Diary of a writer 1/22/14

Sometimes when you're in the middle of the draft, the hardest part is just opening the document and diving in. There is so much fear when you're drafting. I've learned over the years it's part of the process, and you just have to push through it or past it or whatever.

Click photo to enlarge

In case you can't read my handwriting:

There is always
     fear.

Fear that it's not good enough.
Fear that you're not good enough.
Fear that it will all be for nothing.
Fear that no one will like it.
Fear that it's all wrong.

You have to push the fear away
    with all your might.

Open the document
and tell yourself
    I can do this.

Because you CAN!
Because you are BRAVE!

Diary of a writer - 1/17/14

Click on photo to enlarge

In case my handwriting is too hard to read:

The thing is
it all comes down
to this:

Do the best you can.
Every day.

And it will be good enough.
Not perfect.
Never perfect.

But it will be your best.
Expecting more than that?
Wanting more than that?
It will only lead to disappointment
   and frustration.

Your best is enough.

Diary of a writer - 1/9/14

Winter break was wonderful for me because I didn't do all of the running around I usually do when the boys are in school. This week, it's back to the routine of running my teen boys back and forth between home and high school and the Max station to get down town for college classes and other various things. Neither of them drive yet, and while there are many advantages to this, it breaks up my day in the worst way. I rarely have a big chunk of time to just... write.

I sometimes get frustrated by this, but the truth of the matter is, a big chunk of time is NOT a necessity. I wrote five or six novels (a couple of which were never published) in little increments of time while I worked a full-time job.

And so, today's entry:

click photo to enlarge

Typed out, in case that's your preference.

One Hour

That's all it takes
if you stay focused
and write, write, write.

One Hour

Maybe it will be all work
and no magic, but
maybe it will be all magic
and no work!!

One Hour

It is enough.
So open the document
and see what happens.
You'll never know until you do it.

Diary of a writer - 1/6/14

I had the date wrong on the last one. Oh well, that's what happens when you are on winter break, haha!

Click on image to enlarge

In case you prefer reading type to handwriting, here is today's entry:

"What will people think"

When drafting,
these words are like the enemy army
trying to break down
the castle doors.
Your army that guards
and protects you
must be stronger.
They must fight to keep them out.
"It doesn't matter."
"It doesn't matter."
"It doesn't matter."
The first draft is for no one
but you.
Don't let the enemy in.
Guard your draft, your words
as if your life depends on it.
Don't let the enemy win.

Diary of a writer

I am going to do a new thing this year called "Diary of a writer" where I write down thoughts in a journal before I start my daily writing. I won't post entries every day, just when I have something interesting to share.

Sometimes the entries will be pep talks to myself.
Sometimes the entries will be glimpses into my brain.
Sometimes the entries will be peeks into my soul.
They might be ugly, they might be beautiful, but they will always be honest.

I might sound discouraged.
I might sound sad.
I might sound hopeless.

And it's okay - writers feel those things quite frequently. It's what we do with those feelings that's important, and writing them out is actually helpful, I've found.

Here's my first one:

click on the photo to enlarge

I will also be posting them on my tumblr blog, just FYI.