Really, I Love It.
Have I been whining lately? I feel like I should make a point of saying how much I love writing. Even when the words are coming out slow as molasses, when I’m spending all day tilting the bottle just so, when my arms are aching, waiting for the slow, slow, slow descent of the stubborn syrup, I love it.
I’m grateful that right now, knock on wood, I don’t have any looming deadlines. I can plug away, day by day, making progress, no pressure. It’s really nice. Such a relief.
This period should last for at least the next… two or three weeks.
Meanwhile, I’m (as always) struggling with the research. I’m always impatient to get the words on the page, and “just researching” makes me nervous. But onward I trudge.
If I’d just focus on the research and allow the book to come to full boil before trying to write it, I wouldn’t have to delete so much.
Same goes with reading. I want to read a book a day. I need to have a bigger understanding of the YA genre, so I need to read a ton more books. But again, “just reading” makes me nervous. Even though the work is fun, for sure! I think that’s why I feel guilty.
So thank you, universe. I like this time I have. Even if it does make me nervous. I constantly feel the pressure to write faster, to produce more, because I don’t want this opportunity to pass me by.
Do you struggle with patience? With nervousness when you have time to take your time? With guilt over reading, even though it’s part of the job? And how are deadlines treating you, at the moment?
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Natasha Fondren is a writer traveling the U.S. in a camper with her four cats. She is currently enjoying the lizards and desert heat in Arizona.
I’m finding it harder and harder to sit still. I finished a novel several days ago and haven’t picked up a new one because I don’t think I deserve the luxury of sitting around reading. I know I’ll read on the plane next week (even though I WANT to be working on draft #3).
I’m SO with you on the guilt, Melanie. I drive myself crazy! Even knowing that reading will help the writing!
Wow! Thanks for the link to J.A. Konrath’s blog. That’s really interesting.
My current book is the hardest I’ve written. Before this book, I started three others in the same genre and gave up on them. I now realize this probably isn’t the genre I should write, but it took this long to get into my head.
I’m on a second revision now. I’d like to finish within a week, but if it needs more work, I’m going to take longer. I’m not going to do a sloppy job. I want this book to be the best I can do.
Your current book, Edie, has my curiosity piqued! And who knows, I think that a new genre takes a whole new amount of practice, so maybe you were just practicing!
I do struggle with my patience, but only on the days that I’m also frustrated with the pace of my novel or revisions. When I have enough forward flow, I’m fine.
Heather, that’s me to a T, at the moment.
Wow – thanks for the kudzu & kindle information! That was very encouraging, since I’m most comfortable writing short stories. Am thinking I should dust off a few and try the kindle $1.99 route!
Good luck, Kate! I keep wanting to try! Must write faster.
I become impatient with myself when thoughts don’t shape easily into words.
Actually, I feel more just-plain-stupid than impatient.
Can I just select all of the above?
You’re articulating a lot of what I wont’ admit to myself… Stop that! *grin*
LOL, Susan!
Since I haven’t written a lick since the Dark Ages, deadlines are moot.
Guilt isn’t in my vocabulary because I always find a way to rationalize what I’m doing when I should really be involved in something else. If a box of dark chocolate is staring at me, I’ll promise to diet AFTER I devour every last piece.
And since I’m not virtuous in any way, shape, or form, patience falls in the moot category, too. I’m a slave to instant gratification.
Me too, Kath! (Chocolate.)
I’m way too lured by instant gratification.
I’m in a weird, lucky/unlucky position (I think). I love to write, yet I don’t always have the energy to do it, and I love my job, yet it takes time away from writing. The one definitely good thing is that I’m so anxious about so many things, that writing is pure pleasure. Noooooo pressure. Nope.
I just read that paragraph back to myself, and I think I should just feel lucky.
Robin, that’s cool. No really, it’s great to have something for pure pleasure. I was that way with TKD, for the first time in my life. That pure pleasure must be protected and treasured.
Now I struggle to spend more time writing. Soon I’ll start querying, and the whole struggle with patience thing is just coming up.
Struggle, struggle, struggle. I hear you. I’ve got to learn to leave out the struggle. Or embrace it. Or something.