By tabling nearly everything else this week, I’m making good progress on The Stupid Novel. Cut something like 1.3K words yesterday (and wow did they need cutting) and finished the editing pass on Part 4. Starting on the final section, Part 5, today. Might even be able to/hoping to start laying down new words.
But that does mean that I am, as always, falling behind on my to-do list. If you’re waiting on me for something, um, it’s going to be a bit longer. Sorry. Sorta afraid to do anything to derail my momentum at this point.
[Edit: Managed about 20 pages into Part 5 and realized that a massive rewrite was necessary. About 500 new words done today and much ruthless chopping. Brain feels like watery sludge. Rah.]
Sometimes I think we can take a lesson from horses. Alas, I’ve yet to find blinders in my size, that will limit my vision to what’s directly ahead, and shut out all the peripherals.
Question: How do you artfully learn to say no, when those things being asked of you are worthwhile tasks, from and for good people?
I’m still trying to figure that one out…
I’m a bad person to ask that of. I’m extremely poor at saying “no” to people, but I’ve gotten a little better at it over the years. I tend to engage in passive neglect rather than active refusal, though–a tendency that I’m particularly not proud of.
Passive neglect–I know it works on houseplants. But on people? I’ll give it a go…
Ah, I’ve killed every houseplant I’ve ever had. There might be a connection…