Protect the Work

The Universe has been sending me that message a lot lately. Lilith Saintcrow had blog post about the subject. She pointed to an essay by Jenny Cruisie. Even Jenny's writing partner Bob Mayer said something to the effect of focusing on the story how ever it works for you.

Maybe that's part of why I don't understand other writers' need for external validation. Maybe that's part of why I dislike writers and artists depending on AI.

And it goes back to trusting your muse.

I often refer to my Subconscious as my muse. And for her to do her magic, I need to sleep.

After the extra sleep post surgeries, the internal brain switch flicked into insomnia for the last week and a half. Which is as bad as oversleeping. *sigh*

However, I have done very little new writing since before Thanksgiving between re-editing the third volume of Millersburg Magick Mysteries and dealing with the eye surgeries.

And with the last couple of nights of normal 8-9 hours of sleep, Subconscious has been weaving her magick tapestry. I've woken up and immediately wanted to start on the stories she suggested. At least the ones I can legally write about. LOL But it's her hint that she's ready to get back to work.

So for me, doing the little things to protect the work include appropriate sleep, a working laptop. and never showing a story to anyone until it's done.

YMMV

Trust

Currently reading - Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews

Trust is not an easy thing to come by.  Ninety-nine per cent of trust is perception, and even the illusion of trust is hard to earn.  A miniscule crack in the fascade destroys the entire foundation of the trust.  You're left with nothing but shards and an unstable base that may never support trust again.

And in the insane upheaval surrounding the publishing industry today, the fact that trust can exist at all surprises me.

What disturbs me is the rising polarity in discourse about the state of the industry.  Fear of the unknown, of change, of 'what will happen to me' feeds this animosity.  And the illusion of trust, that 'we're all in this together,' disappears in the flame wars and is burnt to a crisp.

Why?  Because many people confuse trust with the road to be tread.  They forget not everyone is on the same road.  And they also forget they must earn your trust that they will not run you off the road or crash into you when you both reach an intersection, just as you must earn theirs.

There is no one perfect path to your dream.  And don't let anyone roll over your trust in yourself.