The Best Laid Plans OR How $700 in New Tires Is Like Writing

I have four lovely new tires.

$700 tires.

It was not my plan to buy four new tires today. It was my plan to buy some new tires in the future as in, well, not today.

However, one of my tires had a different plan and blew yesterday.

Sigh.

And the tires for my new car...they're much more than the tires for the old car were. So, not only did I not plan on purchasing these lovely new tires today, but I spent much, much more than I'd thought I would. I mean, for that much, they should be studded with diamonds. Or cubic zirconia at least.

However, now I won't die if I'm on the freeway and my tire goes out during rush hour traffic. And these tires should last for a long, long time, especially if I make sure to get them rotated and check the air in them. And those are good things.

Same thing happens when I'm writing. I'm going along, driving down the revising street, thinking that I know where I'm going with the story ('cause I've already written it once before) and BAM! It hits me.

I hate what I'm writing. It isn't working out and the characters are doing stupid stuff and I just want to shut off my computer and hide in my hole forever and ever. Maybe I'll come out for chocolate, but that's it!

But, after awhile, if I just keep at it (and avoid Twitter as much as possible), even if I keep going back where I started and start over in an entirely different way, it all works out, and it does so beautifully. One might say that it even shines. Like cubic zirconia.

Hey, diamonds come later. I'm okay with that.

So, I guess what I'm saying is this: Keep hanging in there. Yeah, your book or your art or your life might be a big ball of suck right now, but it will get better. And when it does, you'll be happy that you didn't give up.

Okay, I think I just pep talked myself into a better mood. Go figure.