So it’s all over today. July has arrived and the end of the novel quest is here.
My total word count over 30 days? 28,599.
I didn’t know how difficult 50,000 words could be and I could really, truly have done more than this – maybe even reached 40,000. But I succumbed to that evil demon, futility. Gave up about a week ago burning the midnight oil because I knew I was never going to make it in time.
If I would do one thing differently, it would be to write something on the novel every single day. I had heard this advice, but didn’t heed it; even if it is only 50 words, one must write something, move the story forward just an inch… Because if you skip just one itsy, bitsy day, as I did, you suddenly realise that no-one is making you do this, and you can ‘wag’ if you want to, for a day. Then it become 2 days. Then you realise it is impossible to claw your way back into the game, and before you know it, you’re off playing truant and the month is over.
But I have learned a lot:
1. That I always start things with great gusto and lose momentum, and never finish the project.
This one hit me pretty hard, so I am determined to keep writing this novel to my own time frame just so I can feel better about finishing something. A great saying drifted into my ether too: “perseverance is just as important as talent.” I really gotta work on that one.
2. That writing is daily grind work.
I kinda knew this on an intellectual level, but now I know what it feels like. It’s not romantic after all, and there goes that motivation. Along with this, the quality of writing does not equate with ‘being inspired.’ That was a big one, took away a major excuse I’ve always used; there is no magical muse after all. There’s just a pen and paper.
3. I’m not sure if I have it in me to be a writer.
Given the above two points, I wonder if I actually have what it takes. Which is basically just perseverance. I’d like to prove myself wrong, but it doesn’t seem so easy now. But I guess I did do this the hard way. Others take 6 months to write a first draft. The door isn’t shut just yet…
keep blogging. i love reading them. they’re very good. that’s all i have to say.
Thanks Pookie! xxx
Easy? Pah. We laugh at easy. Buck up, Rita. You’ve achieved something incredible. And you’re looking down the barrel of two weeks non-contact from school.
If you’ve managed what you’ve managed in the final month of term, a time when others are struggling merely to make it through the school day, then 1500 words a day should be a snap. You’ll easily be at 50,000 by the time school starts back up, and still have time for some trashy tv viewing on the side. I highly recommend Dr. Who.
Awesome – you’ve just set me up the challenge, Mel! (what I heard was)”I want 50,000 by the end of the holidays.”
I need the pressure or I don’t work… yeah yeah.
You’ve learned an important lesson here. Don’t lose that. Next time you want to wag, ask yourself if you really want to be a writer.
If the answer is no, put away your words and go play with a clear conscience. You will never be a writer. The pressure is off. There’s no shame in quitting.
But if you do, really, want to be a writer, you’ll sit down at that table and write. No matter how much it hurts, or how boring it is.
Choose your path, and follow it.