We’ve been told that from outside the view is delightful, nearly enthralling, and with a sublime vision of what it’s like to be inside ─
A cabin in the woods, far away from all that’s wrong with modern civilization… well, apart from the computer, and electricity to power the computer, and some modern way to pay the electricity bill, and a smart phone, and everything else to keep the cabin functioning properly in these modern times.
An unending supply of coffee, chocolate and butter… because butter makes everything better.
And plaid jackets… because, well it’s plaid.
From inside, this perception is shocking, to say the very least.
There’s usually no cabin in the woods, unless you’ve successfully written and propagated at least two hundred and forty thousand, seven hundred and sixty four words.
Yes, there’s coffee, with the accompanying headaches… and withdrawal symptoms when you decide it’s bad fuel to live on.
There’s chocolate, butter and bills to pay.
And plaid jackets… because, well, it’s plaid.
But beyond these essentials, and others which shall not be named here, the disparity in the views gained from outside and inside is gaping.
We’re talking whipping up the courage to face blank pages.
Bleeding blood, sweat and words on said pages.
Shushing inner naysayers that tell you to pack and go home, and not torture unsuspecting readers with your terrible idea of what writing is.
There’s the abiding question of whether or not blogging counts as actual writing.
Then there’s rewrites.
And edits.
More edits.
And some more….
And then there are editors ─ nothing against these precious people really, but still…
Because –
Take my editor for instance….
It’s like I pay her to make my life miserable. No matter how hard and diligently I work on a piece, she’d send it back with red marks all over it and a note telling me to “stop playing and take this writing thing seriously”.
What! I spent six hours of my life working on that story!
OK, fine, one hour. But I like to call the preceding five hours, research. Because all that time reading Facebook comments and memes really did add to the story.
Every time I tell her so though, she says I’m only proving her point.
There’s also this other question ─
“So what do you do?”
“I write”.
“What?”
Really? Is that seriously supposed to be a question? What else would we write? Words, people! We write words!
We show up every time, and we write… words ─
Hoping that the inner naysayers are wrong and that the words we write would somehow achieve the purpose we’ve set out to fulfill.
And who knows?
Maybe we would reach two hundred and forty thousand, seven hundred and sixty four someday, and get the cabin in the woods with just enough coffee to skip the headaches and withdrawal symptoms….
There’d still be chocolate.
Butter.
And plaid jackets… because ─ you guessed it ─ it’s plaid.
But till then we write.
Rewrite.
Edit.
And edit some more….
Welcome to the WriteLife.
You’re welcome to take the pledge with us ─
I’m a writer.
I will not dread edits, rewrites, and definitely not my editor.
I will write, rewrite, and not use cleaning my house as an excuse to not email my editor.
This is my WritePledge.
*******
Note to fellow insiders ─
We should do something about this pledge… edit it maybe? I could email my editor.
Or not! We already know what she’d do, and it’s hard to deal with those red marks twice in one week.
This post may be linked up with these encouraging writers.
This is a great description of what it’s like to write. I hesitate to call myself a writer (more of a blogger), but the part about starting to write, then looking at FB for 5 hours before starting really hit home!
Ha! The struggle is real! Thanks for visiting, Laurie. Blessings to you.
Writers will definitely understand this message.
Amen! Thanks for visiting, Melissa. Blessings to you.
Yes to all this (especially the plaid jackets!), but I must admit that the editing part is a huge relief to me, because until I get something down on a page, I always wonder if I’m going to have anything to say!
Ha! The blank page! At some point I was starting to believe I had a phobia of blank pages! Thanks for visiting, Michele. Blessings to you.
This was a fun read, thanks for sharing this little window into the crazy world of writing.
I love to write! It doesn’t mean it’s easy though.
If only they knew! Thanks for visiting, Katrina. Blessings to you.
I love this! Those editors just don’t understand. Our Facebook people get us. That time is important to the process – writers unite!
Amen!!! Writers unite! Thanks for visiting, Heather. Blessings to you.
This is so true, Boma! Writing really isn’t as easy as it sounds. Thank you for linking up over at GraceFull Tuesday!
God help us! Thanks for visiting, Ronja. Blessings to you.
Absolutely powerful! I love this. I love your style. Keep writing and blessing us. Blessings, Amy
Thank you so much, Amy. Blessings to you.
Don’t you dislike when writing morphs from a joy to a grind?
May the words that flow from your pen today cause you to smile. No matter what your editor says.
Bless you in the process, Boma …
Amen! Thank you so much, Linda. I pray the same for you too. Blessings to you.
My fuel is tea, not coffee. And plaid is okay. The rest fits like a jacket–plaid or otherwise. God bless! Great post.
Ha! Glad to know, Nancy. Thanks for visiting. Blessings to you.
Such truth in those words on the inside view of writing. I hate it and love it at the same time. I want to quit so I write about quitting because I love to write. Thanks for putting a writer’s life into words for those who don’t understand.
Please don’t quit, Yvonne! You can write about quitting though. Thanks for visiting. Blessings to you.
I grinned and nodded my head through this fun post. So much truth!
You nailed the mindset, the struggles, the desires/wishes/one-day-hope-fors. And, when I’ve had so much time with my boys that I crave that cabin in the mountains? That’s when I know I MUST dig into my story and work on rewriting/editing/polishing.
Yes!! Two hundred and forty thousand, seven hundred and sixty four would be here before you know it, and you’d get that cabin! Thanks for visiting, Jeanne. Blessings to you.
Love this blog (& butter & chocolate, too)! The writing life is something I am currently pursuing, and you even have an editor! Dang… I don’t have that. I actually would love someone to hold me accountable on writing, because without it, I find myself not being consistent with it as much as I should. Hearing your process helps. God bless! Lisa Q
They won’t let me write a book without an editor, Lisa, and I’m writing one! That’s how come. Thanks for visiting. Blessings to you.
You captured so many of my thoughts, excuses, inner naysayers, and mind-wanderings all in one post.
We’re fellow insiders, Karen! Thanks for visiting. Blessings to you.
Love! It always encourages me to hear I’m not in the boat alone. Visiting you today from the purposeful faith link up. laurensparks.net
Me too, Lauren! Thanks so much for visiting. Blessings to you.
That research is for real though! I know inspiration sometimes strikes me from a question asked on Twitter or a Bible verse shared on Facebook
Great post!
For real! If only they knew! Thanks for visiting, Jennifer. Blessings to you.
Hi Boma!
I agree with you, butter makes everything better
It does! Thanks for visiting, Edna. Blessings to you.
Spot on. Still waiting for the cabin in the woods. And people to quit laughing when I tell them what I do.
Sorry they laugh,Theresa. But then again, the stories you tell on your podcast are hilarious, and they probably think it’s the same thing! The cabin’s coming! Thanks for visiting. Blessings to you.
A great editor keeps us modest in our writing. Until they send it back to us bleeding with red corrections, we think our piece is a next Pulitzer winner. LOL
Thanks for sharing on the #LMMLinkup this week.
So true, Mary! They do keep us modest! Thanks for visiting. Blessings to you.
Thank you for the smile this morning! I love your writing – don’t let the editor change too much!
Thanks very much, Alyson, I’d keep that in mind. Blessings to you.
I know how you feel!
Good to know! Thanks for visiting, Anita. Blessings to you.
Boma, you had me smiling and nodding my head up and down from beginning to end. Oh the writer’s life! ♥
Blessings,
Lori
Yes!!! Oh the writer’s life! Thanks for visiting, Lori. Blessings to you.
What a process Boma! I’ve never had anything edited by a real editor but thinking of how personal my work is to me, is be heartbroken with red ink on it even for constructive reasons. Keep on doing what you were called to do though!
Thanks very much, Brittany. And I know about taking my work personally! Blessings to you.
Perfectly captured Boma. The essence of pouring your heart and soul out for everyone to see. Great description.
Thanks very much, Brittany. Blessings to you.