The Oxford Dictionary of Word Histories defines perseverance as Middle English. Latin persevare ‘abide by strictly’, from perseverus ‘very strict’ is the source of both perseverance (from Old French, From Latin perseverantia) and late Middle English persevere (from Old French perseverer). And now that I’ve put you to sleep…
I hope that wasn’t as difficult to read as it was to type—for Pete’s sake. If you are still reading this post, then congratulations on your perseverance. Insert Big Evil Grin here.
As writers most, if not all, of us are familiar with what I like to call, “keep on, keepin’ on.” I have NO excuse for not completing revisions on my resubmission. I don’t have ankle biters, either human or animal, to distract me. Nor do I have a day job other than writing. And I’m still about fifteen pages from completing the revised version of my current WIP…and that’s where I’ve been since the end of the year.
Actually I do sort of have an excuse. Three rounds of revisions on my May and July releases and final galley checks on my fall print release all in the first three months of the year. And don’t forget I took a month long online class on “Empowering Characters’ Emotions”. And that class was a doozy—I kid thee not!
So maybe what I’ve been doing the entire month of April is having a mental vacation. I’ve piddled and diddled with the WIP and probably added 1000 words to the MS this month.
In other words, I’ve been keep on, keepin’ on, but just barely. Oh, and I judged seven entries in a contest this month—mustn’t forget that.
The bad thing is Mercury in Retrograde will hit on May 26th, and I don’t do submissions (they invariably get lost) or sign contracts (ditto). Mercury rules communication, so I’d better get busy and finish this ms, because book two in the series is waiting and whining to be completed.
What are your tricks for persevering? Anyone wanna make a quick run to Music City and plant a boot you-know-where?
Have a great day. Maybe I really will get my butt in gear and finish the damn book!
A girlfriend of mine talks about that “Mercury in retrograde” thing all the time. I am not much on astronomy, but I really do think there is something to that. NOTHING seems to go right whenever that is happening.
One month recently, just about every person I met had some issue and they were all up in my jank…so I finally broke down and called her.
“Is Mercury in friggin’ retrograde again?”
“Yes! You feeling it, too? I’ll turn you into a star watcher yet!”
So, yeah, I feel ya. Hang in there on the edits, and watch the planets. I’m going to work this into the new scifi I’m writing somehow…
Best!
Deb
Hey! My dithering around has inspired someone. Way to go, girl!
Obviously inspiration is everywhere, even in my what-the-heck-am-going-to-blog-about blog.