Monday, August 11, 2008

Commitment

http://www.happynews.com/news/732008/thrill-commitment.htm
Here's an article about commitment. I found it really interesting. It pertains to writing very easily.
When we start a new book, it's like being strapped into a brand new rollercoaster. You have no idea where you are going. Will this book be published? But you have to be committed to see it to the end.
This is also true in life as this writer points out. You have to be committed to your life, to your marriage, to your kids, to your career.
No use doing something half way right? So write that book. Revise that book. Get feedback on it. Rewrite it. Polish it.
Send it out. There is no use spending that much time on something if you don't plan on sending it out. Why would you put that much effort into something if you don't plan on trying to get it published?
I guess there is art for art's sake, but I'm not one of those.
So send it out!
Make a commitment to that book. See it through until the end.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just sitting down to write is a huge committment for me. There are so many other things that I feel I should be doing, and yet, I just want to write. Sometimes it's hard as a parent to make that committment and say "forget the laundry", I'm writing today because this is important to me. I figure that if anything I'm showing my kids that to stick with something for 14 years with two books to my name is illustrating committment for what I do.

Teagan Oliver
www.TeaganOliver.blogspot.com

Chris Redding said...

Here here.
cmr

Christa Maurice said...

I just finished editing a book for Lyrical Press, editing 2 others pre-submission, and writing 2 novellas in the past 2 months. I think I should be committed!

Here's to sitting down and doing the thing rain or shine.

L.J. Sellers said...

If I only had a much time as I do commitment!
Lj

Helen Ginger said...

Very true. It's hard sometimes to find the time and making a commitment can be scary. But ya gotta do it in order for the dream to become a reality.

Helen
http://straightfromhel.blogspot.com

Vivian Zabel said...

I'm committed, or rather I should be committed. I'm not sure which since I try to write my own books and edit other people's and then format and publish even other books for others.

Yep, maybe I should be committed. *sigh*

Vivian
http://vzabel.multiply.com/journal

Kiddo Writers said...

Great and timely post Chris. As a single mom of 3 very active girls, full time employee, and 3/4 time writer, it is a challenge to stick to a time table, but if we want to succeed. We have to make it a priority.

Thanks!

Chris Redding said...

Not sure how anyone who works full-time can get anything done.
My hat is off to you.
cmr

Christine Bush said...

Commitment to my writing is very important to me. Life seems to fly by, new situations ALWAYS come up and can make chaos, so there's ALWAYS a reason to put writing "down low on the list". But this doesn't work. If the laundry gets put off, there is a little guilt involved.. and then a flurry to catch up. But if the writing gets "put off" there is this nagging knowledge, much worse than guilt, that I am not being true to myself, that I am neglecting my gifts...moments and inspiration that may not come again. So though it's not perfect, and though time may be short..I still need to insert "butt in chair" as part of this commitment to my "self".
Thanks for your comments Chris!

Christine Bush

Unknown said...

It is hard and it does take commitment. I'm one of those full-time workers and writers after hours and moms. I just have to do the best I can.

Lisabet Sarai said...

I believe that commitment is one of the true keys to success. Give yourself 100% to what you have chosen to do. The difficulty is deciding which activities are the most worthy of your commitment. Because you can't do everything!