Not where I wanted to be

Let me get this out of the way so that you’re not anxious reading the rest of this installment. This is not the end. I still intend to hit my Dec 31 deadline.

However, as June closes in, it’s time to take a real assessment of where I’m at and what’s left to do, which is a lot.

The reason I started this newsletter was 30% marketing and 70% accountability. When I announced this project, I called it a big hairy audacious goal. I did that because I knew from past experience that without some accountability, I’d burn out somewhere along the way. It’s a big project and major life goal. And it’s hard. There’s a reason I’ve not taken any of my previous novel attempts all the way to publication.

The fact of the matter is that I have struggled with things I’m sure you can relate to in some manner. The first is burnout. It’s been a difficult couple of months after losing my job and trying to find a new one. Just today I’ve started to get a little traction, but mostly it’s been shouting into the void. After spending several hours each day finding openings, customizing my resume and cover letters, researching who to network with, and finally filling out the applications, only to get no response, it’s hard to work up any excitement for spending another couple of hours working on my book.

The second is also burnout. The really fun parts of writing a book are at the beginning and the end. But the middle part is where the hard work is, and it’s what takes the longest. So not only do I have a hard time getting excited for working on the book after of hours job hunting, I have a hard time getting excited to eat my vegetables.

The third struggle is letting the perfect prevent the good. Editing is done in phases. At each phase the lure to make everything perfect is strong. But that’s not how it works. Each pass is supposed to be better than the last until you reach “good enough.” But getting bogged down in the what if’s and the let’s change that, only makes each editing pass take longer and leads down rabbit holes of additional changes.

I’ve done very little work on the book lately and I’ve felt guilty about it. I’ve made a promise to myself and to you. I intend to see it through. But I need to give myself time to deal with real life concerns and let my creative battery recharge.

I’m giving myself permission to put down the book and the newsletter for a few weeks.

I’m putting the book away until June 1st and I’m not going to feel guilty about it.

I’m not going to publish a newsletter on May 29. I won’t have any book updates and I don’t want to write an essay on storytelling just for the sake of sending out a newsletter. The next scheduled issue will go out on June 12.

It’s my hope that with a few weeks off where I’m not thinking about the book or my lack of significant progress, I’ll be able to return to the project with fresh eyes and renewed enthusiasm.

Thanks for your continued support, words of encouragement, and patience.

Here are some things I’m watching and reading if you’re looking for something new.

Greyhound (AppleTV+) - Inspired by actual events, Tom Hanks brings his love of WWII storytelling to the high seas of the Atlantic ocean.

Man on the Inside (Netflix) - Ted Danson is back for a second season of how a man’s knack for snooping has landed him a job as a P.I. Funny and endearing at the same time.

Survivor 50 (Paramount+) - One of the very few reality shows I watch. They’ve pulled out all the stops for their 50th time to the island. I can’t believe I might be rooting for Rizo at this point.

Battlestar Galactia (Paramount+) - Ron Moore’s gritty reboot of a sci-fi classic that actually needed a gritty reboot. Sure it’s twenty years old at this point, but it’s still great.

American Gladiators (Amazon Prime) - Speaking of reboots, this is the third iteration of the show were pseudo-sports meets gladiatorial splendor. Sure it has more cheese than a Frenchman’s pantry, but it’s fun non-the-less.

MMA (Netflix) - If MMA is your thing, and you read this in time, be sure to catch the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano fight tomorrow (Saturday the 16th). Two great fighters who both have something to prove.