Sometimes You Just Have to Pretend You Know What You're Doing (A Love Letter)
Faking it until you make it
Dear Lovies,
Earlier today, I was working on draft two, ordering scenes. And by that I mean trying not to tear my hair out, fall on the floor screaming, or jump in a scalding hot shower to sob. If you’ve ever tried to figure out how to rearrange those pesky scenes when they aren’t working right, you’ll understand the feeling.
I was switching back and forth between a hand-written list and a computer file containing more explanation. I had three more scenes to identify before the mid-point. Three pesky scenes. But, for the life of me, I couldn’t make sense of it. And I risked going into overwhelm —which for me is a big gray cloud with fuzzy edges that looms between me and the work. The cloud is so dense I can’t see said work. If I let it descend, it can take days for the fog to clear. So I do my best to keep it from forming.
Finally I said to myself, f*ck it. Just fake it. Make it up. (This is exactly what I would tell a client.) Do something, anything. Write shit down!
And you know what, it worked. It worked because I’d deactivated the but it’s so hard button. I’d taken off the guise of perfectionism, the imperative that it has to be right and it has to be right immediately. In novel writing, there it not necessarily a right way, because nobody knows how to write a novel. Remember the infamous Somerset Maugham quote:
“There are three rules to writing a novel. Unfortunately, nobody knows what they are. “
(And here is an article that attempts to track down if it was really Maugham who said that, or somebody else.)
The thing is, all of the above is true of life as well. Witness the slew of books with some version of “f*ck it” in the title: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, Unf*ck Yourself, The Life Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck, okay I’ll stop now. You’re welcome. And of course, lamentations about the difficulty of adulting clog social media.
So whoever1 came up with the fake it ‘til you make it mantra was brilliant.
Life is hard. Writing is hard. So why in the hell not quit worrying about how awful it is and just do something. Pick the option that seems best in the moment, whether you’re wringing your hands over your WIP or trying to choose a dentist.
Give it a try. And feel free to report back.
Love, light, and good writing,
Charlotte
P.S. Last week I somehow managed to make comments work only for paid subscribers. Dumb mistake on my part! Won’t do that again. (And thanks to my friend Jeni Hankins for pointing it out.) I never want to dissuade you from commenting!
Articles and Resources
Reminder: I told all about my multi-generational living situation on my friend Cecilia’s blog.
The liability of the book advance
How and where do you contort yourself? This post is written for leaders and about leadership, but it has resonance for writing and creativity as well. *Since it’s back to school time around here, this weekly newsletter from Austin Kleon has a lot of interesting listings for stationery and office supplies.
Books
Driving Over Lemons, by Chris Stewart. This is the memoir for our Italy workshop. I accidentally started reading it at the same time as the Reichl book. Highly entertaining so far! (Not set in Italy, but Spain. Oh well.) Update: Life got busier than expected this week and although I thought I’d be finished with this by now, I am not. I like it, dude’s a good writer, but I’m not in love with it.
Overseas Workshops
Itching for some time away? It’s not too late to come to Europe with us. We’ve had last-minute openings for both of our France and Italy workshops. Air fares are holding steady, so come write with us!
Blog posts on our website will tell you all about the location of our France workshop and why we love it so much. You can read about art and artists in Céret, the crazy annual footrace there, and best of all, the wonderful local bakeries. Nab your spot now. And here is the promised interview with our guest resident Angela M. Sanders (written by the wonderful Shari Lane, whose book is also wonderful!)
And we have two new blog posts—one on French films to get you in the mood, and one on Italian films.
Other places to connect with me:
My website (badly in need of an upgrade)
Our workshop website
My original blog (now for archive purposes only, no longer updated)
Ways I can help you:
Apparently, it was a man named Glen Turner, as explained in this Washington Post article. I would have guessed Mary Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay cosmetics and gifter of pink Cadillacs to salespeople who followed her dictates.
Such excellent advice, Charlotte. I find this helps with songwriting, too. Just get that other verse down and the one you want might be waiting behind it. And, of course, knitting, as you know! Huge smiles to you!