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I’ve been thinking lately about a life-lesson I was taught in high school.
My Bible Study leader brought out a glass jar and started filling it with rocks until it seemed filled to the brim; but then she also added pebbles until the container couldn’t hold anymore.
Next came fistfuls of sand, up to the rim. There was no more room, or so we thought, but then she poured in some water, showing there had still been space.
Perhaps you’ve heard that parable before and about how it represents our lives. If the items placed in the jar had been added in reverse, there’s no way everything could fit; but by putting the big things in first, there was room in the gaps for the smaller stuff.
This concept in managing time and priorities, by remembering to keep the main things the main things, has traveled with me through time; but I haven’t always done the best job of applying the lesson on a practical level.
For quite a while I’ve felt like I’m drowning in tiny details and sinking in insignificant tasks that demand to be tended to. This has been frustrating.
After a lot of labor, I’m finally getting my jar cleared and clean, so I can get back to keeping the main things the main things. I’ve been working to make a plan more in line with my priorities, and launched a new strategy today. This Do-over did my heart a lot of good, especially in the realm of trying to be a writer.
What Did I Accomplish Today to Be a Writer?
I did Day 92 of the 100 Words a Day Writing Challenge 2024 through L.A. Writer’s Lab.
I finally faced my manuscript again, going through every page and setting each part in appropriate file folders marked according to story points on my outline structure. I’m calling the process my “Manuscript Machine”, which maybe sounds a little cold for any kind of artistic endeavor; but I do feel like there needs to be some kind of efficiency to the process, or I’ll never get an end product out.
I’m going “Henry Ford” on my quest to become an efficient writer.
After that, I did a rough estimate of how much I need to reduce my word count by and came up with a strategy for storming that daunting task by subdividing the story points into sections of a binder, then marking how many pages I have, with hopes of cutting them down to a more manageable size. So I guess I have thrown in some mathematical equations to the creative process.
As I go, I’m recording each step in hopes of sending other manuscripts that are still in draft form through the same “assembly line” for increased quality control.
Thinking of small bites of progress for each page, chapter and book, instead of a big slices from the entire series, seems much more doable to me, so I’m encouraged.
After that was done, I participated in my writing group, where two people shared their work. It’s exciting to see improvement with each subsequent piece as we each incorporate feedback received from the other members of the group.
Next, I worked on a piece I’m planning to submit for a collaboration with the Wabash Writers Club. Tears were streaming down my face by the time I finished the first draft. It had been a while since I’d just sat down and had protected time to write something meant specifically for publication (aside from these posts). It felt good to do that and gave me a glimpse of remembrance about how much I love to express myself through written words.
As for speaking – not so much.
That’s about all I’ve got to say for now.
Thanks for reading what I’m writing,
Jody Susan
This story came to mind after I finished today’s writing piece:
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