Getting Back on the Horse (of Writing Consistently)

Those of you who have been following me on this Journey to a Better Shelby are probably very aware of my off and on struggle to keep writing.

If you are a fellow creative being, then you are probably aware of the struggle.

I mentioned a few posts ago about a bit of a funk I fell into and although it isn't anywhere near as bad as it was, it is still here. No matter how much I try to fight it.

The funk was with all aspects of my life, writing, working out, eating healthy, and even my actual day job.

Where my day job is concerned, the funk has been kicked out. And I'm finally back to watching what I eat and working out. (I'm on week 3 of the Ideal Shapeup challenge again.)

It's rough getting back to writing and exercising everyday. But I am getting there.

One of the things I recently did that really has helped get my motivation for writing back up is reread what I have written already for the second draft of my Elemi story.

I have avoided it in the past because I was scared it really was this horrible piece of writing that would make me doubt any skills at all in writing and I would start arguing with myself over whether I really could become an author someday. Especially since I'm hoping to go the traditional route.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against the idea of self publishing. I just don't think I'd be able to market well enough to really make an impact.

Now, I was terrified to try reading it again.

But once I did it, I realized I have recently read much worse books. That were published traditionally.

Yes, it still needs a LOT of work. Including, you know, actually finishing it.

But it doesn't seem so much like an impossible task anymore.

And it feeling like an impossible task is part of what has kept me from really working on it.

Part of, most of actually, but not all. I had too many projects going on at once.

It just ended up stressing me out too much. So now I'm narrowing down my projects.

I'll focus on this story while I keep putting out query letters for the children's picture book manuscripts. Then when I finish it and send it out to Beta Readers, I'll go back to the Dragon's Thief.

SO I have a plan. Which is always helpful for me.

And with that,
I'll finish this remarkably short post.

Until next time,
Shelby