“On writing, my advice is the same to
all. If you want to be a writer, write. Write and write and write. If
you stop, start again. Save everything that you write. If you feel
blocked, write through it until you feel your creative juices flowing
again. Write. Writing is what makes a writer, nothing more and nothing
less. — Ignore critics. Critics are a dime a dozen. Anybody can be a
critic. Writers are priceless. —- Go where the pleasure is in your
writing. Go where the pain is. Write the book you would like to read.
Write the book you have been trying to find but have not found. But
write. And remember, there are no rules for our profession. Ignore
rules. Ignore what I say here if it doesn’t help you. Do it your own
way. — Every writer knows fear and discouragement. Just write. — The
world is crying for new writing. It is crying for fresh and original
voices and new characters and new stories. If you won’t write the
classics of tomorrow, well, we will not have any. Good luck.” ― Anne
Rice
Even though this quote is a little long, I love it. Write, write, ignore the rules, write what you want to read, just write.
In my head at the beginning of the year I wondered what I wanted out of this writing adventure. I want to finish and publish three books, came the reply. Then I need to kick it into gear. That led to the next thought: I want to be known as the hardest working writer this year. I kind of giggled at that last goal idea and went along my merry way.
Throughout the next few days I went to the library or other places to write and edit. Any free time I had at home I was writing and editing. One day after my brain was fried and could no longer be in writing mode, I went through my emails and deleted and unsubscribed for over an hour. That felt good. Other areas in my life started getting purged and soon I realized what was happening. The goal to be the hardest writer had imbedded itself inside me and I was subconsciously helping it along by cutting out unnecessary extra curricular "stuff."
I've totally cut back on reviewing and blogging, social media and review request. I don't feel I have time if I want to get ahead on my writing and reading. I want, no, I need this year to be about polishing and submitting and publishing.
My tummy tickles when I think about moving forward in such a bold way and I'm excited to see where 2014 leads me!
What about you? What are you accomplishing this year?
