Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Write1Sub1...Not

I was hoping to have a short story completed and polished to submit today for Write1Sub1, an endeavor intended to encourage writers of short stories to write and submit one story a month (weekly for people more Type A than me). 

Earlier in the month, I had a little bit of anxiety about it.  I wanted to submit a story by today because I said I would.  I told my kids I would.  More than anything, I want my kids to have the self-discipline and belief in themselves to do the things they set out to do in life.  I hate being a bad example.

But the truth is my kids could give a crap if I write a novel or a short story as long as I'm writing.  They are proud of me for writing, for continuing to write and edit because it's what I love to do without regard for what anyone else thinks about that endeavor (not that anyone would be critical of us writers).  They think I'm cool, even the teenager.

So I took the little Write1Sub1 button off my sidebar.  I'm not considering this a failure, just a change in priorities.  I made huge progress on my novel over the last two weeks instead of interrupting novel writing for random story writing. 

For February, I will continue to work on my novel, full steam ahead.


9 comments:

  1. I think it's great to give yourself permission to do what you gotta do. And it's great that your kids get to see you working consistently on something like a novel with an end goal.

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  2. That's not failure - you simply changed goals!

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  3. LG - I think it's cool that my kids are so supportive.

    Alex - It really doesn't feel like failure. I will likely write the stories later in the year.

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  4. That's great.

    Today I'm feeling blah....so I'm going to be reading mostly. My energy is off kilter.

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  5. Shelly - I hope you feel better.

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  6. I've had to change course too when one project demanded immediate attention. Go for it.

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  7. That is A-ok. I think sometimes we think we aren't writers if we aren't writing in every Nanomobo or whatever thing that's going on. Frankly, I think it's a good way to get distracted! Just do your thing, girl.

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  8. That's awesome! Sometimes the things we need to (and want to do) mean we need to let go of other things. Good luck on the novel!

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  9. Susan - I think it's a good choice for me. No regrets.

    Melissa - 'Nanomobo' - so true. I do want to stay on course with this novel. :)

    Laura - Thank you!

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