Chinese New Year this year falls on Valentine’s Day, February 14th, 2010. What a wonderful alignment of events!
This is The Year of the Tiger – with the focus on courage, power and optimism. I like these descriptors as it seems they are the qualities that one requires for maintaining focus in the writing business.
‘Courage’ reminds me that I can keep going – one day at a time, one paragraph at a time, one page at a time.
‘Power’ reminds me, that I am in control of my writing. I choose the topic, I choose the characters and I choose the plot. (Sometimes with great ideas provided by other writers or by craft books.) But it is important to remember that although I don’t have any control of the ‘publishing business’ I certainly can be in charge of my own writing. I am therefore, powerful.
And of course, optimism. There will always be a writer around the corner who writes faster and has more success. Writing is a humbling enterprise. I have to be thankful for the prolific, excellent authors because they keep readers coming back to search out more books. Hopefully, one day, my book will be one of them.
What do you think of courage, power, optimism and writing?
You are so right, Jodie. What a wise post! It seems to me you’ve hit on the trinity of things all writers need to remember (at least I do!). Thanks for this.
Wonderful post, Jodie.
I would add that we also need optimism to keep writing in spite of the inevitable setbacks in this business.
And I’m so envious that you get to chose your plots! I usually feel as though I’m following my characters and often blindly trusting them to lead the way.
Hi
Thanks for the inspiring words! Very succinctly phrased. I am going right to my writing and develop my power.
I think you’re brilliant, that’s what I think, Jodie.