Welcome back my fellow writers and friends!
Today’s topic is the never-ending quest for perfection. Of course we never achieve it, but that shouldn’t stop us from trying.
I am of the opinion that there is no such thing as wasted writing. Like any other skill or craft, the more you do the more you improve. The last thing in the writing world I wanted to do when I began was articles for content mills. Still, in doing those articles I became a better writer. I had to pay attention to grammar. I had to pay attention to delivering a message within a set number of words. None of it will win me a Pulitzer Prize, but all of it helped me to grow.
I’m willing to bet most of you have some old writing sitting on the proverbial shelf somewhere….a short story you never finished, or a novel that went into a literary coma about halfway through. I have notebooks full of stories that were never finished; they are literally sitting about two feet from where I type daily. One day I will pull those stories out and re-work them, for today I have the skills to finish them and finish them well. That was not true when I started them years ago.
It makes no difference what you write. Every piece of writing that you do helps you to develop into the writer you were meant to be.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Continuous effort – not strength or intelligence – is the key to unlocking our potential.”
Winston Churchill
That Churchill guy should have been a writer. J
TIP OF THE DAY
Try different genres. If you are comfortable writing poetry then step out and write a mystery short story. It may not end up being a great story but it will help you become the writer you were meant to be.
PROMPT OF THE DAY
My latest picture taken with my new camera. Does it speak to you? 200 words, please, using your five senses in describing this picture.
CONTEST OF THE DAY
The Fiction Desk Flash Fiction Competition is now accepting submissions. The story must be between 250 and 1,000 words and the deadline is January 31st. You can read about it here.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Don’t quit a minute before the miracle happens.
I have tried and tried to pound this notion into the heads of writers. Becoming a successful writer is a marathon and not a sprint. Regardless of the fact that online writing and ebooks can make a “writer” out of anyone, they cannot make a “good writer” out of anyone. That still takes work and dedication to the craft of writing.
I have given myself five years to find success. I am in year three of that quest. The novel I am now working on is my greatest piece to date, and when I finish it, whenever that may be, I will be very proud of it. Each word is important….every sentence is crucial. A bridge will collapse if poor materials have been used in the foundation; so it is with writing.
MORE ON THURSDAY
I wish I had time to do one of these every day but I don’t. Reality and time dictate that I only do these twice a week, but I hope you get something valuable out of them when I do write them. We are in this together; any writer who does not understand that truth just hasn’t paid their dues yet.
Bill
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 
I like your tip of the day. I’ve been wanting to write a short story, which I haven’t done since my fiction writing class in college. In fact, I have an idea floating around in my head for a novel that is more like a series of short stories that are all connected by a common narrative.
Deb, I hope you give it a try. I love the idea of short stories that are interconnected….I say go for it, Deb!!!!!!!
Bill, I think you know I totally agree with no such writing being a wasted effort. I am constantly learning and growing from my writing. For that I am truly grateful! So, said perfectly and now wishing you a great day again! 🙂
Janine, I think any writing is important as we grow in our craft. You are a living example of that belief. 🙂 Thanks as always my friend.
Some great encouragement today Bill. I appreciate it. We all need encouragement at times, and you just know when to give it. Thank you my friend.
It’s always my pleasure, Greg; as you say, we all need it. 🙂 Thank you!
You’re so right, Bill. The only way to get better at anything we do in life is to practice, practice, practice.
Lately, I’ve been writing down words I come across as I read. They are either words I need to look up their meaning or words you don’t hear too often. I’m building a mini dictionary of my own. It should prove to be a valuable resource.
I love it, Sha! I used to do that when I was in college; it was invaluable as the years passed. Well done my friend.
Bill, thanks for the upbeat blog. You always bring a note of encouragement to my day! I’ve come to the point where I must make some money with my writing in order to KEEP ON writing. I’d like to try my luck with the content mills but don’t know where and how to begin. My writing skills are sharp. With few exceptions, I can do any kind of writing on most topics. Can you point me in the right direction?
Drop me an email at holland1145@yahoo.com and I’ll give you a website that will give you direction.
Oh, I think about my memoir and my NaNo novels that have yet to be edited. 🙂 But, at least now that I have virtually not much of an online life, I do keep journaling because I do love to write. At least I’m still writing when it comes to all these academic papers I’ve been cranking out. Last Friday was a doozy: 7,000 words, total and another 6,000 on Saturday. Whew. Keeping skills sharp. HAHA
You are keeping your skills sharp. It may not be the writing you want to do, but it is writing, and over the long run it will pay dividends. Patience, Grasshopper. 🙂
This post came up in my facebook feed this morning and I had to look back at what I said in 2013. Oh how time flies and reflects our interests and who we are, non?
Sending you hugs, dear friend!
Lil Sis, that’s so weird it came up in your FB feed two years later. Wow…the power of the internet! Good to hear from you this Saturday, Sis! Hugs coming your way.
i agree bill.
as long as writing is saved properly…this writing never goes waste. Alas, my hard drive crashed last december and things not saved have gone in the bye bye land…lol
writing can always be re-edited and made according to the current times.
Oh Ruchira, that is awful. I think that is a writer’s worst nightmare, losing our hard drive. Thanks for the reminder to back up my material. 🙂
I’d on,y we could buy time, right? Is one of those precious things we can’t put a tag on and can’t get enough of!
I like how you point out to try to get out of your comfort zone with writing…I don’t do poetry as well as I’d like but every nice it a while, it comes out just like I hoped it would:). Great advice!
Thanks Kelly! If you ever figure out how to buy time, please let me know, I’m in dire need of it. 🙂
Bill, I have a feeling I’m going to be coming here a lot more often over the next few months as I just learnt my copywriter job was only contract and ends at the end of December. Everything for a reason, right?! Although as I was saying to Geoff today on the way home during lunch, I have a feeling I was meant to work at that stressful, crazy agency (which I enjoyed a lot) so that I could gain some more writing skills. I think I was too impatient with my writing, I wanted it all NOW now now and thought I was doing things wrong if I didn’t get it. Lots to learn, and this time round is going to be very different! I’m excited though. Disappointed, but excited. Life has some rather unexpected turns. Anyway, just wanted to let you know – popping in to read your blog as always, and your words hit home today my friend, so thank you!
Mel, I’m sorry to hear your news, but I think you know me by now, and I look at this as an opportunity for you. You are a talented writer, and you have passion about certain subjects. It is again time for your voice to be heard. I look forward to having you with us again daily…..thank you so much for stopping by; you are a loyal and good friend.