Discipline

Self-discipline is everything in novel writing. Or so I’m led to believe when friends call me disciplined. I call it obstinacy.

My mother called me obstinate long before I dreamed of creating stories. Actually, she called me that before I was old enough to get lost in a book. 

We are what we are, from our very beginnings. And a novel that turns into a trilogy? You’ve got to be obstinate to see it all the way through.

Does refusing to eat lima beans really equal writing novels?

Success breeds success?

Deciding to write a blog every week does require discipline. After succeeding five times in a row, I thought of a new challenge. Maybe I could devote a few minutes a day to yoga, something I’ve resisted for years.

If I can blog, how hard would it be to set aside 15 to 30 minutes for yoga? I’ve managed for a week. Though twice it’s been abbreviated at bedtime (or past).

The enemy to success

Writing and yoga bring with them variations on a common enemy: The busy mind. 

Before yoga, my mind says: “You’re going to turn me off? Don’t make me leave this book / this DVD / this crossword / this [you choose],” like a toddler fighting nap- or bed-time.

Writing is a little different. My mind likes to be busy when writing, but if it’s already occupied, it groans. “Don’t make me change!”

A busy mind is good for revising but doesn’t bring about story breakthroughs. That requires an almost yoga-like mind. That’s why I love to lie abed in the morning, waiting to see what will rise to the surface.

Sophie can be very obstinate on our walks. Her mind is tied up with her nose. Mostly I let her have her own way—unless it’s something she thinks yummy or I have a blog deadline.

My books

I first met the main character of my trilogy many years ago in a vision of teens on a strange planet. I had no idea of who or why or where, but I was hooked on the mystery of it all. It’s taken years to find out why they were there.

Pawn Quest  leads up to that planet scene. Planet Quest explains what they found there. Now my mind (both busily and quietly) is intent on getting them home again—if I can.