45,000

lessons from the trenches

I have officially hit 45,000 words on my book manuscript. This feels like an achievement because…I think it is. To see that number, to say it out loud, seems hefty. There’s weight behind this thing now. It’s got momentum. Plenty of track now sits behind me. While a long road still lay ahead, I’ve also covered quite a bit of ground. I’ve been on my own journey just to get to this point. Of that, I am proud.

I cannot, however, say definitively that the hard part is behind me. There is a metric fuck ton of work to do still. As previously discussed on PDW, the first draft might not even be the hardest part. The hardest part might still be lurking around the corner (as hard parts are so wont to do). I can’t say for sure since this is my first book, but I’ve got my suspicions. The trick is to make sure my self-admiration at 45,000 doesn’t lead to complacency.

With that in mind, here are some things I’ve picked up along the way. These are particular to me and might not be universally helpful. And besides, things that aim to be ‘universally helpful’ almost always land at ‘universally mediocre.’ But there they are:

1. My best writing happens first thing in the morning before my brain gets polluted with other people’s words, the insanity of the world, and my own bullshit.

2. Steady progress is composed of really unsexy and practically-boring repetition.

3. The more you write, the more you write.

4. It is much easier to keep the creative engine going than to get it started.

5. This book is on its own timeline; my own ideas be damned.

6. My phone must not be within arms reach.

7. Writing is fun.

That’s all for this week.

Hope you all are keeping the creative fires alive in your own way and in your own world!