7 Falls, in Colorado, looking down the first flight
The uphill editing climb seems to go forever and ever. When you get to the top of the stairs, you look down, and are amazed at how far you've come, but you don't want to turn the other way, because you know there is still a lot more to do. It can be maddening, frustrating, and feel like it's taking absolutely forever.
7 Falls, same platform, looking up flight #2. It never ends.
So, my work schedule has given me time every other week to work during the day, before I have to go to my day job. My opposite weeks are crazy, I'm at work all morning, often stay late, and am just worn out and don't want to bother with the book edit when I get home, even if it's early.
But! I think this is actually a good thing. I'm getting lots of work done on my closing weeks, I get a whole week away from the work, and I come back every other week, fully refreshed and ready to press on. It gives me just enough space from my current project to look at it as a reader again, and I can do a quick review of the work from the previous week before starting again.
I don't feel like I'm beating my head against a wall this way. I feel like I'm actually making progress, and getting somewhere with it. It keeps me excited about it.
So! If you are able to work in chunks and take breaks, then come back, I'd highly recommend trying it. It may or may not work for you, but it's worth a try! Maybe alternate writing one project and editing another every other week? Or just take one week off every other week. Find a way to give yourself natural breaks from it, and see if that helps you keep working on it.
I know how easy it is to just get frustrated and want to give up, because it's never going to be ready at this rate. I know how tempting it is to walk away and put this book on a shelf next to the other unfinished projects.
My suggestion, really, is to try and find a way to STAY excited about your project. If you're excited about it, you won't want to put it down and walk away. It's hard, and it's taken me a while to see it in that light, but it is a writing/editing epiphany for me. Stay excited, and you will keep on going. See if you can achieve that, and see how you feel about it! :)
I don't feel like I'm beating my head against a wall this way. I feel like I'm actually making progress, and getting somewhere with it. It keeps me excited about it.
So! If you are able to work in chunks and take breaks, then come back, I'd highly recommend trying it. It may or may not work for you, but it's worth a try! Maybe alternate writing one project and editing another every other week? Or just take one week off every other week. Find a way to give yourself natural breaks from it, and see if that helps you keep working on it.
I know how easy it is to just get frustrated and want to give up, because it's never going to be ready at this rate. I know how tempting it is to walk away and put this book on a shelf next to the other unfinished projects.
My suggestion, really, is to try and find a way to STAY excited about your project. If you're excited about it, you won't want to put it down and walk away. It's hard, and it's taken me a while to see it in that light, but it is a writing/editing epiphany for me. Stay excited, and you will keep on going. See if you can achieve that, and see how you feel about it! :)
