I have a very specific answer when people ask how writing is going.

But it wasn’t always that way.

When I first started writing, and people would ask how writing is going, I would say, “good!” or “pretty good.” I even replied a few times with, “okay.” All of these answers were met with the same response.

*insert polite smile*

People don’t care about the day to day grind. That part isn’t exciting or glamorous (though it makes up about 90% of the writing life).

They don’t want to know if you’re having trouble with character motivations or if the words aren’t coming. They’re just being nice. And that’s great. There’s nothing wrong with that.

But when I read the book Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday. I changed my answer to that question.

There’s a chapter about work for work’s sake. About doing work. It stayed with me. He says: “This is why we can’t let externals determine whether something was worth it or not. It’s on us. The world is, after all, indifferent to what we humans want. If we persist in wanting, in needing, we are simply setting ourselves up for resentment or worse. Doing the work is enough.”

Doing the work is enough.

I try to live by that, because I really do love the work. I love the outlining and the drafting and the editing. I love the work. And, I really want to keep the mindset that doing the work is enough.

Now, when someone asks how the writing is going, I reply with, “I’m having a blast. I love the work.”

I still just get the polite smile, but now I’m being honest.

Until next time.

Jump. Build. Fly.

This video’s featured indie book is Fable by Zack Jackson.

As buildings crumble and the world falls into disrepair, humanity retreats into a virtual world, where a pair of glasses bring the world to you, in a beautifully augmented reality.

Augustine, a young man working as a virtual caregiver, dreams of fame and fortune as a vidcaster. He just might get his chance, when his vidcasting idol invites him on a quest to secure an interview with an infamous terrorist.

Fable is a quick-paced, thoughtful commentary on a not-so-distant future. It’s got great characters and is a ton of fun. I highly recommend it for fans of Dark Matter and Ready Player One.

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