Running Behind
This post is late. So am I. In dealing with the cold from H-E-double-hockey-sticks, I am late with setting up my house for the holidays, late turning in my revisions, late starting my Sven project, late late late.
When I fall behind, I have a tendency to start wondering why I’m bothering. I look at some of the Sven totals from Sunday and go — wow,I can never catch up to 25k already! Why bother trying?
But then I think about the term, “running behind.” The key here is running. We can’t compare ourselves to the other challengers (or to our friends who work full time, have newborns, decorate their homes for the holidays and STILL manage to send out those chatty Christmas cards!) We just have to run at our own pace. I may only have 1,000 words on my Sven project, but I am still running back here.
So if you’re behind, don’t give up. There are others, like me, who are a bit behind the pack.
November 24th, 2008 at 10:20 am
I’ve been sick since election day and nowhere near putting out the same kind of word count that I normally do. I just put on the blinders and do what I can. And know I’ll catch up later. I always do even if I don’t start out strong.
And the key is not giving up. That’s why we do these challenges–to have other people with us, knowing we’re not alone in the struggle.
Hang in there. Hope you’re feeling better.
November 24th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Me too — since the election! I wonder if it was also that extra energy crashing down — or just the fact that I spent the whole day standing in the cold rain…
November 24th, 2008 at 11:02 am
I really like the extra amount of days in this sven challenge. Gives people time off to relax and get things done. I’m running way behind in my annual word count goal which is why I’m scrambling so hard now.
Through December 31st writing is going to be intense for me wordcount-wise. I know starting January 1st (actually the 9th after my celebratory vacation if I make my word count goal!) I’ll be getting a good start on the new year by writing my min count every day and not waiting til the last minute to get it done.
Daily wordcount goal for the new year: 1500 a day.
I hope everyone feels better. The cold and flu season is slamming everyone hard.
November 25th, 2008 at 1:31 am
I’m running behind too. There was something off about the pages I had written, so I went back and rewrote all 23 of them. I’m happier with the pages now. It’s part of my process to monkey with the beginning of the book until it feels right, then it’s full speed ahead. Now I can move forward!