Good Monday morning, gentle readers. I hope you all had an enjoyable weekend.
I was sitting, thinking, and a song popped into my head.
"It's a long way, to the top, if you want to rock and roll." AC/DC
Yes. Yes it is.
Without ALL the blather -- As with every war, it's the small victories that add up. The small challenges that somehow make us realize we are winning. Same with writing. Challenges -- Victories. So how do you measure your victories to the top? Nailing a scene. Pulling together a troublesome chapter? Finishing the first draft? Writing a query?
When do you reward yourself? And with what?
****I'll go first. I rewarded myself with a bag of caramel popcorn for finishing the short story for NOTES FROM UNDERGROUND. And when I finally finished the last 4 scenes of REMEMBERING YOU I took myself for a drive around the outskirts of town to look at the foliage.
24 comments:
When I finish a draft of a book, I usually take a break and catch up on things around the house. It may not seem like much of a reward, but it feels so great to get those things taken care of, but I never want to take the time when I'm in the midst of a revision. You're right - it's a long way to the top and it's important to celebrate the steps along the way. Have a great Monday, Anne!
I take my kids to lunch. I've only done this once when I thought I finished my first draft. Now when I look at it--it's more of a really crappy first draft, but it's a start. You're right it's the little things. A good critique always makes my day.
Have a great day!
With each step I complete I reward myself. Finishing my very first draft of a book was a huge celebration, a nice dinner, talking with my husband, the works. When I finished the next two I celebrated with a piece of pie, something sweet, nothing going all out.
I just finished my first set of actual revisions, another huge accomplishment so I treated me and my husband to a nice dinner. I never go all out. Or I buy a book... oh yes I love books!
However when I sell to an agent and to a publisher I would like to buy a MAC, however my thoughts my change.
Susan -- Oh yes, the house. As much as I'd love to ignore it, it does feel so much better when it's clean. Happy Monday to you.
Christine -- Thre's nothing wrong with a crappy first draft. I write them all the time. It's the third or fourth when you can start to see them shine. And I like that idea of taking Monster Baby out to lunch. She's been a monster lately though. I knew school would ruin her.
Jen -- Oh, dinner out. What's that? Talking with another adult human? Wow, I must be living on another planet. Kidding. That's nice you get to celebrate with your husband. And kudo's to you for finishing so many.
Chocolate. The quantity and quality depending on the size of the accomplishment. On the days when writing is a slog, one M&M per line seems to work. ;)
I usually reward myself with a nice meal out. But I haven't accomplished much lately.
I reward myself by giving myself some ME time and do things I'm usually too busy with writing to do. :)
Hi Anne - I just stopped by to join your blog. Nice to meet you. Happy Writing :-)
Linda -- Only one per line? I'm more a fistful type of gal myself. But then I usually make myself sick anyway.
Matt -- I've got to try that meal out thing. And not McD's.
Jennifer -- Ooohhh, ME time. What's that?
I eat lots of chocolate and seafood. Not together...haha. :)
I don't think I've rewarded myself for writing my query. Can't chat now, gotta go to the mall.
I like the idea of taking a drive to look at the fall colors as a reward.
hmmm, you know, i can't remember the last time i rewarded myself for something writing related
Right now I just want one more of those 'aha' moments for the story I'm mulling over. No idea what my reward will be except perhaps to finally have a reason to sit down and begin typing.
You are so, so, so right about the small victories. I hadn't exactly thought of my writing in that light, but it's super helpful! I'll have to keep that quote for my wall of awesome.
As for rewarding myself, I don't think I do. At least, not consciously. For me (this will sound hoaky) it truly is the accomplishing of the thing and that feeling of satisfaction that accompanies it that lights up my world. For now, that's enough.
This is a really important reminder to me at the moment. I've accomplished quite a lot in the past few months--finished another novel, plus a couple of short stories, a whole bunch of articles, sent out a bunch of queries, got two new jobs--good stuff. But all I do is look ahead at what I still have to do instead of looking back and congratulating myself on what I've done.
Maybe I'll take off from it all--even my NaNoQuerMo regime and...what? You know, I think I want to read a book. One made from trees. Something escapist, grown-up, and sexy. Maybe I'll even read it outdoors...
...upon finishing up the first draft of "Charm," my family rewarded me with a steak dinner, (and beverages:) I'll never forget it. The youngsters were a bit crestfallen however, upon hearing the news that I'd no doubt be re-writing the thing a few more times...which I've done, again, and again. This time I'll be owing them the steak!
Lovely post as always Anne:) Have a wonderful day.
El
When I finish a scene, usually the MC from the other novel I'm writing nudges me, and says, "What about me?"
When I finish a novel, my conscience usually snorts, "Hey, that was the just the first draft."
When I've completely finished a novel or a short story, its spirit coughs, "All right, now which agent or magazine are you going to send me to?"
Sigh. No rest for the wicked.
For finishing my fifth and I hope final revisions, I'm rewarding myself by spending some time here on Blogger! I'm relaxed knowing the revisions are in the mail.
I enjoyed coming over here and seeing your smiling face, and reading your relaxing post!!
Ann
I'm a simple person. My rewards are always the same - a new bottle of wine and a little bit of chocolate. =)
I pay myself a quarter for every writing goal I achieve (and for hitting the gym). Then I pull out $5 worth and put a $5 bill into a box. Then I keep adding quarters to my "tip" jar. I also pay myself for rejections on a sliding scale and I pay myself for not finaling in contests. Takes the sting out and helps me to keep tossing the fodder out there.
:-P
I do something for me. Either I spend the afternoon doing something decadent like watching a movie or shopping alone (i.e. without kids). Or I buy some books. I can always find a reason to buy books :)
Popcorn is great. Especially at home with a good movie or reality TV show on! In terms of my own rewards: ice cream. Drumsticks. Love them.
Something sweet!
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