Currently, as I type this, my fingernails are about 4 microns too short and I seriously think my hair is starting to fall out (it's littering the keyboard as I speak). What's even more unsettling is that very rarely do I see a grown up male-ginger with a full head of hair, so I'm starting to think that maybe -- just maybe -- I'll be bald by the time I (if it ever does happen) land an agent.
Life as a writer is stressful, and while we strive ever so hard to practice patience, sometimes -- most times! -- it just ain't easy. Not even a little. Whether you're trying to finish that damn novel, whether you're struggling to get through a series of tough edits, whether your bitchy characters are punching you in the face, whether you're waiting on a batch of query responses, whether you're at a loss for words . . . the right dosage of patience and the proper attitude to handle the situation can be tough to locate. Chances are you might go a little insane in the process. But that's okay, right? A little insanity never hurts anyone, especially a writer.
(Just think about how many voices we have circulating around in our heads. If that's not constant insanity, then IDK what is!)
What I'm trying to say is that we're all going to experience road bumps, potholes, or hella awful magical spells that cripple us as we attempt to navigate our way through this crazy I-Freakin'-Need-An-Agent-Now-Or-I'll-Spontaneously-Combust Literary World. There are ups, and there are most certainly downs. So when you find yourself in that low spot, the very bottom of your world, don't panic. Take a minute and just think there. Walk around a little. Explore. You never know what new ideas you might be able to find, or the new characters you might stumble upon, or the new voices you might discover there.
Ursala K. Le Guin, one of my favorite fantasy authors, once said: "To light a candle is to cast a shadow."
Whenever we embark upon a new story, it's like we're lighting a candle. That glowing new idea bursts to life, casting an unbelievable light over our world that keeps us going and keeps us excited. But soon, the shadows become apparent. Eventually, the flame might start to die. You start to notice the plot holes in your story, the deficiencies in your characters, the lack of world building, and a whole crapload of other things that make you want to scream. When that happens, don't give up. Don't snuff out the candle completely.
Sit down at your computer. Take a few deep breaths. Get out those matches (or prepare to utter your flame-producing incantation of choice). . .
And reignite that flame!
When the going gets tough, don't stop. In the words of Kanye West, get going "harder, better, faster, stronger."
Cheers!
No comments:
Post a Comment