That's what being a professional writer is all about. Did you know that? It's not about waking up each morning with birds singing, wonderful emails from fans the world over, and breakfast in bed prepared by the household staff and served on real china with real silver and a real teapot, etc.
No, being a professional writer is about dragging your sorry butt out of the bed even though your dreams seem more interesting than the book you're working on. It's about brushing your teeth, wrapping your hair in a scrunchie, and turning on the coffee or the kettle. It's about getting that hot cup of motivation (mine happens to be decaf these days) and going to your writing place. Mine is an office upstairs in my house.
It's about opening the document and staring at the words, thinking they are probably the worst words ever written and that your career is most certainly over, and then clicking over to email, Facebook, and Twitter to waste time rather than face the task.
And then you might get the lovely surprise of a nasty review, or the news that your book is the only one not in the top whatever of Amazon while all the rest of the books in your line that month are. You might want to go back to bed and cry, or turn off the computer and swear you're giving up because this is too hard.
But you can't. Because you're a professional and you signed on the dotted line and someone is expecting delivery of this monstrous piece of junk in a few weeks (if you're lucky) or a few days (if you aren't). You. Must. Deliver.
And because you are a professional, you will. You will tackle that manuscript like it's you or it (which it is) and you will somehow, eventually, win the battle. You may even like it when you're done. You may be pleasantly surprised, and you may cry and laugh and tell the cat what a genius you are. (The cat doesn't care, but say it anyway.)
And then, if your editor thinks it's not as good as you think it is, you may get it back with a letter that tells you what you need to do. The process of crying and foot dragging will start all over again, but you'll wrestle the beast once more and you will, eventually, win.
If you really are a professional, you will do this even if you didn't sign on the dotted line. Because you want to sign on that line and you better get used to the pain now. You have to write even when you don't really feel like it. Some days, you won't feel like it. Other days, you can imagine nothing more fun in this world that sitting at the computer in your jammies and making stuff up.
But the truth, dear friends, that I've learned after nearly 3 years in the published trenches is this: it doesn't get easier. It usually gets harder. Better prepare for it now.
And with that piece of hard fought wisdom, I'm back to the trenches to battle these revisions. I will definitely win–but I'll probably get a bit bloodied in the process.
Great post. Perfect timing for me. I had a good writing day yesterday then hit a wall. Couldn’t think where to go next. Tried working on a different chapter but nothing was happening. I moved to a different chair in the room and wouldn’t you know it, ideas started flowing again. Weird.
Then I realized last night everything I wrote in the “new” chair wouldn’t work. Everything stunk to high heaven. Went to bed wanting to cry. Woke up and stayed in bed thinking about what I wrote and, bam, an answer came to me. Can’t wait to get back to work. Ah, such is the life of a writer.
Thanks! I so often hit that wall, I ought to have a flat nose. 😉 It’s just a part of the process, unfortunately, and it darn well hurts. I’ve moved to another room too, moved to a different computer, even to the bed. Whatever it takes to shake up the muse, I say.
Sorry your new chair words didn’t work, but hey, your subconscious was busy and you finally got your answer! I hope the words flow today, and that they are as near perfection as possible. 🙂
Loved this post, Lynn! I just sent off revisions last night & I so identify. During my 15 hour marathon yesterday, I found myself cutting, pasting, trimming, moving scenes around … You know that scary moment when you think OMG, I’m butchering this manuscript? LOL – yup, I had that moment of terror yesterday. But somehow it all came together & while I’ll likely end up doing more work on it, that’s OK because I have an uber talented editor who helps me take my fledgling drafts to the next level.
Oh, Vicky, I understand that last marathon session before hitting send! At some point, you’re just working on adrenaline, fear, and hope. I get to where I really can’t see the forest for the trees anymore. I just can’t see that big picture. It’s kind of like driving in the fog, isn’t it? You’re going fast, keeping the car on the road though you can barely see, and praying the end is near. Praying you don’t land in the ditch.
Hope you get good news on the revisions! 🙂
This is a timely thing for me! I just finished my two short term writing goals. I need to sit down today and get back to work, even though I’m feeling a bit worn out. There’s still things to take fix and editing to be done. Even if I don’t feel like it.
Congrats on reaching those goals! And though it’s never easy when you’d rather be doing something–anything–else, you gotta put the bottom in the chair and do the work. You aren’t alone, believe me. 🙂 I have major strides to make today, sigh.
LOL Lynn, geez! Get another cup of coffee and a donut, woman!
I know where you are, my friend, but I have to gently disagree that this is not all being a professional writer is about. This is what a bad day is. 😉
There are days like this, sure. Sometimes weekends like this (I had one back in Nov getting a book rewritten — my choice, not my ed — in 4 days before deadline), but it came out great. Barely any edits. Always amazes me.
Frankly, when writing is too hard, too miserable, too negative, don’t feed the negative beast. Do something fun, creative, well-filling. Take a nap. Read. Watch TV.
The thing I have learned after 7 years in the writing trenches (and that’s not all that long compared to many, obviously) is that I work better when I am happy and enjoying it. When I am relaxed and in the flow. When I have faith that I am good at what I do, and while today is a bad day, tomorrow will be better.
I don’t think being a professional writer means being miserable and forcing yourself to work when you don’t want to — it does mean having a solid work ethic and getting the job done, but that doesn’t mean you have to force yourself to work when you really don’t want to. In fact, it might mean knowing when you need to back off for the good of your sanity and the good of the book.
I’ve always been of the opinion that it makes more sense to take a day off if it means you’ll write better the next day, rather than forcing yourself to write crap today. 😉
That’s just me, but it’s another view. I’ve done the miserable writer thing, and you know, I figured I could be miserable at other things and make more money, so I would rather be happy about writing — not that there aren’t hard days or hard books, but overall, it’s better to let a bad day pass and then find what makes you happy about it all. And vent to friends when you need to. 🙂
Get a cookie. 🙂
Sam
Ha, I hear what you’re saying, and I really didn’t mean to make it sound like I am totally miserable all the time. Not at all! I love what I do!
And I do agree with taking a day off from time to time. I do it all the time. But what I’m talking about is how we let Other Things creep in and steal our time away. How when the writing is hard to face, and it really can be, we want to run away.
When I was unpublished, I wasted a lot of time by taking those days off. Many, many of them. Sometimes you really do have to sit down and push through.
I have unpublished friends who’ve been working on the same book for six years. Unpublished friends who get discouraged and go find other things to do because they can’t face the very difficult task of pushing through the blockage. Before you know it, they haven’t looked at the WIP in weeks.
Sometimes, when you are forced to look at the work (because of that looming deadline, for instance), the answer comes along. That’s what being professional is — doing the work instead of taking the excuse.
Of course we need to refill the well! Just last night, I watched my DVR-ed Castle. Last week I went to see a movie. And I read every night. 🙂 I’m not about self-flagellation. Not at all.
But I do think you have to look at the writing like a job, like work, and sometimes it’s going to be work. My worst day writing still beats my best day doing any other job I’ve done. No question.
I may grumble and groan about my revisions, but I don’t hate them — I hate the process, but love the result. And I really, really want my unpublished friends who are trying so hard to know that it’s okay to feel that way. That published authors feel that way all the time.
You have to have a life. Definitely. Don’t neglect family, don’t neglect your marriage (or relationship), and don’t deny yourself fun just because you have a book to finish. But also don’t go skipping off into the tulips with no end in sight. If you really are miserable at the writing, all the time, then you probably do need to find something else to do.
But I maintain that a professional (pub or unpub) will still do the work even when it hurts. Because that’s how you get through it and reach the other side. 🙂
I agree with you on a practical level, but see it as a personal thing not to feed the negative about writing. I also tend to think pushing through a book or finishing it is just “showing up” LOL — doing the basic job we’re supposed to do. Dh and I debate the terms of what makes a professional from time to time — it’s something that’s always interested me, just what the term means. Some people define it according to being paid, or how much you are paid, or your background, or whatever… it’s interesting. I think dedication and doing your job to the best of your ability is certain one criteria, for sure.
You still should have a cookie. 🙂
Sam
I guess it depends on your process, but I don’t see pushing through the book as a bad thing. You have to get the draft down before you can fix it sometimes. And with 4 books a year on the schedule, I have to show up pretty often. 😉
It might depend on the type of books too. Mine are emotionally draining, but Presents is a very emotional line to start. Are there lighter lines? I think so, though I can’t say for sure because I mostly read HPs, Desires, and a few Blazes.
The truth for me is that I put a lot of heart and soul into these books, and I often need a recovery period before starting another one.
It’s not always fun because I have to deal with a lot of dark stuff sometimes — but I think that’s who I am as a writer! When I skim the dark, or don’t give it the attention it deserves, my editor calls me on it.
I don’t think money has anything to do with being a professional writer. It’s a nice bonus, but I like to think I was a professional before I got the first paycheck.
I think it’s awesome most of your writing days are so positive — I also think you need to bottle that and sell it. I’d buy some! 😉
I really don’t think I’m having negative days though, just that the work gets hard and I get frustrated. And I think that’s pretty normal for a lot of writers. Otherwise what’s up with all the booze and chocolate? 😀
I don’t have any cookies, but I’m going to go have a brownie. Surely that works too?
Great post. Definitely gave me motivation. It really is very hard sometimes to write every day, there’s so many other things that get in the way. So thinking of yourself as a professional, in this as in anything else, definitely helps.
Glad if it helped you, Yelena! It can be hard, absolutely, to write every day (or nearly every day). But yes, I believe it’s a job — a great job, to be sure! — and we have to show up for it.
Best of luck with your writing! 🙂
Such a great post, Lynn!
The birds haven’t sung in weeks and I can’t remember the last time I had breakfast in bed, but I find that if I muscle on, writing even when I’m not inspired, pretty soon I have something I can work with.
And for me, going back in and layering in the good stuff is much more fun than writing that first draft.
~Laurie
Hi, Laurie! Thanks! I think muscling on is a critical skill, and I think we can fix what might not be that great the first time around. If we wait for perfection, we might never do it! Or I know I’m in danger of that, anyway. Could fuss over the same darn page for HOURS.
Love what you said about layering! Yes, that is always fun when you see how you can expand and create nuances, etc.
Great post, Lynn. It’s one I will refer back to often. Your words motivate me. Thanks!
Thanks, Ursula! If you find it motivating, then I’ve done my job. 🙂
Hey Lynn,
This was a very good post and came a great time for me. I’m struggling to get some things done on deadline and see what you mean. Work is work, there’s no doubt about that. Being happy about what you’re doing is what makes the difference. I know you are happy about writing so I know exactly what you mean here.
Developing a thick skin and being positive keeps every writer afloat. The fact that we have places to stay in contact with another is a very positive thing too. It’s always wonderful to learn that you aren’t the only mad scientist in the room. LOL!
As for me, I’m going to take this post and think on it some more. Showing up for work everyday is like having an apple everyday, it keeps the negative beastie at bay and enables one more time to play. 😎
Hi, Kathy! Girl, you have so many irons in the fire! But yes, you gotta show up for the writing part or it’s just going to be a dream. I’d say after that craft corner you did about contests, your skin is pretty thick!
LOL about the mad scientist!
Hi Lynn: I made a commitment to write every day (except for high days such as Christmas–and extreme illness) a long time ago. Right now, as an unpubbed writer, I don’t think I have the luxury to fool around. I enforce deadlines, I push through blocks, and I toil on. I was on vacation to see my BFF in Canada all week. I wrote a minimum of a scene a day for my newest WIP’s first draft. Are all of them pretty? No. But I have a better feel for my story as a result. I also got a revise and resubmit letter while on vacation. I started brainstorming the revision based on the suggestions. A small part of me got very nervous that I couldn’t commit the time to work on it full throttle yet, but at least I started. I know that pubbed writers don’t have that luxury. A deadline is a deadline.
Glad you got your revisions completed for the book, too. You deserve more than a cookie. How about a glass of wine?
Great post!!
🙂