Payoff days are the best days. You’ve worked hard, your latest project’s been kicking your butt. You’ve doubted and whined and almost given up. Sometimes you’re not sure if you’re fighting anymore, as much as youre merely treading water.
Then suddenly (well, not so suddenly, but the relief of it feels that way), it’s time to rock! You can finally stretch out. Kick into the waves now flowing around you instead of against you. You’re cruising! For writers, this is the moment where the pages start writing themselves. After countless passes through a work in progress, something clicks and you’ve got it! Pay-off time!! Ahhh… Lovely ;O)
Payoff days, when you hit your stride and don’t look back, usually come when you quit fighting the inevitable, relax, and finally get down to business. Start believing instead of doubting, no matter the evidence piling up that you’re going to fail. Those piles (eeeeeew) are merely your doubt and your fear. You’ve got to find a way to work through them. We all do. It’s part of the creative process. You can’t let the little voices stop you, or you’ll never get where you were born to be.
For me, I used to spend way to much energy worrying about how I was going to create the next story. Until the shrinking time I had before the deadline kicked me out of my head and into gear. Basically, when I no longer had the freedom in my schedule to worry, I got down to business and cranked out whatever I had to. Then it dawned on me (duh!). Why not make the conscious choice to work now, worry later, on my own? Writing is my job. It’s my calling. Am I really going to live the rest of my life being afraid of doing it???
So I try to keep my eye on the payoff to come now.That moment where it all clicks. Sure, it’ll be hard until I get there. But I like hard. I like challenge. I like discovery and new adventures and a chance to stretch and learn and grow. So what if a little self-doubt and worry comes along for the ride? I can handle the negative emotions long enough for the successful ones to start rolling in!
Payoff days are affirmation at its best.They’re the days you believe you can, because, let’s face it you always could. You’ve run out of excuses (or obstacles) to convince yourself you can’t, and you realize the only thing ever holding you back was you. Your weaknesses and fears lose their focus on these days. The work you love comes into clear relief.
Love your work today. Believe you can get it done. Make today a Payoff Day!
No matter what we do, this is good advice. I have health problems that could prevent me from living life to the fullest IF I let them. I have to make an effort each day to get dressed and get out of the house. I could sit here and moan and groan but I won’t limit myself to four walls. There is too much life out there to be lived to do that. Have a great day and hugs to all.
Funny, I made this same decision recently, though thought of it more in the way of being fun — if writing isn’t fun, if I don’t look forward to sitting down and doing it, then why do it? Might as well do something else that would make me stressed for more money and benefits.
And it worked. I write, I don’t worry, I have fun. It works out. I think my writing will be better for it. Amazing.
However, I will say, it took a couple of years of stress, failures, and trying too hard and finally being so frustrated I thought I should quit to get to this nice place, LOL. Maybe you have to hit the dirt before you can pick yourself up again. I also think there are folks who enjoy the stress, the sort of writing angst, but not me. No, no, I want the fun…and some money… LOL
Sam
Fabulous blog, Anna. A great reminder to focus on those magical writing days instead of the fear. The real reason we do this is strangely easy to forget.
great advice for anyone no matter what your job is!!! Thanks.
I agree, this can be applied to any career.
After stewing over the fact that my dogs ate several pages of what I had written, along with my pen and the keyboard wiring, I had to sit back and realize that maybe sometimes starting over from scratch isn’t such a bad idea after all. Maybe they did me a favor….