About a year ago I had a little knee surgery to smooth out a slightly torn meniscus. Last weekend I ran sixteen miles, my longest run since before the surgery. My knee isn’t back to normal, and that three-hour marathon goal I was closing in on a few years ago is looking pretty distant; but I’ll keep on running if I can because I love it. With age, injury, and wear and tear, it’s inevitable that the human body slows down, breaks down.
One thing I love about writing is that barring any major physical or mental impairments, you can keep improving forever.
My recipe for improvement has one simple ingredient: Persistence.
For me, persistence means:
- Not wasting whatever amount of time I’ve created in my life to write.
- Studying well written novels and craft books and attempting to apply what I’ve learned.
- And, to paraphrase Laurie Halse Anderson: asking how I can make what I’ve written better instead of looking at it and saying this is pretty good.
I’ve heard a couple successful writers say that if you don’t have what it takes to write, i.e. talent, you never will. Quit wasting your time. James Scott Bell, in his book, Plot and Structure, referred to this as the Big Lie. He spent several years of his life believing the Big Lie before he realized that he could learn how to write fiction. Now, as you probably know, he’s published over twenty books.
What does persistence look like for you?
Excellent post! I agree. Persistence means getting up early, staying up late, working over lunches, skipping TV or an evening out. It’s, in large part, linked to sacrifice. But I think it’s worthwhile …
I agree, Portia. Persistence is totally worthwhile. You never know when you’ll experience a break through with a story and the more you work at it the more chance you will have of things clicking.
I just bought that book last week, but haven’t cracked into it yet.
Persistence is writing in my books every day. That can be part of the first draft or revising, but I have to do something every day. For me, only those little baby steps will bring me to the finish line.
Stephanie, I hope you find some gems in Plot and Structure. I like that image of baby steps bringing you to the finish line–those are words to write by!
Ahhhh. Who knew that I could revise one novel for this long??? Definitely hitting my stride with persistence. And, I’ve gotten into the trap of saying to myself–‘how could I be any good at this writing thing, if it takes me THIS LONG to revise.’–instead of saying–‘look at all that I’ve learned–look at how I’ve improved.’ So, it’s so good to know that this is all going somewhere, and that persistence is worth it!!
Heather, I wish you much luck with your revision. And you’re right, it’s good to remember all that you’ve learned and how much you’ve improved b/c all of that will come into play with your future books.
Going to conferences, reading all the books on writing I can and writing book after book until the one makes it!
Terri, I hope your current book is the one that makes it but if not it sounds like you’ve got the persistence to keep going. Thanks!
I believe that writing fiction takes time, persistence, and dedication. It took me years of practice and rejection to understand plot and pacing. I couldn’t give up on writing and I couldn’t give up on my dreams.
Medeia, what a great recipe for writing you’ve shared. And I love how you wove rejection into the learning curve. It has been a good teacher for me as well.
This is the perfect post for me to run across today. Needed to hear that because I’m feeling quite down about the work and the chance that this book will ever be good. I keep getting stuck in the same spots. Usually I can be a hard worker and be sure that that is enough, but some fear mongering has crept into my brain today and your post is a breath of fresh air.
Tina, I’m glad my post helped you and I hope you keep at it and find some clarity in those stuck spots.
For me, all forms of persistence (creating time to write, thinking about my work, reading and studying wonderful books, learning, networking…and making sure I practice my learned positivity for the obstacles of the writing world) all flow from knowing that I need to write. That whatever happens or doesn’t happen publication-wise, it is the way I express myself best, make sense of my inner and outer worlds, and feel whole.
Thank,s Carol. You bring up a good point. That persistence is not a guarantee to publication, but instead needing to write and being drawn to fully exploring the potential of your story is a growthful experience no matter where it leads.
Oh my, this one caught my attention: “Asking how I can make what I’ve written better instead of looking at it and saying this is pretty good.” I never thought to do that! I always just sit there feeling proud.
As far as what persistence looks like to me, it is to continue writing the novel every day, even when the creativity is absent. Pushing through the dry spells is definitely where I have to work the hardest to persist.
Great post, btw – it teaches something and opens up for some meaningful dialogue. I enjoyed the accompanying comments, too.
Thanks, Kirsten. When I listened to Lauries vlog on revision the other day that same simple statement struck me. It’s well worth the four minutes it takes to hear her mini-craft talk.
Good luck pushing through those dry spells!!
Your list looks like mine. Believing our dreams can come true goes a long way to motivate me.
So true, Jill. That belief that your dream is potentially possible goes a long way in terms of motivation. I hope the book you are revising now hits the mark!!
Persistence…
I am not sure because I haven’t been in the position of looking at persistence in hindsight very many times and I think from that position it all looks so different.
I need a goal.
Great observation. Thanks, Jon. Goals do help, at least in my case.
Right now my goal is to get my WIP in shape to give to my agent. A year ago it was revising a book until I felt it was ready to query. For me, persistence means that I’m gonna try my best in all the ways I know how, and those ways are going to change over time because I change.
A big part of persistence for me is letting my works take naps and then going back to them in a month or two or several later when the time’s right. A balance of letting go for now – but of course persistently keeping the energy flowing by writing/editing something else – then back to the original.
Sounds like a good system, Robert. Very productive. I’ve had varying degrees of success juggling projects.
Persistence is finding time to write, even when I think there aren’t enough hours in the day, even if it’s just a few minutes here and there.
Alissa, I can relate. I started my first novel years ago when my students were taking standardized tests and were actually behaving.
Persistence is like a woodpecker knocking on my skull. You haven’t made this good enough. You haven’t written enough today. You should get up a little bit earlier (not something I’m good at). And above all: ‘it won’t fix itself, so keep going’.
Wishing you luck with the knee retread!
Roz, love that analogy of the woodpecker!! Now I’m gonna think of that every time I see one.
Thanks for the well-wishes with the knee. I had another good run today!
I think too, that it’s important to push yourself while giving yourself and attainable goal. The definition of both is so grey and we tend to look to others who have been through this already. I took to blogging to see what other writers did and didn’t do to get where they are today. I found so many different processes because we’re all different and in totally different situations. Instead of moving forward with my WiP, I became obsessed with blogging and celebrated a lot of successes in my first two months. The last two months, however, have been full of trials and tribulations as life has caught up with me and my original goal of seeing what others have done has long since passed and I have yet to replace it with a viable successor.
It’s odd that I am literally realizing this as I type and I am sorry that you may have wasted minutes reading this, but know that you have aided in an epiphanastic day for me.
Like I said, I need a goal:
1. Run four days a week, bike two.
2. Write, dammit.
Jon, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I’m glad you are finding some clarity and hope those goals provide a focus and you pick that WIP back up in whatever way feels right.
I’ve only had my blog for seven months and have also been amazed at all the different ways people go about being writers.
I’m of exactly the same mindframe, Paul. I totally believe that I need to keep growing and improving with each book and with each edit. I’m super excited to re-read some of my writing books after I finish my WIP. That’s when I usually read them. It gets me pumped to start writing the next book and I always learn something new.
Jody, that is a good time to read those craft books b/c it brings ideas to the surface that you might know about but have forgotten as well as new things, too. Like you, I think it’s important to appoach new books with the idea that they will be better than what I’ve written in the past. Thanks!
Persistence is doggedly moving forward in reading/writing, despite any temporary setbacks.
Hi, Marisa. I love that image of doggedly moving forward. Thanks!
Persistence is the quality of bloody-mindedness; knowing that you will succeed no matter what happens.
http://e6n1.blogspot.com/
e6n1, Thanks for that thought and that phrase, “bloody-mindedness,” I like it.
For me, it’s trying to figure out how to apply what I know to the actual manuscript. Because it’s easy for knowledge to just fill up in your head without actually knowing how to apply it. That’s why I keep practicing. And keep practicing…
Laura, that is so true. I think you are wise to keep practicing. There is such a difference between knowing something intellectually and actually internalizing it. Practice is the key. When I was trying to learn how to write seamless flashbacks I studied a couple of novels and then practiced alot.
I’ve had to fight down moments when I think I’ll never be good enough. This week I did a straight read-through of my current WIP and actually enjoyed it! No huge plot holes or gawd-awful scenes were uncovered even though I hadn’t ever read the whole thing through. Now, I’m feeling inspired to do the revisions, knowing that I will make it better each time. Our minds play some pretty cruel games on us sometimes, and we have to tough out those moments. Get fierce, someone said.
Tricia, that sounds like a really encouraging read-through. I’m glad you are feeling inspired. I wish you much luck in getting fierce and toughing out those mind-game-moments!!
I’m not a distance runner, but my husband was striving for that 3 hr marathon a couple of years ago as well. He got it down to 3:02 in the St. George marathon and then broke his foot and never quite got there again. That is a tougher barrier than it seems. Not that this rambling response has anything to do with your point on persistence, but it just reminded me.
okay, now to the topic –
I like your point about the ‘big lie’. I think it is true and that we can grow as artists just like any other artist. Is there such a thing as inherent talent? sure .. that is likely what drew us to this profession/task in the first place. does it have to be huge and does it preclude all other work? heck, no. The moment we think that, we are dead in the water.
Tess, thanks for your thoughts. There are so many worthwhile things to feed our creativity and challenge us.
And, I hope your husband continues to enjoy distance running if that’s what he wants to do:-)
Love this post Paul!
Thanks, Christine!
Yeah, getting older (physically) kinda sucks. Fortunately, *knocks wood*, our writing improves with age. And practice.
Learning to control our prose is an evolving, never-ending process.
Wonderful post, Paul.
~Lola
Thanks, Lola. Yes, it is fortunate that our writing improves w/age and practice. Lots of potential!
Persistence used to be “glue butt to chair and never move”–no matter how stuck I was at the moment.
Now, with advanced age and supposed enhanced wisdom, it means “get up, pack a bag and flea the premises.” Not only does it work, it’s fun.
C. Lee. I fled the premises yesterday and paddled a kayak down a windy creek. It was fun and gave me some ideas for a new story!!
I’m a couple days late to the party here, Paul, but good post! And I love the James Scott Bell book, it’s been very useful to me. Persistence, hmmm…I think a big part of persistence for me is battling through fatigue. I mean both physical and mental fatigue, of course, but it breaks down into to many facets – I get really tired of revising, for example. It takes energy to battle that “oh it’s good enough” mentality, and I wear down while fighting the battle. It takes effort to cope with the psychological aftereffects of all the rejection this business heaps upon a person, and THAT effort wears me down.
A blackly humorous part of the process is how much effort it takes to adjust to/cope with all these situations – I have to change the way I cope with things in order to combat the fatigue, and that results in fatigue of its own!
Mike, good point–coping with fatigue can result in more fatigue, and I think recognizing that can be kind of tricky. I guess sometimes we have to step back and take a breath or a walk or a nap or just find some reason to laugh or smile, and then when we’re ready we get back to it because of our love of writing.
Sometimes it’s just hard to know when to take those breaks because we don’t realize how fatigued we are and then something puts us over the edge.
Good luck with your revisions and staying energized!!
Just thought I’d give you an update on my goals.
1. Run four days a week, bike two.
I have been running three miles a day, but I have yet to get on the bike. So, I’ll give myself a half check.
2. Write, dammit.
Heather Kelly, a crit partner of mine, has been giving me the best writing advice/suggestions ever and so I am finally writing again.
How’s your garden?
Sounds great, Jon!! I’m glad you are writing again!!
As for our garden. We have a lot of plants started indoors and will transplant them in a couple of weeks when it is warm enough so they won’t be in danger of freezing.