BREAKING UP WITH THE PAST (HOLLY SCHINDLER)
It took seven and a half years of full-time effort to get my first yes. I went through an especially tough time about four years into it. A really, really bad time. A sort of, "Am I really going to keep doing this?" kind of bad time. And for a gal who never wanted to do anything but write, that was pretty darn bad.
Talking to a fellow writer recently, I tried to explain what got me through it. And the best way I could think of to describe it was that I broke up with the past. I broke up with the four years that had come before. I broke up with every person and situation that had dashed my high hopes. And, as you always have to do at some point following every breakup, I said, "Aw, screw you, anyway. I'll be just fine without you."
And I went back to work.
I had to nearly double the amount of time I'd already spent writing before one of my novels was acquired. But there was something about what I'd done...after that breakup, I was in it for the long haul. I'd dug in, and I wasn't letting go.
And man, am I glad I dug in. I can't imagine a life without writing...
Talking to a fellow writer recently, I tried to explain what got me through it. And the best way I could think of to describe it was that I broke up with the past. I broke up with the four years that had come before. I broke up with every person and situation that had dashed my high hopes. And, as you always have to do at some point following every breakup, I said, "Aw, screw you, anyway. I'll be just fine without you."
And I went back to work.
I had to nearly double the amount of time I'd already spent writing before one of my novels was acquired. But there was something about what I'd done...after that breakup, I was in it for the long haul. I'd dug in, and I wasn't letting go.
And man, am I glad I dug in. I can't imagine a life without writing...
I love the idea of breaking up with the past. I need to write my own Dear John letter! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteBreaking up with the past is a great way to put it, Holly. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThat's a great way to handle it, Holly, and a good lesson to take through life! Let go, persevere, and move forward!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great philosophy. On my drawing table is a little quote that says, "Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin."
ReplyDeleteI don't know where it's from (my aunt put it there) but I love it.
I think most writers experience that same sort of "am I really going to keep doing this?" thing at one time or another. You're living proof people can work through it.
ReplyDeleteThis is great life advice, too, Holly. When I used to despair about what a bad mother I had been recently, I would pretend that I had just adopted my boys that day; they now had a brand new mother who admittedly did bear an uncanny physical resemblance to the old mother. . . That thought helped me through some tough parenting times.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that, Claudia! So funny...
ReplyDeleteThat letting go before digging back in can be so empowering, yes? Great post.
ReplyDelete