Saturday, March 21, 2009

Got Nerve?

The state of my writing: Waiting; free-writing my for my current WIP; pondering the world of article writing.

The state of my reading: The Shipping News by Annie Proulx

"You need a certain amount of nerve to be a writer." - Margaret Atwood

Isn't that the truth? It takes a lot of nerve actually. Think about it. We must create something from nothing but a moment of inspiration. And then, have others believe in it as well.

It could be a conversation that we have overheard that holds the promise of a great story. Or, some stranger catches our eye and makes us wonder about the life they've led. Maybe we imagine ourselves in another place and time living a completely different life, and consider what that might have been like for us. You know what I mean? All of the "what if's?" They are infinite in their possibilities.

It's those little moments of "nothing," the "what if's," that can end up being a whole lot of something. And, then it takes even more nerve to find other individuals (agents/ editors/ publishers/ readers) who believe that we have a whole lot of "something" too.

Even now, I still am trying to find out if my imminent work of brilliance is of interest to anyone. Hellooo...any takers???? *tongue is firmly planted inside of cheek*

Extraordinary patience, perseverance, dedication, self-discipline, and resilience is what it takes for writers to even get started in the first place. And then, to finish. Those same characteristics must continue on once the query, synopsis, or manuscript is in another individual's hands. The waiting and the wondering. Ughhh, just the whole process from start to finish is enough to send writers to the "farm."

Webster's Thesaurus lists the following words to describe nerve: bravery, spirit, courage, boldness, strength, stamina, bravado, and daring.

Wow! That describes us in spades!

XOXO CJ

Shoe Mood:










Walking tall and brave with as much bravado as I can muster.

7 comments:

Bish Denham said...

Onward through the fog!

Christina Farley said...

You are absolutely right! It really takes guts to put in the time and energy to write something and not just write it but make it as perfect as you can.

And then to send it off into the world!

Crazy really. But like you, I just keeping doing it. :)

C.J. Raymer said...

Bish - Absolutely! We're all in this together!

Christina - Yes...keep on keeping on!

Marty said...

Well said words... yay, you must be a writer.

Nora MacFarlane said...

Yes! The writing is the fun part, it's the sending it off into the world that ties me up in knots!

Stephanie J. Blake said...

The waiting is so hard.

Emily Cross said...

hi thanks for the comment, i'd l;ove to follow each other - my name is emilymcross

Must Reads

  • "A Long Fatal Love Chase" by Louisa May Alcott
  • "Gone With the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell
  • "I Capture the Castle" by Dodie Smith
  • "Les Miserables" by Victor Hugo
  • "Rebecca" by Daphne Du Maurier
  • "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing" by M.T. Anderson
  • "The Grace Awakening" by Charles Swindoll