Believe In It

Writing has been a large portion of my routine for the better part of six years now. And I can say, with certainty, that I have become more adept at the craft of writing, and at recognizing what constitutes good writing in both myself and others. Meeting up with The Plot Sisters every two weeks is the real reason behind that growth, but I should pat myself on the back, too: to keep a writing routine at all, no matter how much or how little, despite all the busyness that life bestows, is an accomplishment in and of itself.

But there's one aspect of writing that I need a little work on. Often, I read a book and I think, "This novel is published, and mine is not." And then, my mind spins into a downward spiral of self-doubt. The writing must be better. The query letter must be better. The premise must be better. A multitude of excuses for why my novel hasn't attracted an agent spring to mind.

And it's not for lack of trying, I tell you. My current WIP has been critiqued by my writing group, a published author, and a professional editor. It's been through multiple rounds of revision, and has been requested by agents. The problem isn't the book, or the feedback, or the fact that I live in southwestern Ohio and not New York City.

The problem is that I don't believe in it.

What does that mean?

I don't mean that I think the story isn't any good. I love the story and have always said, "It's a good story, dammit!" What I mean is that when I read other books and think about the fact that those authors are published and I am not, I always look at the negative, when I should be looking at the positive. Instead of lamenting the fact that my story hasn't found a good home, I need to remember that if the published book in my hand found an agent, then by golly, someday mine will, too. I have to believe in the process. In the book. In myself, really.

And that's just plum difficult to do in any aspect of life. Good luck to us all.

Happy Writing!
~Christina

Gratefulness

Thanksgiving is a great time to think about all that we're thankful for. But as one of my daughters' said, "Aren't we supposed to be thankful every day of our lives?"

My daughter, who will turn sixteen in January, uttered that statement in a somewhat snarky, only-as-a-teenager-can way. But she's right. We're supposed to be grateful for what we've been given every day, not just one day every year. And over the last several years, I've started my day with this mantra: "Every day that I wake up is a good day."

With the focus on the positive right from the moment I wake up, I've found that my days have changed. I no longer count the number of hours I have until I make it home from work or rue the number of minutes I have to spend in the car on Tuesdays driving my kids all over the city. My mind leans toward spreading the contentment I feel to others, and hope that with my cheerful countenance and can-do attitude, I might be able to turn someone else onto the thought that they, too, are grateful to be awake. Every. Single. Day.

That gratefulness spreads to my writing life as well. It's not the number of words I manage to get onto paper, or whether or not I've submitted enough in a week. Each story, blog post, or chapter is sufficient enough for me to say, "Thank goodness I could do that." Of course I have days where I'd like to get more accomplished, but I'm grateful for what I get done.

As we go into the thick of holiday season and the New Year, consider how starting your day with being thankful can change your life. You might just surprise yourself.

Happy Writing!

~Christina

You're Worth It

Three activities I engage the most in are parenting, writing, and running, probably even in that order. Do you know what those activities have in common? Or rather, what does one need to possess so as to be successful in all three of those activities?

I'll let you think about that for a minute . . .

(It's not a trick question.)

Okay, time's up. I'm sure you can a find many suitable responses to my question, but in my opinion, it's necessary to be consistent in order to be a successful parent, writer, and runner.

I cannot even imagine what chaos would have ensued at our house if we hadn't established rules and boundaries or set up a routine when the kids were small. We've adapted, shifted, and changed those lines (actual bedtimes is a great example), but we're consistent in having them (that we have a bedtime at all).

With writing, I find that blogging is a consistent way for me to practice the craft. In those busy months when I don't have as much time to put my fingers to the keyboard, I get rusty. My sentences are more clunky, my mind less free. It takes longer for me to get back into the groove of writing than it would have if I'd just taken the time to sit and write a few minutes each day.

And the same can be said of running. Everyone who has tried to maintain an exercise regimen knows that the best thing to do is to stick to a schedule. Being consistent about running has allowed me to keep it in my life for the last twenty-six years.

Of course, it's easy to say to yourself, I need to be consistent. What if consistency isn't a part of your life? How do you fold it in?

Well, I'm no expert, but I'd say to start small and remember that you're human. Let's say you want to try to ride your bike more often. Look at your schedule, see what openings you have, and begin with once or twice a week. When you've tackled going that often for several weeks, throw in another day. The same can be said for any activity: schedule it in. See how it goes.

But keep in mind that you'll need to be prepared to make adjustments. With most folks, life can get in the way at times. It's okay if you don't get out for that Wednesday bike ride. Do you have time for a ten-minute walk instead? And if not, don't berate yourself. Make sure to go out at the next scheduled time.

It might take a bit of work and determination to incorporate consistency into your lifestyle, but if the activity is important enough to you, it's worth the effort. And guess what? You're worth it, too. (And in the case of parenting, your family is definitely worth it.)

Happy Writing!

~Christina