@Karen – perfectionism is deadly in writing. At least for me (but I don’t think many folks reading what I write would accuse me of it…) I was pondering this when reading one of John McPhee’s recent essays in the New Yorker about his career — he recalls an editor spending an incredible amount of time on one piece as the magazine hurtled toward the closing deadline. He asked how he could do that and the editor said “it takes as long as it takes.” I know what he’s getting at…but it can’t also take as long as it takes. Sometimes you do have to be done! I’m glad I learned to write in a newspaper context. You really, literally, did have to be done at 7 p.m. because otherwise there was going to be a blank spot on the page the next day.

@Leah- thanks so much! I think it is important to finish one book, and then the next one will be easier to write and better. I’ve learned a lot from writing 4 novels that nothing has happened with. And over time, when one keeps writing, one’s audience grows and you’re better prepared to seize opportunities. Good luck with finishing! And then revising 🙂

I read your posts for inspiration – as a writer, as a working mother.

Keep writing and we’ll keep reading!

Thank you,
Leah

I’m doing NaNoWriMo as well. I participated last year and loved it! I was hoping to have my book edited and published by now but doesn’t look like it’s going to happen. The editor has given it back to me so that I can add more ‘stuff’.

I would recommend Hillary Rettig’s book “The 7 Secrets of the Prolific.” It’s a little bit of a different frame than a lot of these types of books, but I think it ultimately comes down to discipline. I think her attitude toward writing is quite similar to Laura’s in how practical it is. She writes about removing obstacles and blocks to getting writing done, and about changing perfectionist attitudes that are holding you back as a writer. She has a section about the problems with having an overly romantic view of writing.

Yes, I am doing it. I decided to this week and signed up and have been reading the forums. My daughter did the young writers’ program last year. Her 7th grade English teacher had an after school club for interested kids. My daughter was one of the few kids who finished. She wrote 50,000 words, which I thought was very impressive for a 12-year-old. I messed around with writing something and tried to support her while she was doing it, but I didn’t come even close. I wasn’t very disciplined ;-). And, I was also working full-time then. Now that I’m on a break from full-time work for pay, this seems like the perfect time to give it a serious go. The writing every day part isn’t a big issue for me, but the organization and planning is where I get tripped up. Things like outlines and synopses are where I need the most discipline to actually do them.

@Michael – thanks! Many of the usual self-help books are ultimately about discipline: 7 Habits, for instance. I hope my novel is awesome too. But first I have to write it.