3 Lessons from the Writing Process
Because we are in the middle of January, it’s time to take a second look at our goals. Let’s take the time now to reassess, to look at our habits, our schedules, and our process. Mid-January is a good time to question whether our goals are still important to us. (That’s what we did last January. See Starter’s Day.) Do your goals bring you joy or lead to more joy in your life? Remember your “why.” No goal without a strong reason behind it will succeed.
This time of year, there is a lot of talk about goals (Jon Acuff), habits (James Clear), and . . . publishing (Jane Friedman). Okay, that last one is a stretch. Jane is talking about publishing and if Jane is talking, I am listening. You may not think the topic of publishing fits with goals and habits, but for those of you who know me well, you know those squirrels can link the most dichotomous thoughts in my brain in a millisecond.
So, to connect the dots for you, this week I finished draft #13 of Finding Joy in the West. This iteration has caused me to realize on yet another level that a manuscript, if given the opportunity, can have an infinite number of drafts and hence never get published. It’s time to call this one done, D-O-N-E, DONE. There will always be facts to check, alternative ways to convey a story, and sentences to add or take away. Yet, because Finding Joy in the East is awaiting the completion of its predecessor, I’m calling the manuscript for my first book complete. My word for 2025 is finish. It’s time to get this thing published . . . or dare I say, “FINISHED!”
I’d like to share with you some lessons I have learned through this writing process. My hope is that my lessons will help you as you work on your goals.
Lesson 1: Projects take longer than we think.
When I started writing in 2022, I naively thought I could knock the book out in a year. Others had done it, so why couldn’t I do the same? I failed to consider that I went to school to be a teacher, practiced teaching for thirty years, and never mastered the art of teaching. Why I thought I could jump into a new career and be on par with the best of them, I will never know. There is this thing called the learning curve, that everyone must round. The learning curve offers no specific timeline, nor a definitive end. Taking the hands of those who have offered their support has helped me tremendously.
Lesson 2: Writing is a process.
No one publishes their first draft. That’s why Jane Friedman suggested I read Allison K. Williams’ book, Seven Drafts. And writers often refer to Ann Lamott’s famous quote “sh%$# first drafts” in her book Bird by Bird. Writers rely on early readers, editors, cover designers, page layout professionals, printers, and a sales and marketing team, like a builder relies on framers, plumbers, electricians, roofers, painters and more. Knowing it’s okay to never arrive, and knowing it is a process for everyone, is reassuring.
Lesson 3: Projects require a system and a belief in the system.
Belief in the process and belief in myself to stick with this project to see it to completion is perhaps the biggest lesson learned. Understanding that there would be times when my belief would wane was key. Over this three-year process there have been many times when I relied on those who have supported me. My gratitude goes to those who believed in me when I couldn’t even see the finish line, much less see myself crossing it.
Here in mid-January, I can see the finish line. It’s a good feeling, but I still have miles to go. I want to encourage you to take some time to reassess. Look at your goals, your habits, your process. You have what it takes, but is what you are working toward still important to you? Is it still bringing you joy? It’s okay to reset. Tweak those goals. But don’t quit. I want you to know I am behind you every step of the way. Please email me or share your thoughts or goals in the comment box.
*Photo Courtesy of Joe@Pixabay
January 16, 2025 @ 9:29 am
Thanks for the encouragement, Joy! My word for the year is “daily”. This means that I will do things daily to stay healthy: exercise, walking, food choices, good sleep, enough water, etc.! So far, so good!!
January 16, 2025 @ 1:45 pm
Daily! Love it! Thanks for sharing. Glad you are doing well. Keep it up!
January 16, 2025 @ 9:47 am
I’m trying to catch up with your blogs so I’m reading the most current first!And very well said Joy!! I (we) can relate to all of the above as I’m certain anyone reading your blog will strongly agree! Our days of habits wigwam their way turning days into lifelong dreams and sometimes these dreams have been met, sometimes not in the way we planned, and still finding joy in them is a crucial and difficult decision on what comes next! David is looking at retiring sometime this year and with that comes those decisions. Hard decisions. Of certainty, we will deliberate on them at length and pray for clarity as we move forward! Our true joy in life comes from the Lord and trusting He has our best interests always at heart ♥️ Praying the same for you my friend! Love ya!
January 16, 2025 @ 1:51 pm
Wow! Such good words of reflection. Knowing you and David, you will make the right decisions about your future. Your head and your heart are always in the right place. Thanks for reading and thanks for your always introspective comments.
January 16, 2025 @ 12:04 pm
Wish I could go for a ride on that road in today’s picture!!
Have you?
January 16, 2025 @ 1:47 pm
I hear you! It looks like a great bike riding road. But no. I haven’t ridden it . . . yet.
March 10, 2025 @ 9:27 pm
Joy, as a retired teacher, trying to find my new routine, I do look at my goals, habits, and the process. Goals include taking my mom to appointments and visiting her every other week. Tuesdays are for Good News Club at AES which is an after school Bible club. Wednesday’s, Tim and I cook dinner for church. Thursday and Friday are for any appointments, and Sunday’s for church. I also volunteer once a week for a couple of hours at a local mission store. I love the people there, Michelle Adams is manager. We also have started seeing our grandson once a week. Barnsley Resort contracts me out for kids art projects and canvas painting with adults. After 4 years of this, I know I have what it takes, but I ask myself is what I am working toward still important to me? Is it still bringing me joy? At times, I do feel the need to reset.
Tim has finally retired, for the second time, and we are going to travel.
I know we all go through different seasons, and its not worth doing it if doesn’t bring us joy. The keys is on our bucket list, so maybe we will join you one day down there. We had plans to go in 2020, but COVID happened, so we didn’t go. We don’t know how long we have, so we need to keep moving and sharing the joy we’ve been given.
March 19, 2025 @ 6:40 pm
I think retirement takes on different roles and different seasons just like our first 60 years. We did this when we were young, we changed jobs because…
I use the term FINDING joy because it is a continuous search for what brings us joy.