do it quietly (if you have to)

So it would seem I underestimated how long it was going to take me to edit. I’m still stuck in the ending of the story, only slightly further along than I was this time last week. Because of the nature of this story a lot of things come together in the end and not a moment sooner. 


While I’m editing its taking a whole other level and kind of self discipline. In the first draft I could just write and write and write, without thinking too hard about story structure, continuity, or grammar. The first draft simply had to exist, now I have to make it work and make it make sense. 


I am loving my book just as much as when I was writing the first draft. The character and her journey are so timely in my life and its such a joy to tell this story. As much as the process can frustrate me and make me doubt myself, it remains a process I’ll be happy to do over and over again. 


In over news the season is changing, and it’s getting colder. 


I wanted to stop there with that last thought, because I hadn’t had any profound thoughts about art and creativity, hadn’t made any spectacular progress in any process. But that’s just it, sometimes perseverance looks quiet. Sometimes it isn’t screaming as you haul yourself over the next mountain. Sometimes it isn’t a magnificent show of the human spirit. Sometimes it is simply the strength of getting up every day and doing the same thing again and again. 


For me right now, in these days, it is a quiet thing. To continue to get up every day and do the small things that will lead me to the life I wish to live. I want to be an author of wonderful life filled stories, that bring people life. I want to love people well, as best as I possibly can. I want to live a full life, one full of love, and in order to do that I must continue on in the only way I know how and that is quietly. 


They say do it scared, to not let fear stop you, to do the big things scared if you have to. What I’m saying is do it quiet if you have to. Do it softly if you need to, do it gently. But don’t you dare make an excuse out of your sensitive soul. So if you’re scared still do it and do it softly, do it quietly. Volume does not equal authority. 


The world needs more gentle souls. 

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