START AGAIN THEN FINISH

Is that the plan? Start, finish, and start again?

Or is it start, abandon, and forget about it.

Either way, you need a goal to keep going.

If you can explain why you do what you do to yourself, and it makes sense, keep going.

But what about explaining your work to strangers?

“I write the way I do so I don’t load up the backstory from in beginning.”

“But we won’t know who you are from the start.”

“Yes, but the breathless prose will help readers turn the page.”

“About that breathless prose . . .”

No one wants to hear about their bad writing, which explains a lot about bloggers.

If one blogs, as people are known to do, there’s not a gatekeeper.

We can write whatever and however we want and hit the publish button with no problems.

No editor, no agent, no editor-agent.

Also no one with their finger on the pulse of the publishing industry for what’s hot and what’s not.

An agent, an editor, an English teacher, or writing instructor all say the same thing: We want something different, but not too different.

If you don’t write in a chronological order, you might be called experimental, avant garde, or worse.

Flashback? Avoid the burn of a flashback.

The overall message? Don’t be lazy.

Start the story, finish the story. Or?

 

 

Sing Songs Instead

Grab a guitar, learn a few chords, and howl it out.

That’s a start, a good start, no matter your age.

Every song you finish is a chance to start again.

Three song set is too short? Do an instrumental slow, fast, then sing.

That’s nine songs. Why not record an album?

Where would you go for inspiration to start again?

Looks like a friendly place. Not friendly enough? Then:

If you need a road trip to reset your creativity, or anything else, like the rest of your life, this could be your destination.

Why not take an overseas trip?

People who do things get started, pull through to the finish, and start again.

It can be hard, but it doesn’t have to be with the right attitude.

You can be anywhere to start, but where to finish?

If you’re a tail-chaser you’ll never finish, so settle down and make a plan.

 

 

Start With Good Food

Without the right nourishment you’re not going anywhere except down.

First you feel tired, then weak, then it’s nap time, bed time, and the next day start again from the same place.

So eat, brother, eat, and if you’re lucky someone will whip a dinner to keep the fires lit.

And speaking of fire, when the work day is done, spend time looking into the flames.

Remember, the most important thing about a backyard fire is the hose.

Stand by and stay ready in case things get too hot.

If you’re supervising young fire bugs, don’t let go of the hose.

You are the trusted person, so act like it.

In review: Start, work through, then finish before you start again.

Follow a plan and things get easier, get better, and you get a chance to show what you’re all about.

What are you all about? It can’t be ‘quitter, loser, or flake,’ those titles are already taken.

Try hard work, persistence, research, for best results.

For me it’s working on blog problems until they are solved, then cranking out yet another post.

This is my start again creed: write it down.