My November
I am doing this.
Why? I’ve asked myself the same question for the past two weeks as I weighed whether to do it. I’ve threatened to do it for the past couple of years and always found an excuse. In the past, I always said, “I’m too busy. I have a kid. I have work. I have drinking.”
I’ve come to realize recently that I’m always going to have those excuses. I’ve come to realize that I actually have a reason to participate in what will surely be one of the most frustrating and ultimately ego-shattering experiences of my writing career.
Why am I doing this: Because if I don’t, I won’t.
In the past, I’ve always worried about starting any long-form writing project for fear of failing. Not failing to finish, mind you, just failing to create something worthwhile. I’ve learned a lot about myself in the past year, and I think I can accept that on the morning of December 1, regardless of what I’ve created, it likely won’t be worth binding and putting on a shelf. And I’m okay with that.
The next 30 days will simply be an exercise in discipline. It will be an exercise in creating for creation’s sake. At this time, I don’t even have a working title. I only have the seed of an idea.
Wish me luck. I promise to report if I give up and/or fail miserably. I also promise to report if I succeed, even if success means writing something really, really awful.
Why? Because if I don’t, I won’t.
Sweet. Good luck, Otis.
Discipline. One of the primary reasons I’m giving it a shot. The other is to just let it fly and not be so damn critical of every word and phrase.
See you on the other side.
I’m in the same boat… up a creek… without a paddle… but a general outline. We’ll see if that’ll last past the first ten days.
Good luck. I want a first edition signed copy 🙂
That’s fantastic! I hope you have a blast with it and share it when you’re done! 🙂
Fantastic – good luck, Otis. I’m with Al re: that first edition 8^)
fantastic news. best of luck – not that you need it.
I don’t know… sounds kinda hard… maybe a little risky. Do you think it will be any good? Will people want to read it? Maybe you should rethink this. It is a lot of time to dedicate to writing. You have other responsibilities. Why don’t we sit down and talk this over a bit. On second thought, just put it off until next year. Maybe you will have more time then. Yeah, that sounds better. Oh, and bring my copy to Vegas in December. Good luck, bro.
Crush them.
good luck and I dont only expect you to finish and give me a signed copy I expect if there is an extra person (or dog) you can name him Shep
keep us posted if you have time