My Journey to Become a Writer 04/25/2024 Post #116

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I can grow quite weary of trying to accomplish things that keep getting away from me; but those can be metaphors for my writing.

For instance, sorting through my garage has become a bit of a thorn in my side; but it is also a picture of what I’m trying to do in my manuscript. There’s a huge list of stories and thoughts that I’m sorting through – trying to figure out what to keep and where to place it, or what to discard.

I’ve set everything in a pile and have to pick up each piece of “stuff” to try and match it up with like items, or put it in a sensible place.

Instead of seeing organizing tangible items as taking time from my writing, I’m trying to make my motions mimic what I want to do with my work as a writer. How can I take this overwhelming process of putting everything in a proper place and apply it to becoming an author?

If anything, the patience and discipline to do the job well and do it right will help me grow as the kind of person that completes work in an orderly fashion.

That helps my perspective that this isn’t all a waste.

I am grateful for what I have as far as worldly goods, and also for the stories I’ve been given. I’d just like to get them into working order.

When it comes down to it, these are very much first world problems, so I don’t mean to dwell on them so much.

Last night I cleared the remaining clutter into one big pile, so I could get a better look at things one piece at a time. Sometimes I need to do the same thing with my discouragement – just set it all in one big heap (usually on the pages of a journal), and then I can start sorting through it with a much clearer perspective.

But I’d better get started with my day instead of rambling away the daylight…

What Did I Accomplish Today to Be a Writer?

I did Day 116 of the 100 Words a Day Writing Challenge 2024 through L.A. Writers’ Lab, and I read some pieces other people in my writing group have written. Seeing the work of others helps me get a better perspective on what I want my own style to be – since everybody has a different way of expressing themself.

Research & Development I’m Doing to Improve My Writing & Business Strategy

Reading other people’s work has been a good opportunity to mull over whether I’d like to expand my business into the realm of editing. This is something I truly enjoy.

I’m hoping to finish that book I’ve been reading today, and at some point soon listen to its author. Even though she and I probably don’t share the same world view, I do respect her accomplishments as a writer and think she has some good tips. This book has been outside my comfort zone – which helps me think that I don’t have to write with a goal that everyone will like my work. That’s pretty much impossible.

I also see that she writes this particular book with the assumption that everyone agrees with her, which hurts her cause. I can see how that creeps in to my work as well.

“Don’t be presumptuous,” is part of my life plan; but I pretty much need reminders multiple times a day.

Well, I need to go mow my lawn. It’s like editing the grass. I’d better go.

Thanks for reading what I’m writing,

Jody Susan

It’s interesting to look back and see that in some ways I’m still stuck in the same old ruts; but I have inched forward some:

My Journey to Become a Writer 01/18/2024 Post #18