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Peg Cheng

Author + Blogger + Teacher

June 10, 2016 By Peg Cheng

Writing Through 4 Months of Mud

muddy-bootsThese last four months have felt like wading through mud.

Thick, sticky, disgusting, tiring mud.

For about four months, I wrote approximately one chapter per week of my suspense novel, SEVEN DUDES.

Which for most people doesn’t sound terrible. But for perfectionists like me, it feels like a snail’s pace.

Every day I sat down to write, I was deluged with fear and self doubt. I wondered if it’d ever get easier. Not a lot easier–I know that’s futile to wish for–but just a little bit easier. I kept thinking it would get better in time. Things would feel more natural. It seemed like I’d never reach that place.

Well, I finally reached a place where it felt natural. And not like torture.

But it took four months.

Which for most people doesn’t sound that long. But for perfectionists like me, it sounds like forever.

Two weeks ago, I wrote three chapters.

Last week, I wrote two chapters.

And this week, I wrote six–count ’em, SIX–chapters!

It took me almost four months to write nine chapters, but in the fifth month, I wrote eleven chapters. ELEVEN chapters in just three weeks! That brings me to a grand total of 20 chapters for Act 1 of my novel.

It took me four months to hit my stride on the SEVEN DUDES novel.

Four months.

Looking back now from my place above the mudflats, it’s really not that long.

Frankly, I don’t know what changed. I think it was just developing a habit. Which is no small feat.

Habits, I’m realizing, are the keys to success.

I developed a habit of sitting down and feeling the fear and moving forward with my writing despite it.

Next time the writing process feels like slogging through mud again, I need to remember how I feel today.

Amazed. Happy. Grateful.

I need to remember to just keep going.

Show up.

Butt in chair.

Write.

I’ll get there.

Peg Cheng is the author of The Contenders, a middle-grade novel centered on the question, can enemies become friends? She is currently writing another novel that is a re-imagining of the Snow White fairy tale set in 1980s Seattle. Peg is also the founder of Prelaw Guru, a law school application consulting company, and the author of The No B.S. Guides for prelaw students.

Muddy Boots by Art Nahpro via Compfight cc

Filed Under: Fear & Writing, Writing Life

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alisa says

    June 10, 2016 at 3:01 PM

    Congratulations Peg! I admire your tenacity. You are a good writer. I’ve enjoyed reading the chapters you’ve posted!

    • Peg Cheng says

      June 13, 2016 at 10:50 AM

      Thank you, Alisa! I really appreciate your kind words of support. So glad you’ve enjoyed reading my chapters. Thanks again. ๐Ÿ™‚

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What people are saying…

Lizz Zitron, College Professor

The Contenders is the middle grade novel you’ve been waiting for: diverse characters who are funny and real. Eunice and her friends and family feel so real–they are flawed, kind, complex, a little mean at times, and just wanting to find their place in the world. Highly recommended for every middle school collection.

Jas Hothi, Author + Entrepreneur

I’ve done my fair share of personal finance reading and, well, Rebel Millionaire is probably the single best thing I’ve read. Why? So effortlessly simple and effective. As I’m about to turn 31, this is just the nudge I needed to start saving and investing for my future. Thank you, Peg, and Plaid Frog Press!

Laila Atallah, Career Coach

What I love so much about your writing is how personal it is. It gives me permission to accept and love my own humanity, while also giving really helpful tips and mindset shifts, and next steps too.

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