For several days now I’ve ended my writing sessions with little to show. Hours have left me with only a handful of measly words. So when on Wednesday morning I only had half an hour to devote to writing, I was surprised how quickly I got in the groove. Were they great words? Probably not, but they brought me straight into the world of the story and were almost double what I had produced in the days before.
I told my husband about this while I was fixing dinner. “You’re pounding the rock,” he said. He told me this was a football metaphor about showing up and doing the hard work: eventually that rock will break.
Oh, football. I don’t like you, I don’t get you, and I rather be thinking about anything else. But my goodness, I love this concept! So thank you, football, for this nugget of truth, this gem of wisdom! This one’s worth holding onto.
Here’s the original quote. It’s called the Stonecutter’s Credo:
When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before.
-Jacob Riis
Keep at it, writing friends. Keep pounding that rock. Eventually the hard work will pay off.
That’s a great quote!
Agreed!
Great quote and so very true. I’m so glad you made discernable headway.
Thank you, Vijaya. How is your writing?
I’m finally settling into a good routine. Feeling very thankful for this writing life.
I am not a writer. I do not have the skills or talent that authors have to create stories, characters and entire new worlds. I am a reader. A life long and voracious reader. And articles and blogs such as this that gives me glimpses into what authors go through to create the products that I crave and anticipate- books…. I am forever humbled by the hard work of authors.
Caroline, whether you are writing historical novels, poetry or nature stories…. your creativity will come through even with once in awhile periods where you do not think you are moving forward you are. And let me assure you that your readers all over the world greatly appreciate your efforts.
Thank you, Arjay. I appreciate you!