OK, so I'm completely awful at titling things. Cut me some slack, k? Thanks.
All right. The last couple of months, I've been working out with a trainer 2-3 days a week. Like reeeally working because I want to look like Shakira :D But what I've gained from this more than 3 lbs of weight loss and sore muscles is one important thing that we need as writers: endurance.
We all know how difficult the actual act of writing is. Between jobs, housework, screaming kids (or whimpering dogs and Valium-addled cats in my case), and the rigors of daily life, finding the time to write can be HARD. And let's face it. Even though common advice is to write every day (which my dear Elana refuted not long ago), it's not always feasible. How does endurance fit here? Easy. You do it anyway.
Here's what I mean. Writing is like a decathlon. 1. You get bright shiny idea. 2. You mold bright shiny idea into something workable. 3. You write. 4. You write some more. 5. You get angry because MC doesn't do what you want her to do. 6. You write. 7. You finish! 8. You revise. 9. People beta read. 10. You revise.
Here's what I mean. Writing is like a decathlon. 1. You get bright shiny idea. 2. You mold bright shiny idea into something workable. 3. You write. 4. You write some more. 5. You get angry because MC doesn't do what you want her to do. 6. You write. 7. You finish! 8. You revise. 9. People beta read. 10. You revise.
Some people don't get past step 2. Some make it to step 6 and pass out .Endurance is the only way to finish what you've started, and then some. And it does take a lot of practice, too. A lot of training.
But eventually you wrestle it into submission, right? I mean, most of us are on Query Road now, and THAT takes more perseverance than even writing the novel! Rejection after rejection after request after rejection can exhaust a person.
Writing is a marathon, not a sprint (unless you're Stephanie Meyer, but that's a story for another time). People reach success because they persevered, not because they were lucky. One of my favorite quotes is "Writing is 90% perseverance, 10 talent" and it's true. You have to push to the end. Otherwise, you'll never get anything accomplished.
All right, I promised you some funs. And I shall deliver. The fantastical, wonderful, cotton-candy tressed Sisters Roecker have been awesome enough to agree to an interview with yours truly! If you haven't heard the buzz about their debut novel, The Liar Society, then you're probably living under a rock. So go, check it out. I'll wait.
OK, done? Well, I'm also doing a giveaway that will coincide with their release date of 3.1.11. It will be fun. I promise.
So for the next week, I'll be taking suggested questions, things that you guys want to know about Lisa and Laura, their book, and their publication journey. AND I'm thinking about a contest for the giveaway. What would you guys think about this:
What's the best lie you ever told (or wanted to tell)? Everybody's got at least one. Let's have fun with this, shall we?
And please pop over to LiLa's blog and give them some love if you haven't yet! They are awesome ladies.
8 comments:
I never tell lies.
Good for you on the training. I'm a runner and totally appreciate the marathon analogy. Right now I'm feeling like I'm at mile 18...a little fatigued, but I've trained and I think I can make it as long as there's not a big hill at mile 22. :)
I'm not sure it's the best lie, but back in the day before airport security was so strict, I flew on another person's ticket by insisting I was her and I had no credit card or driver's license or identification of any kind. I was taking my coworker's place at a trade show and we forgot to change the name on the ticket so I pretended to be her. I must have been convincing b/c they let me on the plane. :)
I think I have about 20 more steps in there. Like "agent reads." "Revise." "Agent reads again." "Revise again."
The end of revisions is never in sight. Le sigh.
Great post--love LiLa!
Thanks for the comments, ladies!
Brenda, your story is actually hilarious. You must have been quite convincing! And I hope that your mile 22 is all downhill for ya. Or flat. Whichever one's better ;)
Elana, I'll make a new analogy after I'm agented LOL. Or leave them to you, one or the other. And sometimes it feels like revisions are a revolving door. You just have to determine when to step out.
Great post, and love the picture! I need that on a frame in my office. :)
Best lie I ever told: Hmm. This one still has me chuckling. I told my Dad I tripped on a shoe walking out of my bedroom and fell into the hall closet and busted the door. What I was really doing: Playing the "Trust Me" game with my boyfriend who was over when he was not supposed to be there because my parents were not there to supervise. Well, I trusted him, and he was daydreaming or something, and I fell into the closet door and busted it. I panicked. Didn't know how I was going to get out of that one...But I did. Wish I could say we were getting hot and heavy in the hallway, but I guess that is what he was daydreaming about. ;)
Smile, Andrea
*in a frame ;)
Good on you for working with a trainer!!! It's true, being a writer (like committing to working out) takes dedication, stamina, and stubbornnes (er, I mean detemrination, LOL!). I've hit slumps--a LOT of them--but somehow I keep going. The help of other writers and CP's makes all the difference, for sure!
Can't wait to see your intervie with LiLa! :D
Andrea, THAT'S PRICELESS. OMG.
Laura, thanks for the encouragement :)I'm excited to interview LiLa. Just need to figure out what to ask :-/
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