Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.
~C. Northcote Parkinson, 1958
This Tuesday I leave for a four-day stay at a writer’s center not far from my home. As an act of desperation, I will seclude myself with my manuscript and concentrate on incorporating changes that have been percolating in my brain but somehow never found their way to the memoir.
In an attempt to finally finish the book I had, naively, cut back on social activities, travel, and other commitments. Well, silly me. It only became easier to avoid writing knowing that I had less pressure. Days became weeks and now two and a half months after my beta readers returned the manuscripts, I have yet to act on their feedback.
I have four days to edit the book. While I can’t predict I will accomplish my goal, I’m going to give it my best shot. The last thing I want is to be writing this book for the next ten years. I have to get on with my life.
Let you know how I did in my next post.
I’m cheering you on as I laze around on this warm summer day. But, I will hold you accountable for making the best use of this time away!
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I can tell you I kept my nose to the grindstone especially since access to the internet was located down the hall in the “James Boyd Library,” which was off limits to us writers while the house was open to the public. Now if I can arrange something like that at home so I wouldn’t be surfing the web instead of writing——-.
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I wish you the best in your attempt!
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“Bon Courage” as they say.
You have it in you. It’s important. Knowing where you are gives me hope you will find that cohesive writing/editing spirit in quietude. Yes.
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Quietude and beauty. What a marvelous place to indulge the editing spirit.
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I hope it’s going well…Cheers to you and your book!
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The four days just flew by. Now, at home, I will flesh out my thoughts and edits that I was able to document in the quiet and beauty of the Weymouth Center.
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