Absent

I am absent today, so I have attached a facsimile of myself to represent me (see right).

I have a good excuse though. I am a mere two chapters away from finishing my first complete draft of a novel. That's right folks, after three years of writing it and many more years formulating it, that sucker is almost d-o-n-e. Well, as we all know, it will not be done, but at least it is written down from beginning to end.

My goal is to have it finished by the time the Inkers meet Tuesday night, so I cannot afford to spend any time here ruminating this week. I'll be back next week, when I hope to be deep in the editing process (but will save a little time to ruminate).

Distraction = Fear?

I read this interview with debut author Jennifer Shaw Wolf and the following Q&A from it really spoke to me, so I wanted to share:

What is the single worst distraction that kept you from writing this book?

My biggest distraction from writing any book is my own lack of confidence or fear. It takes different forms; my family, my house, the internet, my own to-be-read list, whatever. What I’ve learned (and am relearning all the time) is that distraction is another word for fear. As a writer, I get distracted most when I’m afraid to move forward. What if this doesn’t work? What if I spend all this time and it’s is no good? What should I be doing instead of writing? What if I’m wasting my time? (This thought is usually followed by a couple of hours on Twitter or Facebook, looking for some self-affirmation.) Finishing a book (no matter how rough) is a triumph over distractions and fear.

To read the whole interview, click here.