Does that make me a wiener?
I guess so.
But I’ve got a lot going.
I’m editing one of my novels right now. It needs a lot of intensive
care. I don’t see writing another novel while this one (and others) lie
bleeding as a good way to spend my time, when it can be better spend making
something I’ve already got in the can better.
Secondly, I’m reading a friend’s novel right now. I’m hoping
if I can get his read fast enough and thoroughly enough, he’ll return the
favor. Seeing how someone else writes and thinking about how my suggestions to
him can make my own writing better seems like a better way to spend my November
than writing a new novel that’s going to need a lot of help.
Third, I’m a lot busier now. Just got called as Scoutmaster,
and that’s going to eat up a lot of time and energy. Add that to a full-time
technical writing job and a part-time job teaching English, and I’ve got a full
plate.
Plus I’ve got three kids who need attention and help and
support and encouragement.
I’ve got a novel I started earlier this year that’s still
holding my interest. I don’t want to leave it to start a new one for NaNoWriMo.
It’s got a lot of promise. But also needs a lot of TLC.
Yes, there are reasons to keep writing despite everything
I’ve listed here. Really good writers or really ambitious writer would keep
going, damn the distractions.
Well, I’m not a really good writer, nor an ambitious one.
I’ve crossed the NaNoWriMo finish line twice. And it feels great. I’d like to
concentrate on crossing the self-publishing finish line with something I’ve
got, and that’s going to take some effort.
Neil Gaiman agrees with me as well. Or, rather, I agree with
him: “It’s astonishing how much more cheerful a place the world becomes when
you start to finish things.”
That’s exactly what I aim to do.
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