Post On Promises, Process, and Progress at Black Gate Blog

[dr_pretentious]

At editor John O'Neill's prodding, I made a New Year's resolution to post more often at the Black Gate blog, so I started with a post on New Year's writing resolutions. A lot of the post is about three of the books that have helped me most in developing a wide repertoire of writing habits.

(Thanks, by the way, to showingup, who requested more posts on process. I enjoyed writing this one.)

(Oh, and that good news that's not quite announcement-ready? It's still not announceable yet, but still probably on the way. And now back to my tentative deadline.)

Comments

[jaime-sama.livejournal.com]

Holy cow, the cover of that book Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day just about gave me a flashback. I went through just about the same thought process about it at the time. "That wouldn't be enough to finish it" followed by "It's more than I'm doing now." It's amazing I got that diss done. It's amazing you got yours done, and even more amazing that you wrote another book the very next year, voluntarily.

I'm glad you are planning to write more entries for the Black Gate blog this year! I look forward to reading them.

[dr-pretentious.livejournal.com]

The absolutely best thing about that degree is the people I met on the way to getting it. (It hardly needs saying that this includes you and G.)

[showingup.livejournal.com]

Articles on process! Huzzah! I love how accessible and clear your writing is. You've such a gift for communication and encouraging enthusiasm.

I was doing some serious home organisation, and discovered a huge stack of unused notepads - small to large, flip to spiral bound - and blank books. And pens. Lots of pens and pencils. And there were more, stowed away in the oddest places. Also, a bunch of books on journalling and writing. My whole adult life has been about avoiding the thing I wanted most in the world because I got stamped on very comprehensively and got too scared to let myself get there, and yet I've been collecting the tools to do it. So very strange.

Off to re-read the article!

[dr-pretentious.livejournal.com]

When I was in the throes of that panic year, D gave me a rock to be my Dumbo feather. Do kids grow up watching Dumbo in the UK? Anyhow, I wrote my way out of that block, twenty minutes at a time, clinging to that rock with my left hand while I scribbled longhand with my right. When I finished the dissertation, I gave the rock back to D so she could have it while finishing her dissertation. And we both finished! I bet she still has it. Bonus: you now have an excuse to email D.

[showingup.livejournal.com]

:D

[violet-moon25.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I wonder how long it takes to get a dissertation done at that rate. But I admit I knew what a procrastinator I was (and still am) and selected only from Masters programs that did not require a dissertation. Not that the internship always went all that well but some days showing up was enough.

[violet-moon25.livejournal.com]

Wow, your posts on the writing process almost make me want to go write something!