Commit, or, Leave Those Shiny Objects Alone
Yesterday, I discussed the idea of inviting your readers to take part in the change you describe in your story (read about that here). Before that, I suggested you need to understand who you're writing for.
And now, the only thing left to do is to commit to the writing.
Why is this such a challenge?
In my weekly writers group last night, we explored this idea of being really excited about starting a new project, but then, when that initial energy dissipates and we get into the hard work of writing (middle sections, anyone?), we are often tempted with ditching our WIP and picking up another, more exciting story idea... a shiny object, if you will.
We do this because starting something is more fun than finishing.
We do this because if we don't have to finish, then we don't have to put our story out there and open ourselves up to potential criticism.
We do this because finishing is hard work, and often frustrating, and the Lizard Brain appears telling us we don't really need to finish that stupid story because it sucks anyway and you're a bad person for even thinking you could ever be a writer.
And that's exactly the time when you should stay on track. Ignore the Lizard and commit to finishing your story even though it's hard work, even though it seems to go on forever, even though there are no guarantees anyone will read it (let along like it).
If you're in that place with your story, wondering why you ever started this in the first place, wrestling with the Lizard who implores you to quit, then know this: you are definitely on the right track. The more you feel like quitting, the more powerful you are becoming as a writer.
But only if you stick with it. Commit to finishing. There may not be any prizes when you're done (no guarantees, remember?), but there most definitely aren't any prizes for quitting.
And now, the only thing left to do is to commit to the writing.
Why is this such a challenge?
In my weekly writers group last night, we explored this idea of being really excited about starting a new project, but then, when that initial energy dissipates and we get into the hard work of writing (middle sections, anyone?), we are often tempted with ditching our WIP and picking up another, more exciting story idea... a shiny object, if you will.
We do this because starting something is more fun than finishing.
We do this because if we don't have to finish, then we don't have to put our story out there and open ourselves up to potential criticism.
We do this because finishing is hard work, and often frustrating, and the Lizard Brain appears telling us we don't really need to finish that stupid story because it sucks anyway and you're a bad person for even thinking you could ever be a writer.
And that's exactly the time when you should stay on track. Ignore the Lizard and commit to finishing your story even though it's hard work, even though it seems to go on forever, even though there are no guarantees anyone will read it (let along like it).
If you're in that place with your story, wondering why you ever started this in the first place, wrestling with the Lizard who implores you to quit, then know this: you are definitely on the right track. The more you feel like quitting, the more powerful you are becoming as a writer.
But only if you stick with it. Commit to finishing. There may not be any prizes when you're done (no guarantees, remember?), but there most definitely aren't any prizes for quitting.
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