They say success is 10% inspiration, 90% perspiration--and watching an amazing writer in my writers' group has totally given me that inspiration!
She has been working on a novel for some time, and in the past few months really made it her focus to finish a first draft. Which, she DID! Then, she continued on and did three revisions of that draft, which is painstaking work.
Now, we in the writers' group get to read the full book, as a third draft, and it is such a thrill to see the whole thing come together and flow. (Normally we share like a chapter or 2 per month, and it's not the same as reading the book as a whole.)
I've been plugging away (in micro-plugs, mind you) at my first book for years, and after a while, I started to wonder if anyone "like me" can actually finish a book and edit it and get on with the rest of the process. Watching my pal Annemarie do just that is really amazing, and proves to me that this isn't all a waste of my time. I just need to get more focused and keep working at it!
My goal for this year is to finish the first draft, but I see that I really need to get going on this, as it's such intensive work, and I have a job and a family too. But now I know that it is real and possible.
So, thank you, Annemarie, for inspiring me, and I look forward to seeing your book on the shelves someday soon!
What inspires you to think your writing dreams can come true?
4 comments:
Wow! Thank you for your kind words, Betsy! You have such a full life, and yet you find the time and energy to write your very cool, "Alfred Hitchcockish" stories. You have the heart of a writer! Don't ever give up! I can't wait to see what you will achieve!!
In 1998, I wrote the first chapter to Seconhand Shoes and set it in the closet. Life was too busy with five daughters.
In 2008, I started the rest of the book. It's finished. Now working on the holes and time laspes.
It all takes time. Never give up!
Thanks, ladies! I am feeling the mojo to get something accomplished, so we'll see! :)
Sometimes it takes more time then you think. I had thought that I'd be past the first draft by now, but things didn't quite work out that way.
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