mustangrider, I know how hard it is to find the discipline to sit down and write. I read somewhere that a writer should try to write at least for an hour a day. It doesn’t have to be actual work on the novel, but anything. Even something personal, just to get you into the writing. For me personally, sometimes I have no motivation to sit down at my computer and continue writing, but once I sit down, put on my headphones and crank up my music, I get into it and at times end up writing for three hours straight! What helps a lot is having someone read each chapter as you write it. For me, my sister reads my work as soon as I finish writing. It’s such a great motivation. Maybe you can find a family member or friend whom you trust to show your work to? It would be really great if there was an online Jewish writing forum where frum writers can critique each other’s work and motivate them. It’s the opposite for me: I can’t write short stories. Not that my novels are over 100k words. They’re ususally around 45-50k.
Busy as a bee, that’s really cool about your mother! Can I ask you something? For the secular writing, how censored was she? About seeing my work: I might post here. I’m not sure. I don’t really like my writing being so public where anyone (and certain people who really don’t deserve to see my writing) could see. Unless someone shows me a website or something where I can post privately or something…but thanks for your interest 🙂
observanteen, really good! You wrote so much in such a short piece. I really love this line: “the bright yellow finish line winked at me from the distance.” And you gave such a great message!