It is the plaintive cry heard since the dawn of time: "Are we there yet?" I feel sure that Caveman Mom and Caveman Dad heard it from Caveman Child when they traveled to visit Aunt Maude who lived in the next valley. Tiny toga-clad Romans would have said it from the back of horses or chariots. It's been heard in carriages, stagecoaches and covered wagons. Today (if we're lucky) the children are being distracted by handheld computer games or portable DVD players...but you know they're thinking it.
Writers think it too. But, what is 'there' to a writer? What is the hoped-for, yearned-for destination? It could be:
- Fame and fortune. Your writing is a huge success. Publishers are falling over themselves as they plead for the honour publishing your newest masterpiece. Or it could be...
- Royalty cheques. The villa in Italy still hasn't materialized, but you do receive those wonderful royalty cheques every quarter. Of course, if you add up all the time it took to write the manuscript, edit it, etc. you make the sad discovery that the average goatherd in Nepal has a higher per hour income. Oh well. Or is it...
- Manuscript completion. It's done and edited. You may feel like throwing it against a wall, but it's done. But before that comes...
- First draft completion. In my opinion, this is the largest milestone. Who knows how long it took, but it's done. Editing is small cheese after this monster. Or do you celebrate...
- Turning on the computer, or pulling out a fresh piece of paper. Let's be honest, there are some days when this is a huge achievement. You may not have written, but you thought about it. Thinking is good.
What is your 'there'? We all travel on different highways but the roads are remarkably similar. May you reach your 'there'. Happy traveling.
My there is almost there.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth; Good for you! Right now I can't see there from here!
ReplyDeleteAll of the above. We accomplish each goal, but it's never enough. Onto the next goal. Even once we're published, even IF we become best-selling authors...there's always something.
ReplyDeleteThere? Where? Too many goals, too many directions, and one dream. But it always starts with the white computer screen. Nice post. Thanks for sending me here Helen.
ReplyDeleteStephanie; That's a very healthy attitude and one that will serve you well!
ReplyDeleteSheila; Thanks for dropping in! Don't be a stranger!
I think that Stephanie is right. Each is an important goal on it's own. My biggist hurdle is taking the idea in my head and starting it on paper. I'm hoping that the NaNoWriMo this year is the catalyst to getting me started...
ReplyDeleteAlan; Thanks for dropping by and welcome! I admire anyone brave enough to attempt the NaNoWriMo. I may attempt it privately, but I cringe at the thought of failing publicly.
ReplyDeleteMy there is completing the first draft.
ReplyDeleteGosh, this is a hard one. I'm thinking first draft. From that point forward, the creativity is normally done and it's all polish. Sometimes the polish is small, usually not. But, there's a clear difference in the feeling for what you're to do from this point forward. So, it’s kind of a demarcation line.
ReplyDeleteBest Regards, Galen
Imagineering Fiction Blog
I'll go with the majority: getting that first draft done. I'm about four days away from finishing the first draft of my WIP, and I can almost smell it. (Anyway, I think that's what I'm smelling.)
ReplyDeleteWonderful post. I especially liked the "are we there yet" through history. Made me chuckle.
ReplyDeleteThat really hits home. Whatever I get, I always seem to want more and better. Still hoping for a bestseller!
ReplyDeleteMorgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
http://www.morganmandel.com
Like many of the others, my "there" changes all the time, depending on where I am with my current wip. My really, really big "there" will be if I can ever make enough to pay for a cleaning lady to come in and clean my house twice a month. Just a few hours each time. Even just to clean the bathrooms. To me that will be a huge success! :)
ReplyDeleteI think my "there" is seeing my novel published, and knowing that someone is reading it and liking it. But other theres include finishing a manuscript, or even starting a new one.
ReplyDeleteRoyalties are nice too... :)
My 'there' is the end of the first draft. The rest is refining, but the first draft is really the creative process - getting it on paper.
ReplyDeleteMy "there" is somewhere between the third or fourth editing of the completed draft. It's when I know the novel is not perfect but it's coming close to as good as I can do.
ReplyDeleteThe ultimate rush is when someone actually expresses an interest in reading my stories.
The best "there" of all is definitely the completed first draft. It's a super feeling.
ReplyDeleteSo many new people! Welcome to all and I hope you'll each make many, many return visits!
ReplyDeleteMy 'there' is finishing the first draft. There are other mountains to climb, but that is my Everest.
I'm still holding out for the villa in Italy....we'll see...
ReplyDelete