I’ve talked before about creating a body of work before (even used an image of piled wood to make the point). In fact, that post was in honor of the 25th episode of the Men in Gorilla Suits podcast. Today marks Episode 53 — our one-year anniversary!
Whether hit with overtime at work, sick, busy with other things that come with living life, or even just wanting a weekend or two off, we produced a weekly show for a year — never skipping a week! Looking at the Podcasts page of the site really is a bit like looking at a pile of stacked wood. Everything said in that first blog post about creating a body of work is true: sticking with something regularly results in the ability to look back and see a big pile of work you created!
In this case, it’s a weekly podcast, but it’s not much different than restoring a car over time, creating illustrations or paintings, or piling up pages of a book. The formula is simple:
Effort + Time = Body of Work
Speaking of Books…
The last time I posted, here, was to announce that I was taking a break from social media, and even slowing down with blogs. I wanted even better focus and clarity in the work I do
. It did not take long to find both. With the focus of really getting back to the novel-in-progress, I was able to see that the book I’m writing is really three books. So instead of one big book about June’s life and rise to fame as a magician, it will be several books about June’s life — and that excites me more than I’ve ever been excited about anything I’ve written.
For the sake of word count in a single novel, there were things I wanted to stick with longer, but had to move on to other things to avoid a ridiculously large book. June is born in a circus, and circus life lasts only three chapters in what I was doing. I’m now able to spend more time in the places that shape June as she grows into a young woman on her own by the end of what is now the first book of three.
In all the years I’ve been writing, I’ve never enjoyed it more…
Your dedication, tenacity, they always leave me in awe.
Congratulations on your progress with A Magic Life. Funny, the first novel I wrote – TROPHY – turned out to be the second novel in a trilogy. It took me several years to figure that out. Now books one and three are also written. The whole trilogy just needs to be edited. Maybe we’ll finish our trilogies at the same time. 🙂
Thank you for always encouraging me to do my own thing, Mary/Mom 🙂 It’s nice, lately, because the podcast offers that instant gratification reward…and novels offer a different kind of satisfaction. Now, to get back to juggling regularly…
Thanks, CMS! Since it usually takes me 2-3 years to write a novel, something tells me your trilogy could be edited before mine is even finished! But lately, after a little break to write Old Man and some other tasks, things are coming along much faster than usual–and now that I’m treating A Magic Life as a trilogy, I can see the end in sight with the first book. Mostly, I’m excited about being able to dedicate another chapter or two to June’s earlier life in the circus.
🙂
Congratulations on a year of the podcast, as well as figuring out the format of your current novel(s). 🙂
I just hope I can find that drive again and produce even more art and sewing than I did last year. Of course, starting and stopping, changing to completely different arts/crafts really messes with one’s mind sometimes… but it’s what I’ve got to do if I want to do both.
Thank you, Cynthia — it’s a great way to go into a new year!
I’m very fortunate that writing is something I can do anywhere, even though I prefer my office. And podcasting…at least now, it’s an recorder that fits in my hand — not a mixer, mics, compressor, external sound cards, and other gear that must be set up and torn down. In your case, your creative space is spread out in different rooms, so it’s an effort. And…the things you do require space and gear…so it can be tough. All things considered, though, you still produce great work each year — even when it may not seem like it. As you said, it’s what you’ve got to do. I look forward to the day we each have our own dedicated spaces to do the things we love to do!
Oh definitely! I would get so much more done if I could have a space I could keep easily organized and workable, and simply shut the door when I’m finished instead of having to spend time breaking it down or setting it up.
And I won’t even get into the annoyance of not being able to move forward when I’m missing supplies. Both of us getting sick for over a week (one after the other), and now snow… I guess I’ll buy the fabric and supplies I need so I can get moving eventually, eh? Sheesh!