Over at Romance Divas, I have a Journey’s thread called Learning Curve. Things I’ve learned about myself, and the process of writing and being a writer (which are not at all the same thing!)
I thought I’d share with you what I’ve learned about myself in the past few months:
1. I’m a writer not a plumber
put that way, it’s pretty obvious. But I’ve been an editor (and more and more I doubt I was any good at it) a cover artist (which I think I did well) a website designer, banner designer…etc. It’s easy to get sidelined with all the other ‘writing related stuff’…but I’m a writer, not a plumber
2. I need to learn to be satisfied with what I am doing without losing my edge to do more.
3. I’m not a morning person.
4. The closer to The End I get, the more miserable a human being I become.
5. Children have radar for when Mommy is writing as opposed to chatting or updating threads on RD.
6. It might be a good idea for me to double quadruple check my motivation for things.
7. I really really really freaking HATE being wrong.
8. Being wrong doesn’t mean you’re stupid.
9. I don’t suck *bootydancing*
(yeah, I needed three CPs, two beta-readers and a husband to make me realise I might not be such a bad writer after all.)
10. Sometimes you’ve got to go backward to get forward
I’ve gone back to the genre of writing I love, and I’ve sort of fixed the goals I want to achieve…I’d gotten a little off track.
So there you are. The first 10 lessons of my writing life. Most of them applicable to Real Life, too, for the record. And funny enough, I’m pretty sure if I’d found a list like this a year ago…I’d have nodded, but there’s something to be said for learning a lesson yourself. Of course, I’m the kid who had to put her hand on the stove element to learn it’s hot, so if you can just read my list and learn from it, more power to you.
I do have to wonder, though…is it just me? Do the rest of you sit and assess and reassess what you’re doing, where you’re heading, what you need to change to get yourselves on track? Or do you just take life as it comes, and figure it’ll fall into place when it’s time?
May 18th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
You’re insane. This is simply another insanity post. Especially because of number 9. You roooock.
May 18th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
Paying attention and doing regular ’self assessments’ is a good thing. Am I happy? Am I on the right path? To me it just means you’re awake and you wont look up from your life in thirty years going-”How the heck did I get here? What happened and how did I miss it?”
As far as #9-I will bootydance for you all you want. You are, without doubt, a fantastic writer. You still have my fan girl email right? I still feel exactly the same 
There is a balance-a certain amount of going with the flow-but you should always check and make sure its your flow and not someone elses.Thats my theory anyway.
May 18th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
#2 - Doesn’t everybody?
#3 - Morning is for the birds. Err, except for night owls. ^_^
#5 - That’s why they invented duct tape. Right?
#7 - Pfft. You’re never wrong.
#9 - …. no comment.
May 18th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
Crystal: thanks
I just need to work on the whole confidence thing. And insanity…well, shyeah!
RG: Framed and hanging on my wall! And that ‘flow’ is exactly it…not getting so caught up in other people’s plans/goals that you take them on as your own. (which I’ve done!)
Nonny: your answer to #7 is why I love you
May 18th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
If RG does a booty dance, I will, too!
May 18th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Right!!!!!!!!!! I NEVER ruminate about this shit. I NEVER sit and try to figure out where I’m going, what my goals are etc. Oh no. Not ever.
Listen, if you’re going to “out” me, could you warn me?
LOL.
May 18th, 2007 at 9:46 pm
Wtf is a morning person!? Such a creature exists!?
I’m definitely with you on 4 and 5. 9, eh, I have my moments lol.