Sunday, August 01, 2010

Rediscovered Quote

I'm in the midst of cleaning a desk and found several old notebooks from conferences I covered as a reporter. Written on the inside cover was this quote. It's probably not mine, but I'll claim it if no one else will. It sounds like something I'd write.

If you stand around waiting for destiny, you will only meet fate.

It seems appropriate today, as we start a new month. I've had a sense of destiny lately. Some things are clicking, and the revisions of my "completed" manuscript are moving ahead nicely, though I've put the work-in-progress on hold for the summer. Of course, as we discussed in a previous post, we're always writing and I know of some significant changes I'll be making to that manuscript once I return, and I'm sure it'll be much improved.

So, welcome to August, friends and fellow writers. What are you working on?

14 comments:

Jemi Fraser said...

Love that quote! :)

I'm taking deep breaths and hoping to query soon. And of course, I'm terrified!

Matt Sinclair said...

Thanks, Jemi, and good luck. I should be right behind you in just a few weeks.

Brian James said...

You can't fight fate :)

As for me, just got my editors comments on my latest novel. Thankfully, nothing terribly much needs to be done.

Working on revising two other manuscripts and organizing my notes on 3 possible new projects to decide what I'm going tackle next.

good luck to all of us.

Caroline Hagood said...

Working on the writing, but mostly on the destiny:)

Matt Sinclair said...

Brian, that sounds great. It's so nice to hear from someone who's got so many editorial irons in the fire. Set the literary world aflame!

Matt Sinclair said...

Caroline, I know exactly what you mean. I'm trying to tackle that elusive destiny, too. Maybe we should gang up together. She can't outwit all of us.

Cat Woods said...

Awesome quote. I think I'll tackle destiny rather than stand around waiting for fate to choose my path.

Currently editing my completed manuscripts in case my agent grows weary of my pirates and would like to see something different.

Outlining my (potential) chapter book series in case an editor likes my pirates and can't get enough.

Feeling out a new YA WIP in case everything else is a bust!

dr3am3r said...

I've just begun working on a manuscript and the enormity of the task freaks me out like nothing I have ever before experienced. How do you all do it? What keeps you focused and how do you not become overwhelmed?

Matt Sinclair said...

Excellent, Cat! Or should I say, "Arrrr, that sounds perrrrfect, matey!"

Matt Sinclair said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Matt Sinclair said...

Dr3am3r, those a great question. In fact, they may inspire a new post. I can only speak for myself, of course. But for now, I'll just say, writing is like breathing. I must do it. More to come

Brian James said...

Dr3am3r, it's real daunting at first but for me, I find the more I get into it, the clearer it becomes. Stay focused on the moment your are writing and try not to think about the whole thing at once.

Matt Sinclair said...

Excellent advice, Brian!

dr3am3r said...

Matt and Brian, thanks for the thoughts. I've gotten pretty distracted by the entire project. It's definitely daunting. Best advice ever given to me: One day at a time. It's just difficult to keep that my focus.