I have written 100K words in the last three weeks. And what’s crazy is it didn’t even feel all that hard to do. But I think there are reasons it flowed so well. Part of it is this is something I’ve already worked out for myself before so even though I wrote the words new I had the general structure established.
For me, writing non-fiction is about getting something I already know down on the page in a way that will help others learn it. It’s a bit like doing one of those puzzle games where you move things around until all the red balls are in the red slots and green balls are in the green slots, etc.
So the big challenge of non-fiction is what to include/exclude and then what order to present the information in. Once that’s figured out, it flows.
Of course, even though this is the third time through for me, I still am one of those people who can’t let it lie. Round 1 was good enough but here I am on Round 3 coming up with yet another way to present things.
It’s been fun, actually. I like that challenge.
What’s crazy is this is the first time in a decade where I feel like there are more things I want to do writing-wise than I have time for. Why that wasn’t the case before, I don’t know.
Maybe it’s taken this long to get over my fear of being a workaholic again? What’s the point in leaving a high-paying career to do something you enjoy only to work around the clock and become miserable doing the new thing, too?
I don’t know. But the list of “what’s next” is a mile long right now. And part of that 100K words is a project that wasn’t even on any of my lists. Haha. I never change that way.
In completely unrelated thoughts…
I saw a good friend from high school this week and…
They were fine. There was nothing they said that was wrong or showed they were unhappy. But…
And I didn’t give them this advice, because it took a couple hours after I’d seen them to realize what was off for me, so I’m giving it to the world instead:
Never stay in a relationship (friendship or romance or even work) where the other person makes you dim your shine to be with them. If they can’t stand next to you in your full glory, then move on and find someone who can.
You should never make your self less than to be accepted. And I know it can be tempting to do that, especially when there’s someone saying “you’re too much” or “why do you need to shine now that you’re with me”, but…
Don’t let them do that to you.
Anyway. More words to write, so onward.
Oh, and if you’re in the U.S. and aren’t boosted yet with the new bivalent booster, get boosted. As long as you haven’t had a boost or shot or been sick in the last two months you should be eligible. I don’t know how big the next wave will be, but there is going to be one.
Also, kudos to the MSM community for keeping MPX in check so it looks like the wider community won’t have to face that one, too, this winter. Yay.
M.L. Humphrey 