“If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”― Martin Luther King Jr.
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| Photo Courtesy of my darling photographer husband, Stefan. |
I must admit, I've been sloshing through the yuckity muck a lot this past year. And the loads of encouragement I've received from many of you has really helped me to keep moving forward.
Last week I received an encouraging message from lovely author, Sundee Frazier, that included the above quote. Dr. King's were the perfect words at the exact moment I needed to hear them. So I thought I'd share, in case some of you are also stuck in the yuckity muck, creeping along.
Sometimes we soar and other times we fall flat on our noses, right? But when we fall, do we give up, or do we keep slogging along on our scraped and bruised hands and knees?
I sincerely hope that all of you are flying. Or at least running. Or walking. But if you are crawling, you are still moving forward and that's what you have to do. I'm with you down here. And sometimes we find amazing treasure when we're so close to the ground. ^_^
And BTW, thanks for celebrating my 200th last week. The winner of Megan Bostic's NEVER EIGHTEEN is: LisaAnn !!! I have a feeling she's flying right now.
So Wipsters, how about you? Flying? Running? Walking? Crawling?
Last week I received an encouraging message from lovely author, Sundee Frazier, that included the above quote. Dr. King's were the perfect words at the exact moment I needed to hear them. So I thought I'd share, in case some of you are also stuck in the yuckity muck, creeping along.
Sometimes we soar and other times we fall flat on our noses, right? But when we fall, do we give up, or do we keep slogging along on our scraped and bruised hands and knees?
I sincerely hope that all of you are flying. Or at least running. Or walking. But if you are crawling, you are still moving forward and that's what you have to do. I'm with you down here. And sometimes we find amazing treasure when we're so close to the ground. ^_^
And BTW, thanks for celebrating my 200th last week. The winner of Megan Bostic's NEVER EIGHTEEN is: LisaAnn !!! I have a feeling she's flying right now.
So Wipsters, how about you? Flying? Running? Walking? Crawling?
I was crawling. And it was painful. But things changed this week.
ReplyDeleteWhat did I accomplish this week? Well, if you’d asked me a few days ago, I’d have said, “Not much”, except realize that because of the recent upswing in temperatures I needed to be wearing my ice vest sometimes for better focus. (I’ve also been a bit out of sorts, what with us being rear-ended last week.) But it still wasn’t enough. With DH’s help, I realized that *sob* my beautiful writing space wasn’t doing it for me, and the totally-tacky setup I’ve been using for months has become something that *feels* right. I’m back at the poker table and getting work done again, finally. It feels good. The rewrites are finally coming along again. It makes me cry when I think of how much this means to me. I was beginning to doubt myself.
Now I feel like, slowly but surely, I'm flying again.
May you be flying again soon yourself! ^__^
Thanks, Laura. I love that you're righting at the poker table. ^_^ Sorry about the read-ending. The last thing you need is more pain, but at least the cold and rain is back. . .
DeleteFly like the bald guy. ^_^
Ugh, I'm still crawling, but as Dr. King says, at least there's forward movement. I won't say there are days when I'm low-crawling backwards like a crab, but then there are supporters who pinch me in the behind and get me moving forward again.
ReplyDeleteAngelina, one of those peoples are you. I recall a day when I'd received some nasty comments and YOU were the only one out there who threw me a life rope. Do you remember? I do. I'll never forget it. Thanks for pulling me back up, sister.
I wrote a post yesterday apologizing to my creative muse. I've neglected her lately, and it was high time I gave her some credit.
May you keep rising up, Angelina. When you feel most down, call on your sassy muse for help. She'll put her hands on her hips and say, "Girl, you get your butt up. Now, let's move it!"
*Remember, crawling is hard on the knees*
Happy Monday, Wipsters!!
Thanks, Candy. I guess I should put on my knee guards.
DeleteKeep moving. ^_^
I was crawling. Now I'm walking, maybe even race walking. I futzed with a chapter all weekend only to wake up this morning and delete the whole dang thing. But it was a super smart move and now, as they say in the South, I'm cooking with gas.
ReplyDeleteI must admit to feeling a bit wobbly over the quality of my writing - you know the feeling - the "OMG-this-really-is-garbage" state of mind. But I'm ignoring that voice. I'm standing up to the bully saying "So what! Who cares if I want to wear mis-matched socks or sandals that my dog's nibbled a hole in. Who cares? I don't, so why should you, bully voice?" I'm just trying to crawl up inside of my character's head and let her take me deeper into the manuscript. Maybe when I emerge there will be something there.
Good luck to you all this week as you put one foot or hand in front of the other. You are each a constellation of amazing.
And P.S. - tell hubs, Great Photo!
DeleteAs you may know, I'm trying to run/walk every morning, literally. In German it's called fahrtlich (and yes, it's pronounced in a gross way). So I thought that might be an appropriate term to describe how you're feeling, but hey, it's a great training method. Your writing legs will firm up and soon you'll launch up and fly. ^_^
DeleteHubs says, "Thanks."
I'm definitely crawling. But I am moving, so there's that. I have a new beginning for the WIP and some serious new character notes. I've only added about 300 words in the last week, but the prewriting in my head has got to count for something. Now...If I can just get more than 2 hours of sleep at night. Happy May, everyone!
ReplyDeleteI'm visualizing all of us crawling along together, deep in thought, sitting back on our pampered bums, looking up at those who are flying by and waving. ^_^ Hope you get some good sleep soon. And yes, prewriting in the head counts. ^_^
DeleteI was flying in March, walking in April, now I'm crawling in May. I'll go for a slow jog in June and work my way back up to flying by August. :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great plan. ^_^
DeleteYay for forward motion! Love that quote, Angelina.
DeleteI would've said I was flying or at least running, but then I went and looked at my actual word count and I didn't get too far, ha! So I guess progress is a little subjective, too.
I decided to take my little girls on a road trip this week, so I really want to finish drafting the chapter I'm in before I go, and then I'll have the open road to think out my outline a little more. Sweet! So I'll probably be as slow/fast this coming week as the past one, but I'll definitely be moving forward!
Have a great week, all!
Kip
Have a great trip!
DeleteGreat quote! And great pic, too! I've got 17 pages left in my edit and I'm doing that weird, nervous horse thing, right before they're let out of the gate. I have trouble with beginnings and endings, so I know these last pages are going to be the hardest of all. But once I'm done, I'll do a final read-through, then off to betas! Which means, I'll have to work on something new - scary!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes with the final lap, Jennifer. We're cheering for you!
DeleteCrawling in brain sloshing spurts, but still crawling. I hit 45 pages (editing) on the WIP. The problem is, and I was talking to Laura about this a bit on twitter, that the WIP brings up my anxiety. So it's tough work.
ReplyDeleteOn the query side, I didn't submit this past week but WILL this one. Three queries.
However, amid the crawling, I did have a poem pubbed here: "UAV Pilot"
(((hugs))) Writing the tough stuff does cause the chest to tighten and the stomach to ache. Take lots of deep breaths.
DeleteNow I must go check out that poem. ^_^
Great quote! Last week I did a bit of flying, so far this week I'm crawling. But I do have hope! Just got some great and helpful beta feedback and am looking forward to imPlementing them this week.
ReplyDeleteYay for helpful feedback! I'm going to need someone to poke me to get me back on my feet this week. Feeling like the skies today.
DeleteTrudging.
ReplyDeleteThat, too. Seems like it's going around.
DeleteI'm kind of doing a strange stagger skip, lol.
ReplyDeleteNot bad, comparatively speaking, that is. ^_^
DeleteCraaaaaaawling (that's a very slow crawl).
ReplyDelete^_^
DeleteAt noon today I had every intention of heading over here from Twitter to report on my crawling, but I became sidetracked and spent the afternoon writing! How's that for a turnaround? I was barely strolling, mind you, but at least I was on my feet.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like I've been moving in fits and starts for several months. I've appreciated the encouragement I've found from everyone in this group, even if it just means everyone sympathizes because you've been in the same place. You guys are great!!
"...heading over here from Twitter to report on my crawling, but I became sidetracked and spent the afternoon writing."
DeleteNow that's a switch! Good to have you with us. ^_^
OMG, thank you soooooo much! I absolutely can't wait to read this; it looks so powerful! My email is lokane81@hotmail.com; please let me know what I need to do!
ReplyDeleteBeen flying a lot lately (at the expense of... say... sleeping), so I'm crazy excited to finally sit on my novel for awhile! The hard part will be staying away, I predict! (And then it's time for more revisions... And that's when the crawling and trudging and stagger skipping will begin!)
Good luck to everyone as you continue--regardless of how you get there! We're all moving forward, and that's all that matters. :)
Good to see some of us flying around here. ^_^ It is hard to stay away, but the longer you can stay away, the fresher your eyes will be.
DeleteAnother crawler over here...but I'm getting to my feet, ready to walk -- maybe even jog for a bit! :)
ReplyDeleteWho knew the majority of us were crawling along this month? Let's hope we all get on our feet by June! ^_^
DeleteHmmmm. I'm not crawling, but I wouldn't say I'm flying either. Walking perhaps. Which is okay with me. As long as there is forward motion, things are good ;)
ReplyDeleteNothing like a good walk. ^_^
DeleteI'm walking, too. I want to race to the finish line (only three scenes left to edit on my 3rd draft), but experience has taught me that if i rush through the rewriting I just end up having to go back and redo it.
ReplyDeleteHoping to finish 3rd draft by Friday and go out to celebrate (it's also my birthday)
We'll be ready to raise our hands in the air for you. Let us know. . .
DeleteI'm set to finish by the end of the month, 74% done my goal, I was flying earlier but I started crawling this week, had some life and health things crop up. Oh well good thing I was ahead! In another day I should be on page 200/341 of my readthrough note making.
ReplyDeleteBeen making a post a week on my review and reading good books!
Good books help us get up and walk. Hope you're feeling better now. ^_^
DeleteI figured that was a professional photo. Seriously, he could sell that somewhere.
ReplyDeleteOf course, I've had my share of crawling days. When I do, I tell myself that if 100 words is all I'm up to doing, then I'm still 100 words farther than I was the day before. For the past few weeks I've been flying, because I have to. Still on track to finish the first draft by the end of the month, but it means more flying.
His favorite thing to do is shoot eagles (also his favorite expression, just to get a rise out of people.)
DeleteI also use the 100 word philosophy when necessary. Happy to hear you're still flying. Those wings must be getting tired. Hope you're catching many updrafts. No pun intended. ^_^
Walking, I guess. Or strolling, as in no speed records or side stitches. But since my knees were getting sore from the crawling, it's an improvement.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear it!
DeleteWhat an amazing quote! Thank you for sharing. I'm definitely crawling - haltingly and painfully. I had so much fun doing WIPmadness in March, then life just kicked me in the butt. I've been trying - mostly in vain - to find time to squeeze some writing in... Anyway, things have calmed down a little and I just joined JuNoWriMo to give me a little added motivation to get back into it. I've still been thinking and dreaming about the story, but I haven't been able to make much progress this past month...or two. It's encouraging to remember that no matter how slowly I'm moving, I'm still moving forward. I'm hoping to finish the first draft in June...but by the end of the summer for sure...hopefully. :)
ReplyDeleteYou can do it! And if you need some supportive encouragement, we're here to help. ^_^
Delete