Happy Monday to you all. I normally don’t do this blog on Monday but normal went out the window awhile back, so no worries. J
We got a new dog and that kept us busy this weekend. She is a ten-year old Australian Shepherd that we got from animal rescue and she is a doll. That’s her in today’s prompt.
Well, let’s get this show on the road. First our quote of the day.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Procrastination is like a credit card: it’s a lot of fun until you get the bill.”
Christopher Parker
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Well guess what we are going to talk about today.
To procrastinate is human, especially when self-doubts creep in. I can only speak for myself, but even with my work ethic I will procrastinate if nervousness and fear enter my mind, and I think most writers are very familiar with that two-headed monster.
I have edited my current novel three times. I was reading it to Bev today and found something I thought could use a re-write. And I know for a fact if I read some more of it tomorrow I’ll find more that could be re-written, and if I read it six months from now the same will be true.
Maybe it isn’t ready yet?
The point is that we will never be perfect, and we will always find something to re-write…but…eventually we just have to put our work out there and go for it. If we fail we keep writing. We will get better, but the only way to get better is to write and then be willing to take a chance with what we have written.
I know other writers who love to write; who have a genuine passion for writing; but when it comes time to market their writing, to do readings and book signings or whatever, they freeze up and convince themselves that they are not ready yet. But when will they be ready? Ever?
TIP OF THE DAY
Take a chance you have not taken yet with your writing. Whether it be a contest or contacting a publisher or whatever, stick your neck out there and find out what you are made of as a writer.
PROMPT OF THE DAY
Yes, it is our new dog Holly. Does she inspire you?
LET’S KEEP IT SHORT TODAY
I issued you a challenge today. In fact, I issued myself a challenge as well. Let’s give it some thought today and we will all meet that challenge….and feel better at the end of the day.
Bill
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 
Congrats on your new dog. Holly is adorable and I am with you that I do some many rewrites sometimes just for articles not even book writing it could make my head spin. Happy Monday, again Bill!! 🙂
Thank you Janine! I’ll tell Holly what you said about her. She will be pleased, and Happy Monday to you my friend.
Yes, I am. I’ll finish this comment later.
Holly is too cute! I love that breed.
yes I am and proud of it! Lizzy, I love you. I love that breed to; she’s my dream dog. 🙂
Congrats again on the latest member to your family, Holly is gorgeous! You have such an incredible heart for taking in a rescue dog who is 10 years old. Most people wouldn’t do that. I’m so glad to know you, Bill – you’ve got a heart of gold. 🙂 As for the writing… yes, I procrastinate BIG time some days. But that’s because I’m still trying to figure out what direction I’m going in. Right now, something is pulling me in the health direction and I have to say I’m loving it. Will see how things pan out over the next few months though. Have a super Monday!
Thank you for your kind words, Mel. Holly was an easy choice. She is a doll and we already love her. She is sitting at my feet while I write today….snoring softly. LOL
Dear Bill,
I also love Holly…and I know she will be loved. Congratulations!
I don’t ever recall disagreeing with you but there’s a first time for everything. For you to scrutinize/ pour over your novel three times feels absolutely right to me. I personally have a three times rule (like the nurse checks her medicine 3x before administration) with my writing and then I have two trusted folks then look at it. We always miss our own flaws…because they seem perfectly proper to us.
Now I have encountered the true “procrastinator” , many times in many moons…and you, Mr Holland do not come close! Point taken, however and well penned. Love, Maria
Thank you Maria; you are a doll and a good friend…and point taken.
love,
bill
I must say I am guilty as charged; especially when it comes to marketing. Perhaps if I go ahead and stick my neck out, I’ll get a hit and regain the elasticity in my neck as a bonus. 🙂
Holly’s a doll. She’s very fortunate to have found a new loving family at her age. She’ll love you for life!
Thank you Sha. I want you to be successful…but it ain’t going to fall out of the sky. 🙂 Have a great day and I’ll tell Holly what you said.
Yes. I know what you mean about re-writing over and over again. I remember having an assignment where I was the editor for a group of engineers who wrote publications about the company’s product. On the day I arrived, the manager pulled me aside and reminded me that I would be working with a bunch of engineers. She said, engineers are notorious for making changes all the way up to the day of publication. The manager was right. This was before “Press on Demand”. Once it went to the printing lab, nothing more could be done. The engineers would read something and want it changed to this or that. Then they’d read it again and thought it sounded better the way it was. This would go on and on until the moment of the absolute deadline. I think many writers are like these engineers. To combat that, I tend to give a self-imposed deadline and try to stick to it. Sometimes, it’s really hard, but if I didn’t set an absolute deadline, I’d never get anything published. That’s the truth.
And Marlene, it is a truth I know very well from personal experience. Early on with this novel I said I would be done in March. I did that because I needed a deadline and I needed to stick to that deadline…otherwise I’d still be writing in 2017 if still alive. 🙂
Thank you my friend; have a great week.
Sometimes Bill, I think I may be on the other side of the fence. In some cases I throw things too quick. I find little mistakes after the fact.
Great post and have a good day. Tell Bev the new dog looks like a good one. God bless you both.
Thanks Greg and yes, I know exactly what you are talking about. Hopefully you and I will find some balance eventually.
Your new puppy is adorable Bill! Good for you guys for adopting an older baby! As far as procastination goes – yes yes and YES! lol..
But…eventually – it does get done – if that counts?
I will never read a book the same again – after having written one. Mine will never be ‘ready’ – ever – so wth, eh?
as far as sticking one’s neck out – i got 3 leads for naughty stores that are interested in carrying the book!
Have a great week, my friend!
Very cool, Sis! Who would have ever dreamed it two years ago? I hope those books fly off the shelves and the re-orders are bigger still….and thanks about our dog…she is helping me writing at this very moment. 🙂 Hugs my dear.
I am not usually one to procrastinate, but lately I have been procrastinating about things that I normally am very proactive and keeping done. I realized that the reason was that I would soon be finishing something that I have loved working on and hate to move on. Just the idea that change is in the air is causing me to procrastinate!
Donna, that is a fascinating observation. I understand that very well as I come to the end of my novel. Thanks for that.
Morning Bill … I hear you over and over again, putting off today is like giving it forward and tomorrow we hit the unseen obstacles, before long we end up with a garage like I have right now. Funny thing when we just buckle down and do it, it gets done… Holly is beautiful… thanks for the reminder I better do it today.
Blessings
Good morning Rolly! Nice of you to drop by for a cup of coffee. I don’t know about you, but I hear the clock ticking. I have far too much to yet accomplish and a dwindling number of years to do it in…no time to waste my friend.
Love from Oly
bill
Congrats on getting a new love, Holly! I have to admit, I love my doggies…they are such great companions to a writer, eh?
Kelly, she is sitting at my feet as I write this. What a wonderful old girl she is. Of course, she loves me more when she gets a treat. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by my friend. Hopefully the snow has ended and you can actually experience spring this year.
Good morning Bill.
Easiest will be to answer yes, or no question. So you are giving me chance to procrastinate by compromise: have you ever been involved in ever increasing # of projects and running out of 24h. a day?– surely, thats why you already told me to prioritized. Thanks. My justifying point, as long as procrastination is not becoming a habit , might be acceptable (?)( working on reducing number of ‘projects.’)
Second question makes me sad not have chance to see Holly’s facial expression thoroughly and be inspired ( unless she write something inspirational…)
Make a nice day .
Michael my friend, good morning. Procrastinate? You? I don’t believe it to be possible. I may deliberate for some time, but that is not procrastination by any means.
Holly sits at my feet as I write this, eagerly awaiting her next treat. 🙂
blessings always my friend
bill