Hello Dear Readers :)
Welcome to TTTT (Tell the Truth Tuesday). Today I want to start by telling you that I was a mediocre high school student. That means I didn't have the grades to go to Harvard or Princeton. Which meant that I had to go to a mediocre college, where once again, I got mediocre grades. This tragedy occured due to my obsession with one thing...
boys.
Sure, blame it on the boys. I know. I know. No, the truth is that I skipped intensive book studying in favor of studying them. That being said, I now tell my girls (and any college friends I know) to "finish strong!" Now that I've experienced the results of screwing around when it counted, I firmly believe in a strong work ethic. So, whether or not you get good grades isn't the issue with me, it's the working hard part. I want my girls to do their best right up to the wire. And as far as the boys go... They'll always be around. I promise.
This week I had to swallow my own pill. You see, I have this little novel - you may have heard me talk about it. It's the one I say is wicked cool (which it is). Well, WC novel has an issue that needs fixin' and I haven't really wanted to think about it.
But last week, while whippin' up some grits, I was struck by the mother of all ideas. An idea so friggin' cool that it will make the wicked cool novel, epic. But an idea that means that I will have to get inside the book and work like a dog for weeks on end - something I don't really wanna do. I want to work on the glossy, new, second novel that makes me feel like racing Ferrari's. But then I remembered that I need to Finish Strong, even if it breaks my back and hurts my head. So, unlike Little Katie from the 80's, I decided to take Wise Katie from 2000's advice and finish strong.
I have decided that whether or not my novel ends up in a drawer or on the bestseller list, it's going to be the best friggin' novel I can write. And if I don't sell the sucker before I die, surely my children will find a way to, and retire millionaires. That's how good I'm gonna make this damn thing before I allow myself to move on to the next one. I'm scared of the mountain I'm about to climb, but I'm lacing up my boots. If you wanna climb with me, feel free to copy the FS logo that I stole online and post it on the side of your blog too. We can do it together.
Okay, enough of that. Now, for our new Plot This Food Feature (which will end all of our posts, much like the typical inspirational quote). SF and I will share with you our current favorite craving. A craving du jour, if you will. The only requirement is that the item must be available for purchase within the Oxford city limits.
Drum roll please.... My craving of the day is from Leonore's. Artichoke bottoms sauteed in garlic butter, topped with jumbo lump crabmeat and sauce bearnaise.
Ahhhh I love the south.
18 comments:
I love tell the truth Tuesday. Must think of my own version to post today.
Oh and now I'm totally craving artichokes at 7 AM. Thanks for that.
Artichokes and Rachel Zoe would make a delightful breaky if you ask me :)
Good for you, Katie! Keep on rockin'!!
i have so many other ideas i want to get started on that i'm finding it hard to finish my current WIP strong. part of that is that i learned so many craft-related things while writing this book that i got bogged down in rewrites and editing, trying to "fix" things, instead of just chalking it up to inexperience, finishing the book and putting it in a drawer where it would likely stay forever. but i'm inspired...i'll FINISH STRONG and then knock the socks off the next one. :)
Wow, I love it when inspiration strikes like that. For me, it's usually in the shower.
I might try to cook grits and see if that works for me, but I've never even eaten grits, let alone cooked them.
Now go. Write. Make great thing happen!! You can do it!
That artichoke thing.....totally cruel!! Sounds so yummy it should be illegal.
Sometimes, the diving back inside is way harder than just starting something new, and I commend you for taking it on. It will make you a better writer, as well as making the book better. (But I would reward myself, from time to time, with a little writing time on new novel as well.....you know, because rewards work!)
Good luck to you!
Shelley
Finish strong. I like that! And I too have struggled with having to dig back into a finished manuscript when a shiny new one begs for my attention. But the payoff is well worth it in the end!
I'm so excited. See! It is when you're doing something mundane that the brilliance shows up. I can't wait to see what you've cooked up.
Speaking of cooking up... whaddya put in them grits? I miss them. Sigh. Mr J has been known to stare at me when we're in Florida, "What is a grit?"
I'm wondering if you can whip some of them grits into your WIP...
TTTT is an awesome idea. Hope it spreads like wildfire! And good for you, Katie!
Yummmm artichokes. I love the fire-roaded artichoke from the Cheesecake Factory. Which I haven't had in ages, since I no longer live near one. Sigh ...
Thanks for the inspirational post!
Finish Strong, I love that. I'm totally stealing that and putting it on my blog. I was honest yesterday, but I love TTTT! Thanks Katie!
And artichokes? Yuck.
I love artichokes, but the grits? You're going to have to post a recipe or something that will make all of us not from the south like 'em.
I need to finish strong on my novel too, because I'm itching to work on the others. I think I will take that logo...
Great post! I wish I could go back in time and tell little me the same thing. Boys will always be there but semesters abroad and other great opportunities won't be.
I vow to follow this mantra with all my novel projects. Finish Strong!!
Mmm, grits. Just make sure they're cooked all the way through, then melt pepper jack into them. I dare anyone to dislike grits with pepper jack.
Great advice! Love the logo!
I've got a novel in a drawer--sometimes finishing strong is to know when you need to pack it up for a while and move on to the next thing. :-)
I've done some really fun, crazy writing this morning--total stream of consciousness--and it's led me to a fun place. We'll see.
Hm. Truth. I'm checking my mailbox and email. A lot.
sf
got another award for you two ladies over at my blog this morning...check it out!
I'm struggling a little with the "finish strong" part on one book. The paranormal thriller which may or may not be tweaked to be a paranormal romance. (it wouldn't be too hard) I finished the darned thing two years ago. And...I'm a much better writer now. Book 2, which is started and I'm having a ball with it, is going GREAT and is going to be a MUCH stronger book than Book 1, even though it has a weaker structural plot!
But my YA series is STRONG! Like...oh, crazy wow Strong!
GADS! Anyway! Now I'm hungary and I only have an apple. Yum.
Hey Katie, I'm super excited to find another Finish Strong advocate...it's been working for me for over 15 years. That's why I trademarked the name and the logo you are promoting. No problem so long as you link to my site www.finishstrong.com also, check out www.finishstrongmovie.com a great way to start your day.
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