Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Blog Chain: Never Give Up, Never Surrender

Blog chain time again! Sarah started this round. She asked:

What has been the most unexpected part of your writing journey up to this point? What has happened that you could never have predicted? Has it been a help or a hindrance?

I live under the delusion that everything I do will be perfect the first time. Why should I need to practice or work to make myself better? Everything should be easy. And if it's not, I almost always quit. No, I take that back. Other than writing, I have always quit. Whether from boredom because I feel like I've mastered all I can master, frustration because I can't do something perfectly, or just plain laziness, I always quit--cross stitching, crocheting, knitting, sewing, scrapbooking, digital scrapbooking, college, I could go on forever....

Then I started writing.

And writing is hard, like, titanium hard. Perfection pretty much impossible. Like you didn't know that already. ;) But even after nearly two and a half years of working seriously toward publication, I'm still chugging along with no plans of quitting. That's way longer than I've ever stuck with anything. So, the most unexpected part for me has to be realizing I'm actually capable of following through on something. I'm not a career quitter. Woohoo! ;)

And I never could've predicted how many awesome people I would meet along the way. Some I've come to think of as my close friends, even though we haven't met in real life--yet. :). This journey would be so much more difficult without their love and support, and without the amazing blogging community I get to be a part of. So, definitely a help.

What about you? What has been the most unexpected part of your writing journey? Anything that has happened that you didn't predict?

Be sure to check out Christine's post from yesterday, and Kat's post tomorrow.

And don't forget about my contest. There's still plenty of time to enter. :)


17 comments:

  1. I am exactly the same. I quit everything from horse-riding to book-binding, but I'm still slogging away at this writing thing.

    I think the most unexpected thing for me is finding myself in this amazing community. I never expected to connect with other people who share my dreams. So grateful for that!

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  2. "And writing is hard, like, titanium hard."

    I couldn't agree more. I'm a perfectionist and tend to dive in with both feet. Writing is the one and only thing that gives me pause at times. Still, I keep going because, published or not - I can't imagine a life NOT writing. (Hugs)Indigo

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  3. I can totally identify with your post. Can't tell you how many e-mails I've sent to my crit partners where I end it with, "This is just so hard."

    But I hope in the end, I can look back and say, "I'm so thankful I didn't give up. It was worth it."

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  4. Heh heh Abby. You and I are way too similar. All the reasons you give for quitting things are things I'm also guilty of. But like you, I also haven't given up writing (which is amazing). Great post.

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  5. I could've written this post (Galaxy Quest title and all, lol!), since quitting when things didn't work out with other "hobbies" used to be my MO.

    I'm constantly surprised by my own persistence in this game. And how much I can actually juggle, editing, critting, blogging, blogging about other people's contests which I have stupidly forgotten to do... ahem.

    But the payoff—even those few words when people (not your family) say they like your writing—is so worth all that persistence and hard work.

    And I'm constantly surprised by the good will, friendliness, and talent of my online colleagues!

    Great post!

    XOXO
    Tere

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  6. I have loads of things I'd really really like to quit, but can't, that get in the way of writing. But I suppose as long as we keep working on writing, as much as humanly possible, it's all good.

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  7. Ah, the delusions of the perfectionist! I think I live in that same fantasy world. Fortunately I love revising and because of that, I’m pretty good at spinning straw into gold!

    Nice to meet you, I'm new to your blog. *Hi!*

    ~Lindsey Edwards
    www.thewritewords-lindsey.blogspot.com

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  8. Good for you not quitting...don't ever!

    What I've learned...I'm surprised that I can write novels. I never thought I'd do that. Now, if only they can find a home :D

    And I'm also amazed at the writing community. Priceless.

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  9. I have been known as a quitter too - especially with jobs during my college years. Somehow though as difficult as writing is, quitting it would be even harder.

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  10. Yes! This is definitely not a path to pursue if you're unwilling to keep going, no matter how difficult it seems. Drive and will can get you pretty far, be it just the will to improve your writing ability or the drive to keep climbing toward the next level of "success," whatever that may be for you.

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  11. I just want to copy and paste your answer for my turn. I couldn't have said this any better myself!

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  12. Totally agree! Keeping yourself moving forward in this endeavor needs inner strength--and lots of it! Great answer!

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  13. Wouldn't it be great to get it perfect on the first draft? Writing is the hardest thing I've ever done...and yet I keep writing. ;)

    Nice post!

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  14. To keep trying and trying is totally commendable and I think negates anything you quit. Maybe in the past you just didn't love those other things and why keep trying at something that you don't love and need. You're not a quitter; you're a fighter. :-)

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  15. I'm like you. For me, most of the things I do are about just wondering whether I can do them. Once I do them (playing a guitar or being an EMT) I lose interest. But writing is one of those things that always keeps you on your toes.

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  16. Oh man, I have wrestled that darn perfectionism trap for ever. even now, I can't seem to convince myself to cut myself a break from time to time. THANKS

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  17. You know what's funny? I went into writing thinking, "How can you practice writing skills? You either have it or you don't."

    I soon learned that the ones who have it...yeah, they practice a lot. :-)

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