Monday, April 29, 2013

Y is for Years

By years I mean, measuring progress in years. It's easy to get lost in the now at times, to think we're making no progress at all. This is especially true when I'm not as far along in a goal as I thought I'd be by that time. I didn't think it'd take the number of years it has to get me to this point but at the same time it's amazing to see what I have accomplished when I look back over the years later.

For some it won't take long, not everyone goes on the same path in this crazy writing journey. It can take years, and not just 2 I mean it can take 10, 15 or 20 years for some to get to certain stages in the journey. 

I'm editing now. But the novel I'm editing I started writing back in 2007. Back then I didn't know how long it would take because I'd never finished a novel, I'd never written past 10,000 words back then, and I'd certainly never rewritten or edited a novel. It has been a long journey so far but I've learned so much over the years.


Every time I feel like I'm taking too long to get anything accomplished, I step back and look over the things I have done over the years. It helps me see that I have done lots of writing and I can't wait to do even more.


Do you focus on the years or worry about taking too long?

4 comments:

Loralie Hall said...

I think sometimes it's too easy to go "I should be done now, I'm not done yet, why aren't I done yet?" But you've got a really good point, it's important to look back and realize just how far you've come.

If we hadn't started somewhere, then that 'why aren't I don't yet?' would be much further off.

Susan Kane said...

Lamenting time is wasted time.

Kate said...

Wonderful perspective! The me from only a few years ago would be very proud of the me now. I hope the me in the future will the say the same :)

Dawn Embers said...

Allyson Lindt - Good point on having to start somewhere. We can live a little through others but use the motivation to keep working so we can reach the next stages too.

Susan Kane - interesting saying.

Kate - Thanks. :-)