When we started out as babies, we had the greatest gig in the world.
People brought us food, changed our clothes, and ran to do our bidding as soon as we made the slightest sound. We got to sleep whenever we wanted. People carried us around everywhere, along with bags full of stuff designed to take care of our needs at a moment's notice. We set the schedule, and everyone else adjusted their lives to accomodate us.
It was like living the life of a rock star. So why did we have to muck that up?
Well, when you really think about it, it was a tad difficult to whine and cry and even scream to explain what we wanted. The dietary choices were nothing short of boring, with the same thing day after day. And that whole diaper business. . .let's just call it an unpleasant motivational experience.
Soon we realized there was an entire world of intriguing things outside our bed-with-bars. We weren't satisfied to stay where we were, watching the world go by. It was nice to be carried wherever we went, but we didn't have any say as to the destination, or the itinerary.
It wasn't long before we had the urge to crawl, and stand up, and walk, and then race like hell to investigate everything labeled "No, no, don't touch".
When we are younger, we barrel towards the future, not knowing the outcome, which is what makes it exciting. Yet, the more we experience in life, the more we view change as a frightening thing. We drag our heels to avoid all of the discomfort, or pain, that often accompanies change.
As writers, we risk being called "mean mommies" because we insist on steering our characters towards situations they do not want to face. We pry them loose from antiquated methods of viewing their safe little world. We pretty much force them to make the choices that will liberate them from old, stagnant ways of thinking.
And we admire them for doing it. Because we know how hard it is to welcome change with a warm embrace, when our inclination is to rebuff it, pursing our lips with distaste.
Maybe today is a good time to do something different.
Now I'm not advocating anything radical, like converting from a pantser to a plotter. That's just crazy talk.
No, what I'm suggesting is possibly changing the way you start your day, so that your writing has a higher priority. Or maybe amend how you look at your writing, viewing it as a "get to" instead of a "have to". Maybe stop focusing on how far you have to go in the journey to publication, and contemplate how far you've travelled.
Change doesn't have to be accomplished in huge leaps. Sometimes it's enough to start with baby steps.
Change...love it or hate it, it is inevitable! Interesting idea to take charge of it for a change... HA!
I've actually been doing that a bit. Staying at home and working on projects instead of fleeing with the dog and parking my ass at Starbucks. But I could use a day like I once knew, of just doing what I used to do!
That would be a change...
Posted by: Maureen | February 28, 2011 at 01:14 AM
Maureen, that's the good thing about change -- you can CHANGE it. LOL It's like a change merry-go-round.
So since you've been working so hard on those projects, you deserve to change things up a bit. Hang out at Starbucks today. :) I'll be there with you in spirit.
Posted by: Donna Cummings | February 28, 2011 at 07:46 AM
Great post, Donna. I am a strong advocate of change - even though it's as painful for me as for the next writer. Without change, all we have is stasis, and that's something none of us strive for, at least in our writing.
You caught me out. I usually start my day with social networking and end it with writing. Hmm, perhaps my priorities *are* skewed.
Posted by: VR Barkowski | February 28, 2011 at 01:38 PM
VR, I start my day out that way too. I tell myself, "I'll just check Twitter and a few blogs while having my coffee" and then lose track of how much time has gone by. Fortunately, I'm a nightowl, so I like writing at nighttime. LOL But I also like getting it done in the morning--it FEELS more productive that way. :)
Posted by: Donna Cummings | February 28, 2011 at 01:54 PM
I'm one of those weird people who is happy with routine but loves change. Don't ask me, I've no idea how these two things can happen in unison, but they do.
And I must thank you. I'm in the discovery/plotting phase of the next book and somehow reading this blog gave me an excellent idea. Excellent, I say!
So thanks. :)
Posted by: Terri Osburn | February 28, 2011 at 02:03 PM
Terri, how exciting that my post inspired an excellent idea. Yay! And you're welcome.
And I'm a weird person about change too. I resist it, mightily, but I like change because I don't want to miss out on something good. LOL
Posted by: Donna Cummings | February 28, 2011 at 02:15 PM
Donna - I've never lived in one home longer than three years since I was 18. I'll be 40 this year. Technically, this has not been on purpose everytime, but I get antsy if nothing changes for too long.
At the same time, I like my days to have a set routine. I do the same thing in the same order when I get up in the morning, and the exact same thing in the same order before I go to bed.
This idea is going to add LOADS of stress to my heroine, but if she didn't want me to use it against her, she shouldn't have let me know in the first place. LOL!
Posted by: Terri Osburn | February 28, 2011 at 02:19 PM
Terri, I hate to move, but I get antsy in one place too. LOL Maybe we just have lots of layers to our personality, like our characters do. :)
That'll teach your heroine to speak up next time. LOL
Posted by: Donna Cummings | February 28, 2011 at 03:02 PM
I hate changes that are initiated outside of myself but, when I want to change something...look out. Makes me a tad bit annoying at times. I guess I'm a control freak.
Switching to morning writing sessions (before work) was a huge change and it's made an impact in my progress (mentally and physically). My WIP is almost done and it reminds me of my goal every morning - to be a better writer. Often I'm invigorated by a cool scene I just wrote and the rest of the day is better. Single greatest change I made last year. Hands down.
Posted by: Kari Marie | February 28, 2011 at 07:39 PM
Kari Marie, that's awesome about your switch to morning writing sessions. I like that it makes the rest of your day better too. I think I'm going to try the mornings again -- I'm such a nightowl that I've gotten used to writing at night. But this is a change that I know will have good results for me too. :)
Posted by: Donna Cummings | February 28, 2011 at 10:06 PM
Whenever I get too comfortable with something, then it's usually time for a change, especially when it comes to writing. I always start small, though.
Posted by: Liz Fichera | March 01, 2011 at 08:36 AM
Liz, you're right. When we get too comfortable, things can get confining. And it IS a great idea to start with something small, so we don't overwhelm (and sabotage!) ourselves.
Posted by: Donna Cummings | March 01, 2011 at 08:50 AM
Ooh, I love the 'get to' part. Love that idea....writing is a treat, after all. And the idea of change? Yup, I like that too. I'm not a big fan of the SAME all the time. So, changing it up has me getting fired up. Great reminder, Donna!
Posted by: E.C. Smith | March 01, 2011 at 02:35 PM
E.C., I like to remind myself that it's a "get to" instead of another chore. And I think changing things can definitely fire us up. In fact, I'm raring to go now!
Posted by: Donna Cummings | March 01, 2011 at 02:43 PM
Great blog, Donna. As for my attempts to change, I've been getting up at 4am to write. It's the best writing time of the day, but it makes me hungry. :)
Posted by: Clarissa Southwick | March 01, 2011 at 06:21 PM
Yikes, Clarissa! I'm more likely to stay UP til 4 a.m. than to get going at that time. LOL I do like the quiet, though, so it is a great time to write. :) It feels like you have the whole world to yourself.
Posted by: Donna Cummings | March 01, 2011 at 06:53 PM
My lifelong quest, it seems, it to become more adaptable. Writing has taught me a lot about that, but let's just say I have a ways to go.
*click* To change!
Posted by: Jan O'Hara | March 02, 2011 at 04:32 PM
Jan, I have been working on adaptability these past few years too. At first it seemed that flexibility was enough, but being able to adapt as things change -- that's a priceless skill to have. :)
Here's to constant change!
Posted by: Donna Cummings | March 02, 2011 at 04:55 PM