QUOTE OF THE DAY: If you would hit the mark, you must aim a little above it. ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
WORD COUNT: 12,750 new; 29,114 total
So I made a major revelation Thursday. As I sat around the table with my family, eating good food and appreciating all that I have in my life, it hit me that I am also grateful for my new found love. Writing. And I've missed it.
What? Haven't I been writing like mad this month? The answer is yes. Too much in fact. I got so caught up in the idea of writing like crazy to reach my goal and finish my book, that the true passion disappeared. I had removed supposed time wasters like reading and movies from my schedule for the month. I love to write. But I need other stories to keep my imagination running.
I learned that the fuel that helps me do it had been eliminated. The ability to get sucked into a good story is exactly what I need to get my own mind churning. My brain had run dry and until I replenished it, I became unable to write like I know I can.
So, I am now announcing the book will not be done by November 30. I will not be hitting 50,000 words this month. That's just a fact. It will not work with my current life schedule. I do not want to write a story just to write it. I need to feel it. To see it. To nurture it.
Its all about balance, you know? I have almost doubled the number of words. And that's saying something. The beginning of November, I started with 16,354 words that had taken me three months to write. Since November 1, I've written 12,750 words. I've almost doubled what I started with. So, that's more my pace I think. I can do that. If I could focus for 6 hours straight, 5 days a week, I'd be able to complete it, but that's not a reality for me and my life. I've accepted that.
So, not only am I thankful for my family and friends, for finding my true passion in writing and creating stories, but I am thankful that I set a goal for myself, and I'm thankful that I can recognize when I'm not going to hit it and still like myself.
I just need to set a new goal.
Happy week everyone. Don't go too crazy with all the holiday madness. Be careful out there ...
Glad you can still feel good about yourself. Without that, what do we have? No passion! Keep up the good work!!!
ReplyDeleteElaina
Thanks Elaina!
ReplyDeleteI've read a few of your blog's and like this one the best so far. Why does your book have to be 50,000 words?
ReplyDelete_Staci
Hey Staci! I'm so glad you like it and am super glad you commented!
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't have to be 50,000 words. The yearly challenge is to write a novel in 30 days, and that has been deemed the month of November. National Novel Writing Month. I wasn't writing as diligently as I wanted to, so I imposed the 50,000 word challenge to my current book this month to keep myself more focused. When finished it will be much longer than that. Good to hear from you Staci!
Be sure to tell your audience what they will have to gain by taking immediate action. The longer your target waits, the less likely they will be to complete the desired action. This means that, as part of your call to action, you need to explain exactly what the other person has to gain by taking action immediately.play bazaar
ReplyDelete