I came to a realization this morning that if I’m going to get any further with my writing, I need to make peace with my current work in progress. As many of you read a few days ago, I’ve been having a really hard time with writing (read about it here). Part of that issue is because I’m working on a manuscript that has a lot of negative feelings attached to it. So this morning, in an effort to find that peace, I decided to write a love letter to my novel. I know, I know. This is painfully cheesy. But you guys, it worked. Instead of feeling like my manuscript is a burden standing in the way of my happiness, I have this seed of warm love for the story, almost like it’s my own child, held in my hands.
This morning I talked with Tim Farrington, the bestselling author of The Monk Downstairs, and a bunch of other books that top my list of favorite novels to read (and who I have gushed about here, here, and here in this blog and just talked to him for the first time in my life this morning. This is neither here nor there, but you guys, I have long said it was a dream of mine to pick Tim Farrington’s mind about how to write as beautifully as he does, and this morning we chatted like it was no big deal…but it was a big deal), and he urged me to share about this turning point with all of you, just in case you might be struggling, too.
I guess what I’m saying is if you’re feeling overwhelmed with angst over your creative endeavors, consider pausing and writing it a love letter. You might just fall head over heels for it all over again.
At any rate, here’s my letter below. May we all fall deeply in love with our passion projects.
Dear JD (Just Desserts),
You were born in a time of turmoil, written in the beginning with hope and grand visions, but then, through no fault of your own, you were completed in absolute exhaustion. I never even gave you the completion you deserved, just abandoned you before the ending chapter, and labeled you a complete failure. I heaped so many faults on your head, blaming you for everything that felt wrong inside of me. You just wanted to be loved, to be molded, to reach your full potential through my care, and I tossed you aside like you meant nothing to me.
Now, here I am, brushing you off but still treating you with disdain, as if you are just an obligation instead of my precious creation. I’m viewing you as an obstacle to my “better” pieces when you shine in brilliance all on your own. You are full of love, magic, sweetness, and growth…and I love all these things.
JD, I love you, and I’m sorry. I cherish you and all the promises within your pages. I want to spend time with you and fall deeply in love with you. I want us to grow together. I’ll be better. You are precious and lovely and brilliant, and you are worthy of completion and publication and absolute love and devotion.
I am devoting my love and energy to your care.
Love,
Crissi