THE DAY
So the day began as it normally does: up; coffee; start to work; eventually deal with the cats and the husband, though not necessarily in that order. Wrote some more. I think I did a fair amount, got almost all the way through to where I wanted to be before I ran out of energy and time. Did the gym, strength training, and then met up with the husband and a lovely couple for cocktails.
We had a blast–and I got myself into a pickle. The husband wants to write. Has good ideas–has a lovely back story all fleshed out though he needs a direction–and he needs deadlines, a reason to write, etc. So I gave him a challenge: by such and such a date in April, have the first 50 of a book done, and the drinks are on me.
Well, by the end of the evening, I have kind of the same deadline: be done with the book by the next time we meet.
And…ack.
Am I up to that type of challenge? I’ve written books in the same amount of time. I *think* so, but it will mean really doubling down.
Something of a challenge, I guess. That’s okay. Challenges are good. I saw a Facebook post that talked about giving oneself permission not to live up to expectations and challenges; to accept that you can’t always be what you think you can be. I see where the piece is coming from, but I don’t accept that. Yes, give yourself permission to fail–but you should fail trying hard not to, if you catch my drift. It’s okay to write a bad book. The point is to write the damn thing. Dare to be less than perfect. Dare to be bad. This whole waiting around to give yourself permission . . . that’s bullshit. What you need to do is accept that you’re not great. But the idea of not attempting or striving is antithetical to my being. I just can’t fathom it.
So now I have a challenge, too. Dare to be bad.
WRITING OUT LOUD
Dark Side of the Moon
Day 1: 4326 Day 11: 2500 Day 21: 1800 Day 31: 745
Day 2: 2085 Day 12: 500 Day 22: 0 Day 32: 0
Day 3: 3011 Day 13: 1000 Day 23: 2700 Day 33: 4000
Day 4: 2652. Day 14: 3700 Day 24: 3500 Day 34: 2800
Day 5: 3210 Day 15: 5630 Day 25: 1500 Day 35: 4500
Day 6: 3450 Day 16: 1060 Day 26: 0 Day 36: 4800
Day 7: 0 Day 17: 130 Day 27: 0 Day 37: 0
Day 8: 2756 Day 18: 0 Day 28: 380 Day 38: 450
Day 9: 4580 Day 19: 3000 Day 29: 390 Day 39: 1000
Day 10: 2670 Day 20: 2600 Day 30: 380 Day 40: 2500
Day 41: 2600 Day 51: 1000 Day 63: 4800
*Day 42: 830 Day 52: 1600 Day 64: 3300
Day 43: 3600 Day 53: 2600 Day 65: 2500
Day 44: 5000 Day 54: 3600 Day 66: 1200 (edit)
Day 45: 2600 Day 55: 3200 Day 67: 1000 (edit)
Day 46: 3000 Day 56: 4000 Day 68: 3000 (edit)
Day 47: 2800 Day 57: 1200 Day 69: 1000 (edit)
Day 48: 2500 Day 58-60: 0 Day 70: 1000 (edit)
Day 49: 1000 Day 61: 3500 Day 71: 1500 (edit)
Day 50: 4600 Day 62: 3000 Day 72: 2500 (edit)
Blog Post: 500
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What I’m Watching:
Shades of Blue. Gotta love Ray Liotta. But I’m actually curious now how they’re going to get themselves out of the story dead end into which they’ve written themselves. Seriously? You’re going to keep an FBI sting thing going for more than a season? Seriously?
Great shot of Liotta at the end of the episode, though. He is tremendous.
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What I’m Reading:
Same.
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What I’m Listening to:
Today was an inside my own head day.
