Progress is progress

“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still.” ― Franklin D. Roosevelt

Wow. It has been a while since I last posted. The last six weeks have been hectic on so many levels. Once again my writing has fallen to one side, only temporarily at least. Well, the actual physical process of sitting down and putting story to paper.

Yesterday I read a blog post by James Boyle (@alifewellwritten) who quoted “Writing is not typing. Writing is thinking, researching, contemplating, outlining, maybe with some typing, then revisions, deletions, additions, and setting the project aside and returning afresh; typing is just a minor transaction in between two vast thought processes.” reminding me that even though the word count of my work in progress has not increased, I have put in a lot of other work on the story itself.

During this “writing break” I spent a lot of time contemplating the direction the story is taking and am now very excited about a newly conceived plot twist which will take my story to a whole other level. I have done some outlining and lots of research. Does it sound like I am making excuses for not putting words on paper to you?

That is what I was starting to think as well, that I am just making excuses for not actually writing. But then the gentle reminder that writing is a process. Last night I went through all my notes and research and was left feeling motivated and inspired.

All I will say is keep writing, whether you are sitting at a keyboard tapping away or scribbling notes or scouring the net for information, progress is progress.

“Progress means getting nearer to the place you want to be. And if you have taken a wrong turning, then to go forward does not get you any nearer. If you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; and in that case the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive man.” – C.S. Lewis