I realize the official harvest moon isn’t until October. However, if you planted green beans, squash, cucumbers, beets, carrots, radishes, lettuce, spinach, or have a rhubarb plant nearby, well, you’ve been harvesting.
An artist, (dancer, painter, sketcher, writer), needs to harvest a little, (see photo, right), like yours truly. Find joy in the fact you’ve gathered knowledge, and learning how to apply said information.
Great things come to pass from small and simple things. An author, aspiring or otherwise, pulls faith, (confidence, self-trust, conviction, assurance, commitment, dedication), from deep within themselves and for themselves, in order to meet goals.
You know, fear/anxiety/doubt and belief can’t exist in the same person, or sphere at the same time.
Or can they? Maybe, if you have a complex character. You know, real life.
How about humor? Here is a rare pronghorn carrot, mounted above the fireplace.
What have you harvested from your writing? Or for your stories, and characters?
Lessons I’ve learned, or harvested thus far:
- A far more rigorous schedule.
- To laugh more at myself and typos.
- It’s okay if I wake up at 3AM and write a few ideas or sentences or paragraphs.
- A great appreciation for those with stick-to-itiveness.
- An awe for great marketers.
- Marketing ideas. Oh my, there’s lots to learn in an ever-changing world of social media. I discovered today that yes, blogs are important, but podcasts are really in. I learned there’s a Stitcher app. What?
- Not to use ly adverbs and adjectives, which makes me write far better; this unwritten rule stretches my comfort zone and helps develop my budding talent.
- As a non-techy, I’m wearing out the “Let’s Chat” feature in order to design a basic, yep basic, website.
- How to “block a scene.” Talk about taking on an entirely new challenge. And loving it.
- How to overcome fear, get my chakras opened, and increase my energy.
- Seeking day jobs takes far too much time.
- Oh, the people I’ve met! Some authors struggle with the same things I do. Imagine that. Some teach me, some learn from me. My mind will never be the same.
Remember, be thankful for all you’ve reaped in the current year, and you will always plant a great harvest the next spring.
Recognize failures as ways to succeed.
“…Sow an act, and you reap a habit. Sow a habit and you reap a character. Sow a character and you reap a destiny.”
James Allen
I love your post! Gardening and writing are definitely symbiotic!
Thank you. Laura. Great minds!
Love that James Allen quote. It is good for us to take inventory occasionally of what we’ve done, what we’d like to do, and what we are grateful for. So easy to forget to do this now and then, especially in the midst of trying times. Thanks for the reminder!
Karen, you brought to mind that when I “count my blessings” that I’m far more ready to take that self-assessment and act upon the results.
Appreciate your comment.