We’re on the cusp of another summer. In parts of our country, that means the grills are being uncovered after a long winter’s hiatus. In other parts, the grills are being pulled back under the pergola for a little welcome shade from the blazing sun and even higher temps than normal.
School–in its various forms–is on summer break. The nationwide reappearance of flip-flops means they’ve officially replaced boots and wool socks. By now it’s obvious my point of view (POV, for you fiction writers) is a perspective where 72 degrees is considered a heat wave.
What did you promise yourself last summer?
Did you tell yourself you would work on that book project that’s been an open file on your laptop for a year and a half? Was your goal to use the extended daylight of summer to work through your to-be-read pile? Did you make plans to sit poolside or lakeside with a book in hand, but life got in the way?
Were your plans last summer to walk off the previous year’s evidence that you spent a lot of the time in a chair? Did you tell your family you would be spending one afternoon a week at the coffee shop to make progress on the research you started the summer before?
Did you promise yourself that before September 1 of 2019, you would get your completed proposal off to that prospective agent, or to the agent who has an editor waiting for it? What you promised yourself last summer matters.
What will you promise yourself this summer?
Same things? Cut-and-paste last summer’s promises unfulfilled?
A cusp is a good place. It’s a transition or turning point. Will it be a turning point for you?
What you promised yourself last summer can be true of this summer in regard to your writing, your career, and the atmosphere around you. Turning points don’t need ideal conditions. They’re all the more satisfying when they’re accomplished in less-than-ideal conditions.
What is doable for you this season? Let’s not stop there. What’s challenging enough to warrant applause when it’s completed?
- Zero in on your sweet spot in writing. Land on your unique voice and where your writing skills shine.
- Ramp up your platform numbers.
- Ramp up your engagement with readers and potential readers.
- Brainstorm new book ideas.
- Flesh out at least one of those ideas into a proposal.
- Read a book on the craft of writing.
- FINISH YOUR MANUSCRIPT! (Not shouting. Strongly encouraging.)
- Dig in to the hardest parts of your proposal. You know, the ones you’ve been avoiding, the ones that have kept you from submitting said proposal.
- Focus on listening this summer–to your family, your friends, the world beyond your doors.
- Transition from talking about writing to actual writing.
- Start one new writing related habit that will propel you forward in your career or your health.
- Pay attention to your mental and relational health.
- Determine not to wait for everything else to be in order before you allow yourself to write.
- Break up with perfection. It’s about time. Court excellence instead.
All of the above are possible. I’ll ask again in three months. How many promises to yourself will you have kept?
Every morning’s dawning red,
and hope has gone away;
fatalism’s here instead,
and fear must have its say.
My world has gone infernal,
the joke is now on me,
and only the eternal
can be the victory,
but each day still deserves my best,
whatever strength I can provide,
and every hour is a test
in which my soul must decide
to give in to the dark despair,
or to live with love and care.
Can someone tell me how this ends?
You will finish the race and keep the faith, as a victor, not victim, with love and care because that’s who you are.
I pray this season will produce something of excellence, of hope, of promise, as I work daily on a new manuscript and have reached the mid-point, using all the knowledge I’ve gained thus far on this journey. Come the end of August, my birthday, if I still have breath, I’d love to be able to touch another completed manuscript and say, “This … this grew from that trying season.”
That is so insightful and brilliant, Shelli!
“Break up with perfection and court excellence instead!” What fabulous advice, thank you! This summer, I am going to finally finish the 16th revision of this blasted story! Then, I’m going to start the first revision of my RomCom about a young woman transporting a coop full of beloved pet chickens over a mountain pass who swerves to miss a bear and scatters chickens all over the mountains. Chickens that she must locate for their heartbroken young owner. Chickens who look exactly lie everyone else’s chickens! That is my summer goal.
The chicken story made my day!
The world should have more chicken stories! Actually, it is VERY loosely based on when I tucked my middle son in bed and he realized in horror that he had left King, his beloved pet hen, at his cousins’ coop. I didn’t have a flashlight but was instructed to pat her three times on the back firmly and King would make a single, loud, honking cluck with each pat. So there I was, stumbling around in the dark patting identical chickens. The boys could tell their hens apart from the others by the shape of their comb and a bunch of tiny details that left me still thinking the chickens were identical. Well, there was one hen who did give a big cluck every time I patted her, and it was kind of a honk. So I picked her up and brought her home and sure enough, it was King! Of course I had to think of an entire plot so that I could use my search for King in fiction!
My goals for 2019 were somewhat aggressive. I completed three and missed on two. I call that a fair year. This summer, I am taking time to edit the first novel I ever wrote. It deserves a home. Here’s hoping we all have a blessed summer.
Great plan, Cheryl.
What great encouragement. Every bullet point resonated! I appreciated your point, “Transition from talking about writing to actually writing.” Rumor has it, Margaret Mitchell’s husband said something to that affect one day in 1928. “Instead of reading all those books, why don’t you write one instead?” She did and Gone with the Wind was the result. I especially like the charge to, “FINISH YOUR MANUSCRIPT.” And honestly, you could have shouted. It’s warranted 😉
Thanks, Lynne.
I have been struggling for longer than I care to admit to develop good habits that will assist me. I feel you have provided the roadmap so thank you.
Grateful, Stephen.