What Takes Priority?
January 4, 2001
7:27 a.m.
I finished a short story this morning. Or, I should say, I brought a short story to the point that I think it's ready for Lisa's (the wife/copyeditor, not the writer/friend) review. But, Ron, I hear you saying. What about that novel you were talking about? I know. I know. I got distracted by the break and my cold and the seemingly never-ending saga of what I'll call the site "upgrade". Believe me, I'll be back to it shortly. My goal is to have it in a marketable state by the end of March. I've got to have goals, you know? Otherwise, I just stop working. That's how I am But I couldn't leave this story sitting there. I wrote it late last year, and I like it. And I think it'll sell someplace (but then, what do I know). Mostly, though, I think it's a nice story that deserved to be finished. I'm proud of it because ... well ... because. It has a very tangible piece of me in it, and I could no more have left it sit alone on my hard drive than I could leave my hand sitting on my desk while I take off for work. I think it's important to strike while the iron is hot. I think it's important for a writer to work on what makes his soul feel right, no matter whether it fits the plan, or whether anyone else thinks its going to be any good, no matter whatever else is going on in his life. Yes, there are commitments in life, and yes, those must always be met. But I think a writer has to build himself a place inside his mind that is free from everything else, and he has to feed that place occasionally or else it dries up and blows away. So I broke from the novel long enough to clean it up. I'm sure it'll take a little more cleaning. Lisa always finds something that improves my work. But now the way is clear once again for the novel. And I'm thankful for that.   Have a great day.  Likely Excuse Daily Persistence is © Ron Collins |
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If you find you start a number of pieces that you don't ever bother finishing, that you lose interest or faith in them along the way, it may be that there is nothing at their center about which you care passionately. Anne Lamott |
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