A Work In Progress -- AKA: It's all about the writing, Man...
As any writer knows, at any given moment and on any given day there are no less than a million reasons NOT to apply oneself to one’s art. For example: the sun is shining. How can I possibly waste a sunny day, living as I do in a climate where sunny days are at a premium?
Not only that, but the kids need my help with their homework. The dog wants a walk. The laundry is calling me. The housework is, well, what it always is.
We all have these little “roadblocks” in our lives. When people ask me how I find time to write, given family obligations, the demands of a Full Time Job, and my desire for personal hygiene, I’ve always answered: You don’t ‘find’ time to write. You ‘MAKE’ time.
How smug of me! And yet, that mantra has stood me in good stead for quite awhile. Lately, though, the myriad of demands swirling around my peripheral vision have been overwhelming me. I am discovering that a ‘mantra’ alone cannot protect me from those pesky little life-duties that threaten to displace my art entirely.
I should interject at this point that I am an Aries. Yes, that’s right, I’m one of those people – that determined, fearless, continually reborn band of brothers and sisters, sometimes altogether too determined, (some might say stubborn?) (hell, who's kidding whom -- some might say "total pains in the ***) – who, being born in March or April, are 100% convinced that the Spring was invented for their sole gratification and rejuvenation.
While the rest of the Western world focuses its attention on January 1 as the start of the New Year, and while the Asian population counts Chinese New Year as it’s turning point, we Aries-types consider April 1 to be our personal "XIN NIAN". And more: not only is April 1 our New Year, complete with resolutions and plans enough to fill a lifetime, but it is also the day of our annual REBIRTH.
Every Aries man and woman out there knows exactly what I’m talking about. This is the time of year when all of our excuses fly out the window, leaving us holding nothing but our desire to achieve, our competitive spirits and our love of adventure.
So here I stand, nearing the end of this beautiful month of April, and I have to ask myself: Have I taken hold of the moment? Have I begun to spin the wheels of my own resolve? Or am I still making excuses for lethargy?
Recently I reviewed three wonderful books by writers of great talent and resolve: Xinran’s “The Good Women of China”; Vicki Delaney’s "Valley of the Lost”; and Dave Hugelschaffer’s “One Careless Moment”. All three of these writers have something in common beside my respect. They are all driven to see their projects to completion, regardless of criticism, roadblocks, or the slings and arrows of misguided fortune.
As am I. At the moment, I’m undertaking something new, and I admit it’s been off to a slow start. As with most ‘new’ things, my latest project is a little intimidating. You see, I’m working on a mainstream novel at the moment, as opposed to my usual ‘mystery’ genre. I’m reaching outside of my comfort zone, so to speak. And the growing pains are, well, kinda icky…
But enough excuses. We are all, each of us, works in progress, just like my latest novel. It’s all about finding our way from one end of life to the other, and the best we can hope for in between is a very long, very winding road.
So as I set off to work on Chapter 9, let me wish each of you a “Long and Winding Road”….
Look for updates on my “Work In Progress” in the near future.
Best in writing,
Donna Carrick
Not only that, but the kids need my help with their homework. The dog wants a walk. The laundry is calling me. The housework is, well, what it always is.
We all have these little “roadblocks” in our lives. When people ask me how I find time to write, given family obligations, the demands of a Full Time Job, and my desire for personal hygiene, I’ve always answered: You don’t ‘find’ time to write. You ‘MAKE’ time.
How smug of me! And yet, that mantra has stood me in good stead for quite awhile. Lately, though, the myriad of demands swirling around my peripheral vision have been overwhelming me. I am discovering that a ‘mantra’ alone cannot protect me from those pesky little life-duties that threaten to displace my art entirely.
I should interject at this point that I am an Aries. Yes, that’s right, I’m one of those people – that determined, fearless, continually reborn band of brothers and sisters, sometimes altogether too determined, (some might say stubborn?) (hell, who's kidding whom -- some might say "total pains in the ***) – who, being born in March or April, are 100% convinced that the Spring was invented for their sole gratification and rejuvenation.
While the rest of the Western world focuses its attention on January 1 as the start of the New Year, and while the Asian population counts Chinese New Year as it’s turning point, we Aries-types consider April 1 to be our personal "XIN NIAN". And more: not only is April 1 our New Year, complete with resolutions and plans enough to fill a lifetime, but it is also the day of our annual REBIRTH.
Every Aries man and woman out there knows exactly what I’m talking about. This is the time of year when all of our excuses fly out the window, leaving us holding nothing but our desire to achieve, our competitive spirits and our love of adventure.
So here I stand, nearing the end of this beautiful month of April, and I have to ask myself: Have I taken hold of the moment? Have I begun to spin the wheels of my own resolve? Or am I still making excuses for lethargy?
Recently I reviewed three wonderful books by writers of great talent and resolve: Xinran’s “The Good Women of China”; Vicki Delaney’s "Valley of the Lost”; and Dave Hugelschaffer’s “One Careless Moment”. All three of these writers have something in common beside my respect. They are all driven to see their projects to completion, regardless of criticism, roadblocks, or the slings and arrows of misguided fortune.
As am I. At the moment, I’m undertaking something new, and I admit it’s been off to a slow start. As with most ‘new’ things, my latest project is a little intimidating. You see, I’m working on a mainstream novel at the moment, as opposed to my usual ‘mystery’ genre. I’m reaching outside of my comfort zone, so to speak. And the growing pains are, well, kinda icky…
But enough excuses. We are all, each of us, works in progress, just like my latest novel. It’s all about finding our way from one end of life to the other, and the best we can hope for in between is a very long, very winding road.
So as I set off to work on Chapter 9, let me wish each of you a “Long and Winding Road”….
Look for updates on my “Work In Progress” in the near future.
Best in writing,
Donna Carrick
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