My Current Work In Progress Is...

A while back, I mentioned the way that - early on in my pursuit of writing - I cut myself off from the Greater Writing Community. I still do that to some degree - after all, original thought is the spark that lights a story on fire, and groupthink is the wet blanket that smuggles original thought - but I have also come to learn the value of growing through others.

Of course, we all (or, that is to say, all of us who are truly passionate about literature) spend huge chunks of our lives reading and growing through others in that manner, but the telepathy generated by an author over a great gap in time does not replace the sort of intimate learning that can take place in face-to-face (or pen-to-pen...or computer-to-computer) interaction with a fellow writer.

One such learning outlet for me - which I previously detailed in a short, important post - has been my relationship with Mickey Diamond. Diamond is one of the most talented writers I have ever come across, and we have journeyed forward on the path toward (eventual) writing success together, with sometimes frequent and sometimes all-too-infrequent back-and-forth word volleys.

Other such learning outlets for me are the blogs I read and the Twitterers I follow. Because of my distaste for groupthink, and because of the fortressed nature of my personality, I do not interact much with these people I read/follow, but I pay attention to the things they say. I learn from their struggles and their triumphs. I watch from across the internet as they spill their hearts, and these voyeur-esque observations add clarity to my own journey as I take a new step each day.

And that, Dear Reader, is where my focus lands in today's post: Taking a new step each day.

I recently sent an email to Paul Joseph, encouraging him on his own writing journey, and one of the things I mentioned to him was this: There is only so much you can do each day; but if you do what you can do each day, the future will take care of itself.

When I finally started paying attention to the Greater Writing Community, one of the first things I noticed was that most aspiring authors refer to their current manuscript as their "Work In Progress" (or, of course, as their "WIP"). I never grew comfortable using that label for any manuscript of my own, but I have realized that I have a Work In Progress. I have been working on this WIP for the last 25 years, and I will continue working on it for the rest of my life.

My current Work In Progress is...me. And as I continue to do what I can do each day, I'll continue to grow. As I continue to grow, the future will take care of itself.

My current Work In Progress is...me.
(Photograph by The Shutterbug)

There is only so much you can do today. Focus on today, and each tomorrow will carry you closer to your goals.

Other Places Where I Hang Out:

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