Friday, October 13, 2006

It's Not the Destination, But the Journey

Great responses to my post yesterday. I think I need to take a different attitude to getting published. Yes, I want it very badly. But I need to be realistic about it. The hard work of writing isn't going to go away. In fact, I will have more things to worry about than before.

Perhaps that's why I haven't been published yet - because I'm not yet mentally ready for it and that is being reflected in my writing - as in I'm having a hard time finishing the book or making excuses not to write, etc., etc. So I think I need to sit down and really think about being published and what that means to me. Above all, I do not want to take away the joy in my writing. I do not want to make being a published author my sole goal in writing. It can't be. Instead, that must be the end goal and certainly not the most important. Writing is what I do, and a writer is who I am. That cannot change just because I have a book in print.

This needs to be tacked on my computer: It's not the destination, but the journey.

An old, but very wise saying that we should all adhere to.

Oh yeah - TGIF!!!

7 comments:

  1. Great post! Yes, make sure you enjoy the journey or you won't enjoy arriving either. Life has to be lived, in between all the craziness of being a writer. :-)

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  2. I know what you mean. I sometimes don't think I want it enough. I worry that I will be more concerned with the publishing aspect and lose my love of writing. Good post.

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  3. Definitely a great quote, Melissa - and I'm sure you're going to make it :-)

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  4. Yes, well said. It is the journey that's the most important so enjoy it. Enjoy your writing. Don't let real life pressures take anything away from it. Try to always keep doing it for yourself.

    :)

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  5. Absolutely, concentrate on the writing. Always on the story.

    Have a lovely weekend!!!

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  6. Anonymous4:43 PM

    I waited, too. You'll know when the time comes.

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  7. I've learned fairly quickly how everything gets dumped upside down with just one email saying "congratulations!".

    After finalling in AT3 all of a sudden I'm doing everything BUT write. It's a struggle to balance everything required, but I'm not sure that being published and meeting those deadlines isn't that much different to what I'm doing now to prep for the contest, so I'm embracing the process and making the necessary changes and hopefully will be rewarded with a stellar outcome. AND I'm *making* time to write.

    And yes, TGIF. And now TGIS!

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