I think it’s fair to say that many writers and workers in the arts industry have been feeling pretty deflated since the Australian Government announced its budget last week, revealing huge cuts that are going to take effect. It’s understandable; I get it. But one of the things I have always loved about the artistic community is its resilience – writers will write on because they must and find ways to eke out time to create. I’m talking about two different things here, I know – not-for-profits are often the launching pads for emerging artists, so if the organisations suffer, opportunities for the artists (grants, fellowships, festival invitations etc) will also be thrown into jeopardy. Such things are important.
I know a lot of writers with much more publication experience than I do occasionally say on Twitter, “Does the world really need another novel?” whenever they are between projects, or just generally feeling down. It’s a sentiment I share because I’m in the same situation myself at the moment with my book.
But! But!
I’m trying to keep focused and positive. Apathy doesn’t solve plot holes; inaction doesn’t fix sentences. And as my best calculations deduce, I have about 20K words left in my young adult (YA) manuscript before I finish the draft. I left it after getting sick last year. It took a meeting with my Fibromyalgia specialist before we went overseas to put it back into the spotlight.
After explaining the stress I put myself under to get it done, I half expected him to advise me to let it go; it was the price I had to pay for the sake of my health.
Instead, he asked a simple question. “Is it important to you?”
“Yes. Very.”
“Then you must finish.”
And that’s what I’m going to go. Of course, I realise that by setting a fairly high – by my writing output – word tally goal risks a similar outcome to last time, But I think it’ll be okay. Even coming close is fine. Why the 20th June? Seems like a nice day.
I’m all for setting goals and striving to meet them – but I’m more about giving something a crack. Try. Participate. Engage. That’s great stuff.
I’ll keep you updated via my Facebook page as to how I go.
I’ll still be here, of course. But if you see me hanging out on social media longer than what can be called an occasional ‘rest break’, call me out on it, okay? Thanks.
Wish me luck!
