1,000 Words a Day
1,000 Words a Day

Perfecting My Rebel Yell

It’s been awhile since I last posted. I’ve had a few challenges with PB, enough to almost make me decide I’ve had enough, that this dream of writing is simply not meant to be. But, as we all know from movies, books, and yes, especially in real life, there’s always a defining moment, a challenge if you will, that separates the wimps from the doers, the followers from the leaders, the heroes from the villains, the rebels from the status quo.

My challenge? A month ago, I lost PB. Not all of it, but a huge portion of my manuscript. Don’t really want to relive my stupidity, but guys, before you transfer files to a new laptop and erase everything off the old laptop so the kids can have it, be sure you actually back up your files to an external hard drive, rather than think you did so because you’re pressed for time. Yup. MAJOR, MAJOR FAIL. I can’t blame anyone for this, especially not my husband, who continually asked me if I was backing up my work. Just don’t tell him, ‘kay? Sheesh. You’d think I’d be allowed one fail-safe moment…

So, I’m back to picking up the pieces. The good news is I’m not giving up. It’s not in my nature, my rebellious streak is all up in arms. The time for moping and cursing is over. It’s time to perfect my rebel yell and move forward. PB is a part of me, her story has evolved over 2 1/2 years. Her story needs to be told. Thankfully, I have a detailed synopsis, so there’s much hope.

I’m going to be okay…PB is fighting to live on…

Well, my friends, I wish you a wonderful writing day. And a word to the wise…BACK UP YOUR FILES to an external hard drive!

What’s been your defining writing moment?

7 thoughts on “Perfecting My Rebel Yell”

  1. i’d have to say the defining moment was when i got accepted to my mfa program. not because having an mfa conferred status, but because i could no longer say i “wanted” to be a writer, or that “someday” i’d be a writer, but because i had committed myself to “being” a writer.

    which meant, writing.

    in many professions one is defined by what they are paid to do. lawyers and doctors have their titles but it is in their daily practice that they are considered professionals. with writers, the outside world does not recognize the “practice” unless one is published. it would be like demanding that a lawyer prove their credentials by the cases they are known by, the doctors by the number of patients they have seen.

    once i accepted and understood that writing was about the persistence of personal vision, and found myself surrounded by practitioners of the craft, i realized then who and what and where i was.

    1. Well said, David! Writing IS about “the persistence of personal vision.” I really like this.

      And a HUGE thanks for listening to all my whining. I’m so grateful. Thanks.

  2. Oh, I’m so sorry! I’ve been there…will likely be there again. But I’m a believer that somehow, some part of this AARGH combined with that persistence will add something beautifully new to PB’s story, and to yours.

  3. So sorry about the lost files! That stinks! But it will free you to write a better story with what you know should be there instead of worrying about the words that are already there!

  4. Vivian, I had the same thing happen — I lost six chapters once. Six MAJOR chapters. But, I worked through it.

    Glad you’re resolved to keep going, too. The world needs more rebels!

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