I went to the pool last night. I didn't go in immediately. I sat in my car and watched the ten or so new ladies, all with their bright new gym bags, and undoubtedly new swimsuits, march inside the building. I'm betting they all had great big resolutions--to get fit. To lose weight.
Those are great goals. I made a similar resolution back in September.
I've been going to the pool three times a week, rain, snow or shine. I do my crunches and my frog jumps and my laps. Because I have to to reach my goal. I have to do the work.
That line of new swimmers reminded me of the rush to new pubs that always seem to come around this time of year. In the last couple of months, I had two newbies ask me to read for them. I did. The work wasn't horrible. Both had promise. But each needed a lot of work.
Both writers have quit.
Packed up their manuscripts and gone home.
You see, they were unwilling to do their crunches and laps and frog jumps. They wanted it NOW.
Publishing is a lot like exercise...lotsa laps, crunches and frog hops. A few setbacks...and a lot more work.
Keep at it long enough, though, and you will succeed.
Those are great goals. I made a similar resolution back in September.
I've been going to the pool three times a week, rain, snow or shine. I do my crunches and my frog jumps and my laps. Because I have to to reach my goal. I have to do the work.
That line of new swimmers reminded me of the rush to new pubs that always seem to come around this time of year. In the last couple of months, I had two newbies ask me to read for them. I did. The work wasn't horrible. Both had promise. But each needed a lot of work.
Both writers have quit.
Packed up their manuscripts and gone home.
You see, they were unwilling to do their crunches and laps and frog jumps. They wanted it NOW.
Publishing is a lot like exercise...lotsa laps, crunches and frog hops. A few setbacks...and a lot more work.
Keep at it long enough, though, and you will succeed.
Good for you, D! I'm always surprised when writers quit, aren't you? I never felt as though writing was a choice. :-)
ReplyDeleteSo very true, D'Ann! Perseverance is key to success! And good for you!
ReplyDeleteIt's so true! It takes a lot of effort and determination. Most goals are achievable, if only you keep going! Especially after those setbacks. I like to make sure that any setback just means I can improve somewhere, and use it as a reason to push forward.
ReplyDeleteWho was it that said the difference between a professional author and an amateur was the professional author didn't quit? It does take a lot of effort, but you're right, you just have to stick with it. Tweeted.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous post! I wholeheartedly agree. It's so important to never give up. It's not a sprint but a marathon. Think about the authors that wrote for 10 years before they got their big break or the inventors who had so many failures before succeeding. I think that sometimes the ease of self-pubbing makes people believe it's easy to publish but they quickly see that it's not a fast ride to best selling. Tweeted!!
ReplyDeleteI took a vacation from my writing crunches and laps for the past 3 weeks. Today I'm getting back to it. Good for you for sticking with your swimming. It's a great way to exercise.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your encouraging words! all of us who write need them. And now to the gym!
ReplyDeleteYou can do anything you put your mind (and the work) to do. Its sad that the writers quit. Getting feedback from a published author is amazing and they should have been encouraged. I had one friend read one of my novels and no one else saw either of mine until the editor. I have learned that readers (beta, etc.) and critic partners are invaluable and I've grown more as a writer this last year than I did in the decade of writing alone.
ReplyDelete:)
Good analogy. Best of luck with hitting your goals.
ReplyDeletegreat post - and great analogy, D'Ann! Lets get those crunches going!
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming by, all.
ReplyDeleteSo true! And I liked Liz's remark--wanting to write is fine, writing is fine--but if you quit, you may not be a writer. I don't think writer's have choices--except whether or not to keep doing the crunches. Have to admit though--the thought of me doing literal as opposed to figurative frog jumps is nauseating!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your goals, D'Ann and keep crunching.:):)
ReplyDeleteI've gone through stages of my life where I have written less--but writing is always on my mind--whether it's a character talking or what-iffing. Like Liz I've never considered writing a choice--it's who I am.
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