Thread by @visyap

So I've started rereading The Clockwork Muse, and it clarifies an idea that I've always struggled with: long projects simply *can't* be written the way short projects are. Discipline, consistency, and some form methodization are absolutely necessary.

I'm not sure I can explain this properly but I feel like this is the first time I am ACTUALLY internalizing the whole 'books are a marathon not a sprint' thing. Like I can't kid myself that they're written the same way but spread out longer. It's pretty different.

I'm just thinking aloud about how to change my own method here, and YMMV (it always does! it's not like anyone's process is the same in this work).

For me, realizing this means doing everything I can to show up way more regularly, as often as possible.

I write in bursts. I just do. I've always written in bursts. I wrote hundreds of thousands of words of fanfic...in bursts. My crash courses in original fiction, which was a few undergrad CW classes and Clarion, almost always involved 1-3 drafting sessions (no more).

I write in coffee-and-sugar-addled-sprints. I need hours of warming up. And as difficult as it is to make that time, when I make that time *for short projects*, it pays off. That's my process, and though it's changed over the years it has changed pretty minimally.

Unfortunately, this method is unsustainable and unrealistic *for me* when I'm trying to write longer. Projects get derailed because I literally don't have a Saturday to spend writing in my burst style. Plus, since I'm not getting The Thing done in =<3 sessions, I lose focus.

My shiny thing syndrome flares up, I start feeling like a failure, and worse, the flaws of the story just become grossly apparent: ew, flat characters. Ew, massive worldbuilding issues. Ew, gaping plotholes. They become daunting and un-fixable.

This means I stop trusting myself, and getting to the point where I'm willing to put down any words gets that much harder.

So, the Clockwork Muse (which is a guide to help people finish dissertations) breaks that down by stating upfront: methodicalness and routinization are key.

It breaks down why 'show up for work' is really important for long projects.

I'm not a fan of the "Write every day" advice (Kameron Hurley has a great essay on this that I totally concur with: kameronhurley.com/life-on-10000-…). But I like "Show up for work" - it's more flexible.

I like "show up for work" because:
- Since writing a book is your own project you can set your Working Hours (you'll benefit most if you're realistic)
- It turns the act into something non-negotiable
- It entails regularity which is Key to Long Project Success

In fact, it makes the whole act of writing slightly more blah and habit-like, which I appreciate, because that takes the pressure off. I'm not trying to Write A Book. I'm just sitting down to do this ol' writing thing. Two words. Or even just making sad faces at my screen.

In the context of my summer internship (& hopefully grad school when I start again in the fall), this means:
1. Some experimentation to find a time when I can regularly write
2. Setting aside a wordcount/time/"done" goal & instead focusing on showing up to get the habit down

3. Embracing (or not fighting) the fact that it's SO not the same thing. I'm going to have to re-learn and attempt this, uncomfortably, over and over. 😐
4. Breaking things down into smaller pieces. I don't know how to write long, but I DO know how to write scenes. Start there.

5. Tricking (?) myself into understanding: look, everything is an experiment. It's all trial-and-error right now. We need to try to work differently because my usual process wasn't working. BUT if my old binge way works better, well, I can always go back to it! Simple!

I'm not sure how this will all pan out. I'm just a few days into internalizing and adjusting to meet these new realizations. But if anyone's been struggling with longer work like I have, hopefully this helps a bit! I'll keep updating with my progress on this front.

Here's the Clockwork Muse, in case you're interested in checking out a copy: amazon.com/Clockwork-Muse…

And here's an old tweet thread I had, about being kind to yourself when trying to do very different kind of writing than you're used to:

https://twitter.com/visyap/status/840752149705367552

❤️