Shannon Dittemore is the author of the Angel Eyes trilogy. She has an overactive imagination and a passion for truth. Her lifelong journey to combine the two is responsible for a stint at Portland Bible College, performances with local theater companies, and a focus on youth and young adult ministry. For more about Shan, check out her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. There are nine zillion things on my plate right now. Have you ever felt like that? Like, you can’t possibly get everything done. It’s an overwhelming feeling, being surrounded by a to-do list that just won’t end, all of the tasks shouting at you for attention.
As it relates to writing, I feel the heaviness of my imagination most when an entire story sprawls before me. The manuscript I’m working on now came to me, not as a complete whole (there have certainly been some surprises), but with a vague notion of its end fairly developed.
The end! A glittering star I was desperate to reach. But between that far-off place and where I stood at the outset, sixty or so scenes rose like craggy mountains before me. Each one of them needing every ounce of my energy, every spare moment of my time, and a singular focus. Without these things, I would never finish.
And thus, the question became, “Where do I start?”
Elisabeth Elliot gave me the answer.
These four words are the rope that tethers me to sanity. They give me wings. They make the climb possible. Because I cannot do it all. I certainly can’t do it all today. But when I roll out of bed every morning, I remind myself that I can do the NEXT thing. And come hell or high water, I will.
It may take a little organization to figure out what the next thing is. You may even need a few writer pals to point you in the right direction, but freeing yourself from the burden of the next 59 scenes will lighten your load. Write the next scene. That’s it. And then when you’re done, attack the next with abandon. But not until THIS one is done. Don’t carry future work with you. That’s too heavy for anyone.
There’s only one next thing. Do that.
It’s different for all of us. Maybe writing isn’t the next thing at all. Maybe it’s querying or brainstorming or being brave enough to ask for feedback. Maybe the next thing is taking a class or setting your manuscript aside to study the craft. Whatever it is, find a way to make it happen.
So, what’s MY next thing? I am wicked close to being done with this manuscript, you guys. And I’ll be honest, my eyes keep straying to the top of that very last mountain. To THE END, but that’s not my next thing. My next thing is to get my main character good and caught. My next thing is to let the bad guy find her. My next thing is to write those moments and only those moments. And when she’s tangled something fierce, then I will write the thing after that.
Tell me, what’s your next thing? Are you organized enough to know? If not, dedicate some time and effort to figuring it out and then DO IT! I’d love to know where you all are on the journey. If you’re up to sharing, tell us.
Tell us your next thing!