The Hare and the Turtle and the Writer
January 5, 2009by Edie Ramer
I’m starting 2009 with a dash and then I plan to settle into a long, comfortable run/walk, with a few sprints. You’ve probably heard Aesop’s fable, “The Hare and the Tortoise.” In the fable, the turtle wins. In life, I believe the hare and the turtle can both be winners.
Karin Tabke is a hare. When she’s on deadline, she can whip out twenty pages or more in the time it takes me to slave over five pages. Another writer friend, Jan Kenny, feels comfortable writing seven pages a day. She’s a turtle.
I’m a turtle too. Last year, I was turtle interruptus. I allowed everything else to get in the way of my writing. Yes, the American Title V contest took up some time. Yes, life happened and took up more time. And, yes, there was the election and all that other stuff. (I can’t tell you how many times I watched the Tina Fey/Amy Poehler Saturday Night Live skit of Sarah Palin and Hilary Clinton.)
But I’ve had things happen other years and it didn’t stop me from meeting my writing goals.
Yet I answered my emails. I visited friends’ blogs. There’s nothing wrong with any of that, but what was wrong was I did all that first, before writing.
This year, I’m putting my writing first. I’m treating it like a job. A job I love! A job I can do in my flannel pants, sweatshirt and slippers. I’m in a BIAW this week, and I committed to writing 50 pages. Barring illness, computer failure or any other emergency, I should do that with no problem. I’ll plod to that page goal, word by word.
Another change is setting my alarm clock instead of sleeping until the sun or my dog wakes me. I’ve always been a morning person. I think better in the morning and I write faster. So at 6am CST, I’ll be getting up. I should be writing by 6:20. A turtle, after all, works better with a schedule.
What about you? Are you a hare or a turtle? Do you have a writing schedule or do you write when you get the chance?
[...] after my nearly two week break, I’m happy to dive back in. I talk about my turtle progress on Love Conquers. If you get a chance, stop by and let me know if you’re a turtle or a hare. Tomorrow [...]
Hey, Edie! I was a hare, but a turtle now and that’s okay. I got back on a writing schedule pre-holiday, so slipping into routine again should be easier. I write better in the a.m. too, and I absolutely love wearing the comfy clothes while I’m doing it! Here’s to a fabulous year we can all be proud of!
LaD, I didn’t know you were a hare! Here I thought we were Twinkie Twins.
You’re right. It’s going to be a fabulous year!
I wrote 5 pages today and it’s not 10am. I’ve got 5 to go.
I am turtle interruptus, definitely! LOL! I’m not yet on my schedule permanently; I keep falling off. But I’m trying not to get discouraged! Falling off is part of the process of learning a new habit. I hope.
Spy, that’s funny. I thought you were a hare.
I like what you say about falling off being part of the process. We can’t beat ourselves up over falling off. Instead we have to climb on and keep going!
I would say I’m a turtle. I wish I could kick out 20 pages a day, but my brain doesn’t work that way. I can’t piece together my story that quickly. That said, this year I’m determined to find out just how fast I can write while still maintaining a family life and quality work. We’ll see how it goes.
Tami, you and me both. Good luck on balancing family and work. A lot of other women, writers and non-writers, are trying to do that same thing.
LOL, I said I WAS a hare, but a turtle now. We’re still in the same Twinkie package.
LaD, you crack me up. It’s 3pm, and I still have 5 more pages to go. I’ll do it!
Hare…turtle…hareharehare…turtle…HARE.
Ah, yep. That pretty much describes my process.
No wonder I struggle, I’m a bunny with a cumbersome shell! Or maybe I’m a hare-interruptus. lol great line, Edie!
I’m all about interruptis – what a fabulous excuse! Today, well actually, yesterday, I planned to make Monday (today) my beginning of the year. That said, I vowed to do two things: exercise and write. I did one out of two. It’s the weather’s fault. After my p.t. appointment I stayed out, running errands while the roads clear and sun brilliant. And now it’s after sundown. Pages written: ZERO, but my thighs, ass and abs got it going on.
I plead Scarlett O’Hara; tomorrow’s another day, dammit!
Lainey, that sounds like a split personality. Two creatures in one body. I see a paranormal book here. It could be a bestseller.
Kath, I exercised today too. I did a cardio/weight training combo for 30 minutes. I want to do an hour, but I don’t want to overdo it at first. By next week I’ll be doing an hour.
You can still write tonight!
I’m a tortoise. Even if it is only writing a sentence or two before I fall asleep, I write every day. I like writing in the morning after my walk, which I use to think up the direction of my plot. But slow and steady wins the race for me every time.
Michelle, that’s so smart to write every day. If I miss a day, I lose the thread of my story.
Well, for the next month, I am going to try really, really hard to be a hare.
Cindy, you must have a deadline. Go, Cindy, go!
Since I work full time, I set writing goals that are . . . more broad. I like to write a book a year. I guess I’m joining the hare club (not for men) :0)
Barb Longley
Barbara, whatever you do must be working. You made it into ATV.