Final Word Count: July 16, 2011- 0 words, 0 journal pages
I did no writing yesterday and while it felt good to veg out and do nothing, today I really feel like I’m missing a piece of me. It’s a wonderful feeling to be able to look back to yesterday’s work and realize that the morning before this hadn’t existed.
I had a really busy day yesterday but that’s really no excuse. When vegging out between getting home from the hairdresser until it was time to get ready for the dance, I think I was watching movies. I’m not saying you should be able to know where each minute of your day goes, but it’s such a waste to go to bed with a chunk of your day unaccounted for. My entire life was like that for years (mostly in college) and even within these short 2 weeks I’ve noticed the difference when I don’t do any writing.
I may get frustrated with a low word count but at the end of the day, it’s not the word count that matters but the fact that I’ve been productive with my life and I’ve been living. A fulfilling life doesn’t have to be filled with fast cars, skydiving expeditions and other wild adventures. The purpose of life is creation and that’s what I strive to do each day.
My writing may not be spectacular and I’m not striving for the reputation of James Joyce and his purported flawless first drafts. Nothing created is ever perfect and it’s the flaws that are derived from the struggle to bring this creation into being. However it turns out, I’m proud of it and of myself for sticking with it. Life sometimes will get in the way but that’s okay. Everything happens for a reason. Perhaps I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to continue working on the relationship chapter so I took the day off to recharge my batteries. There’s always tomorrow.
12 Novels in 12 Months 
0 words, 0 pages – you could fill the numbers with smileys or draw petals around them 🙂
I suppose that when you look at how professional authors work you’ll find that most of them have a regular day off. OK, when the editor is waiting for revision they may put in some extra shifts, but that’s temporary.
When running a marathon like yours enthusiasm gets you started, but you also need it to get you back on track. And how else would you recharge your enthusiasm and your creativity if not by living? Life wouldn’t get in our way if we didn’t need it to 😉
So very true! Thanks for the encouragement! I’m really lucky right now to be in a position to be able to do this so I’m really happy when life intervenes and boots me of schedule because it means something new and exciting is happening. As much as I’m in love with this project and I really notice how I don’t feel quite right if I miss a day I’ve also realized and accepted the fact that a day off here and there is necessary.
This was the perfect comment to start off a new week. Thank you!
You’re very welcome 🙂 🙂
Who knows, I might call on you for encouragement in November 😉