site metaphor really holds solid there…)
My best advice? Check among friends of yours who like the genre in which you’re writing, see if any of them would be willing. If that doesn’t work, develop relationships with the writers you meet online until the point where you both feel comfortable exchanging work. No matter what you end up doing, don’t expect CPs to come fully formed. No matter how great a writer/editor, it’s very rare for you to mesh in terms of what you say in critique and what you’re looking to hear. It’s a process, and finding a good CP often means training a good CP.
That’s really just my two cents, and I have fewer professional-type CPs than most writers like me, so I don’t have as much advice as others might. Hope it’s at least somewhat helpful! 🙂
Re: De-Lurking
Oh wow! Thanks so much for such a detailed reply!
Yeah, I have a few “writer” friends, but they’re all too ‘literary high-brow’ (la di da~) for me / my work. Others are journalists who don’t understand fiction or fantasy, much less YA in that genre.
So I guess on to the next best thing…
Hey Meagan, wanna go out? *wink* 😛
DFTBA
-Di W.
Re: De-Lurking
Haha, cute! I know what you mean about literary high-brow types — that summarizes my experience in college!
As for critiquing, I’d love to be able to say yes, but I have such a backlog of things I need to read for people that I just can’t afford to take on any more. And trust me, even though I am the BEST WRITER EVER (hah) I’m actually a pretty lousy critiquer. I’m working on it. 🙁
Wooo! Happy anniversary! ^_^
Thanks! 😀
Woohoo!
Meg,
I’m impressed. And envious.
…and relieved — lab rats exposed to my puns were unable to write a single sentence afterwards.
So you go girl! Can’t wait to see your prose again.
Buck
Re: Woohoo!
I am made of sterner stuff than mere rats! I have come through your puns and out the other side stronger than ever, and now NOTHING CAN STOP ME.
MUAHAHAHA– wait. That laugh is new. Did you put something in those cranberries you brought as a snack? *eyes*
I am so proud of you. I always knew you’d do this, and I’m so thrilled you’re there. I’m proud of you for managing to write when you’re plague-ridden as well as when you’re inspired, and for getting your butt in the chair regardless of cross-country travel, bad days at work or any other obstacles.
The best part about this isn’t even the amazing impact it’s having on your WIP. It’s that you’ll never need to wonder again whether you have it in you.
Well, you can be proud of yourself, too, for not throttling me dead long before this. Or, you know, every time I have a crisis and fall apart at you. Your patience knows no limits.
Okay, that is a lie, but the limits are pretty far out there and I don’t have the energy to go after them.
Good for you!
Haha, thanks. XD I promise I’ll stop with the patting myself on the back, and get back to real writing posts soon… 😉
Congratulations!!! It takes a lot of courage to quit the day job for something so uncertain, and I really admire that.
And discipline… congratulations on that, too. It’s something I definitely lack. I used to always think that it was something you had or didn’t have, too, and only recently did I realise that it’s learned. I write more in weekly bursts, myself, and give myself the weekend off, though I know I should write every day. Working at it, though.
When it comes down to it, writing steadily is all about pacing yourself; challenging yourself, but not killing yourself to reach a wordcount that’s out of your reach. (Advice I should perhaps take more often that not.) 🙂
Thank you! Sometimes I worry that it was just stupid, and I feel better when nice people like you call it courageous. Haha. *sigh*
You’re so right. reminded me just recently that I might want to schedule time off so I don’t kill myself, and it’s a very good point. For me I think I’ll keep going for now, but pacing yourself is so important. I have thought more than once about instating weekends off (unless I feel like it), so you may be onto something there!
Man, I still love your LJ icon to bits. <3