Deadline
So, I want to make a public declaration. But only kinda public. If I did this on Facebook, it would feel wrong, to me, more attention grabby. More, I'm looking to say this out loud and in public to make myself accountable in some way. I don't have an author blog/website yet, and I know that I need to get on that soon. But for now, this is the place to do it. Very few people read this, and I am sure not very frequently, so I know that I am not just looking for 75 'Likes' from well meaning friends and relatives. I think there's maybe 5 of you who will see this, and I really don't care if you skip it. I just need to make this public.
Today is Tuesday October 21st, 2014. I vow to have 5 new short stories written by New Year's Day.
Why?
I'm trying so very hard to follow Ray Bradbury's advice. He was cautioning beginning authors about trying to write a novel. Novels often take a year of your life, and the whole way, you are learning how to write. And at the end of it, what do you have? Well, hopefully a novel. But it probably isn't a very good novel, as you were still learning to write. And you still then have to send it to editors and (if it sells) do revisions, etc. You have crafted and created 1 thing in that year, with no idea of whether you can ever do it again.
Short stories, on the other hand, take about a week or two to write. If you took that year you would have spent on your novel, and instead devote it solely to short stories, you could have as many as 50 short stories by the end of it. And I guarantee that in 50 short stories, not every one of them will be bad.
This is all paraphrasing, you see, but his point was, you can learn so much more about writing, about yourself, about your strengths and weaknesses and how to address them by devoting time in your early writing career to short stories.
And I agree.
Now, looking at the calendar that remains for 2014, I see more than just 5 weeks. But, I also see a roadtrip preceding Christmas vacation, and Thanksgiving, and several days where my daughters have off from school, Halloween, etc. I am trying to be realistic about my familial commitments.
Actually, looking at it, 5 stories seems really tight. Like I am setting myself up to fail.
But I am declaring this goal here and now, and by golly, I am going to work super hard to meet it.
Penalty for failure? Doing it all again, and a determination to better learn what writing habits actually work for me. Prize for winning? Doing it all again, and submitting my stories!
Wish me luck.
No worries,
Matt
Today is Tuesday October 21st, 2014. I vow to have 5 new short stories written by New Year's Day.
Why?
I'm trying so very hard to follow Ray Bradbury's advice. He was cautioning beginning authors about trying to write a novel. Novels often take a year of your life, and the whole way, you are learning how to write. And at the end of it, what do you have? Well, hopefully a novel. But it probably isn't a very good novel, as you were still learning to write. And you still then have to send it to editors and (if it sells) do revisions, etc. You have crafted and created 1 thing in that year, with no idea of whether you can ever do it again.
Short stories, on the other hand, take about a week or two to write. If you took that year you would have spent on your novel, and instead devote it solely to short stories, you could have as many as 50 short stories by the end of it. And I guarantee that in 50 short stories, not every one of them will be bad.
This is all paraphrasing, you see, but his point was, you can learn so much more about writing, about yourself, about your strengths and weaknesses and how to address them by devoting time in your early writing career to short stories.
And I agree.
Now, looking at the calendar that remains for 2014, I see more than just 5 weeks. But, I also see a roadtrip preceding Christmas vacation, and Thanksgiving, and several days where my daughters have off from school, Halloween, etc. I am trying to be realistic about my familial commitments.
Actually, looking at it, 5 stories seems really tight. Like I am setting myself up to fail.
But I am declaring this goal here and now, and by golly, I am going to work super hard to meet it.
Penalty for failure? Doing it all again, and a determination to better learn what writing habits actually work for me. Prize for winning? Doing it all again, and submitting my stories!
Wish me luck.
No worries,
Matt