Sunday, April 24, 2011

What I've Learned

My blog has been neglected lately. I have no excuses because every single writer that I know has an insanely busy and chaotic life. You have my permission to call me lazy.

Over the past several months I have taken tons of workshops, along with dealing with a son having ACL surgery, painting several rooms in the house (including my den where I do everything), and drama with a friend. So, what have I learned along the way?

  • I definitely need more practice painting or I need to just let my husband do it.
  • When you know that a friendship is over, let it die a natural death. Even if the other party keeps trying to prolong the agony.
  • When you have a son that is having his "First. Surgery. Ever. mom", even if it is the third surgery of the same type in your household, don't act like it's routine. 
Oh, wait...you wanted what I learned about writing? Hmm, well okay...
  •  The internet is evil. Mostly.
  • I really need to stop procrastinating and just write.
  • Fear only has as much power as I give it.
  • I don't know nearly as much about writing as I thought I did.
  • You can never do enough research. So stop researching, thinking that you'll get to that point where you have enough, and just write.
  • Nobody, not even published authors, write a good first draft. 
  • Just get it down. Stop letting the fear control you.
  • Deep POV is harder to write than you would think when you've grown up reading something different. The more you do it, the easier it gets. Same with show vs. tell.
  • Even published authors struggle and doubt.
  • The writing community is the most supportive and greatest that I have ever found. I need to let new experiences cast out the old. 
  • Being busy is just an excuse. Stop making excuses. Everybody is busy.
 So that's what I've learned. Now I just have to learn to implement all these little nuggets of wisdom into my daily life. :)

What's the most useful thing you've learned on your path to writing (or being published)?

Happy Easter to everyone!