Friday, July 10, 2009

Pity Party Part 2 - Emerging from Darkness

Yesterday I was feeling very sorry for myself. I've never written anything novel length before, so this whole process is like flailing around in the dark.
It's killer on the confidence.

This morning I feel a little better. I think I have some idea at least for the next scene in the WIP, so at least I can limp at least that much further ahead. The good advice of many other writers (thank you!) has been to just keep forging ahead. Get the story down on paper from beginning to end, then go back and rip it to pieces if necessary.

Okay. I'll do that.

So now that I can put that little piece of misery aside (at least temporarily), now I need to focus on how the heck I'm going to pay for my master's program. Since it's a low residency program I won't be on campus so I can't get an assistantship (which would be ideal, of course). I guess I need to dig around and see if I can find any free money (ha!).

Maybe some rich writer would like to sponsor me? Hmmm, too bad I don't know any.

If I weren't married I could find an old geezer and marry him for his money.

Discover sunken and/or buried treasure?

Win the lottery?

Beg on a street corner?

Plan an elaborate bank and/or casino heist with 10, 11, or 12 of my best friends?

Pray?

I'm out of ideas. Anybody else have any?

7 comments:

Unknown said...

I'd like to offer words of comfort and encouragement but I think I used them all up on myself. I'm arguing with my ms as it keeps crying out "rewrite me! why won't you just rewrite me??"

Angie Ledbetter said...

Vocational Rehab monies?

Cheryl said...

Hmmm, I read of a movie critic who, when his work load was cut, turned to his blog readers to fund his trip to Cannes. He wrote them he needed $2000 to go - and a week later he had his funds!

I also tried this luck experiment not too long ago (after numerous viewings of The Secret and an article in Oprah magazine) and won $50 after spending $5 on lottery tickets, found a wad of cash in a bathroom stall that funded a fun night on the town for my sister and I, as well a few other lucky breaks.

How did I do it? I did feel...happier, more deserving, more things will work out because the universe loves me (Secret talk!). I smiled at everyone (because that's what I read lucky people do) and expected good things to come my way. But it's a challenge to maintain that sort of optimism. It comes and goes.

Maybe, with so many of us in the same boat, you can query a magazine or newspaper about doing a series of articles on what it's like to be a struggling artist in this economy? Oprah? Or see your current circumstances as an opportunity to try something else other than being a student for a while.

There's a reason in there somewhere. When life isn't turning out the way you expected, maybe it's because (this is from Oprah again) life has a bigger dream for you than you had for life.

Glynis Peters said...

Well done for not giving up. Ok, earning funds...mmm not so easy, good luck with that.

Alyssa Kirk said...

The hardest parts come later...and robbing a bank is only a three man job! More than that and you're likely to get caught!

Rebecca A Emrich said...

I find that writing is both a fun and harsh experience.

Just write, and then rewrite, and then send it to a trusted person, then rewrite and send it out. It's that easy...

Or so I keep telling myself.

* said...

Do you have a metal detector? You could start combing beaches for lost cash. Just a thought. ;)

Masters degrees are fun...I'm just trying to justify going back for a 2nd one now...