Keep Moving, Keep Writing

Post date: Sep 19, 2016 2:3:56 PM

Writing is hard. More like writing well. ...Okay, editing is hard not fun. Putting words on the page is easy, as long as I carve out the time to do it. I can set aside time, but something always comes along to distract me. Whether it's a video game that just updated or someone watching TV or the neighbor's dog barking or a myriad of things. Pretty much any excuse can and often does pop up to keep me from writing (and especially editing).

It's not because I dislike writing. I find myself happiest when writing. I can't help but smile (editing, revising, and rereading is a different story, but necessary). That doesn't mean I don't allow distractions to pull me away from my joy. Plenty of things vie for attention every day. The struggle is shifting through those to the ones that matter.

I fail. A lot. But, I continue to press on. There's always tomorrow...unless I'm working on a deadline. I shouldn't put things off, however, that I can do today. But one missed day won't ruin a manuscript. One hour away from the television won't kill me. Thirty minutes of editing can't be as painful as I imagine.

Pushing toward a goal is daunting, if the goal seems unattainable. So, instead of trying to climb Everest, I settle for Kilimanjaro. Wait a second...

I need to go outside in winter before I decide to climb a mountain.

Regardless of my mountaintop aspirations, the beginning is the same. One foot in front of the other. One step at a time, whether forward or upward.