Get out is the message for today’s Momday Motivations. Two simple words with multiple layers of meaning.

But first, a brief explanation for the newbies. Every Monday I share a teaser from the memoir I’m writing about the miraculous changes I underwent during the decade spent soldiering alongside my Type A mother in her successful Vancouver Asian antiques and collectibles shop. Miraculous? I think so. In 1983 I went in as a reluctant, dysfunctional Summer sales assistant. I knew nothing about Asian antiques and cared for them even less, yet I emerged in 1993 as a penny-pinching bookkeeper, confident buyer and rather capable salesperson. Toss in a boss blessed with multiple personas, two murdered customers, an introduction to the chap who’d become my husband, multiple quirky clients, and six overseas buying trips and well, it’s promising to be a fun read.

Get Out

Get out. Two simple words with layers of meaning. Really? Yes.

  1. When I first decided to write the memoir I naively turned to Francine over her celebratory birthday lunch (I think it was her 92nd) and burbled “This time next year, I’ll give you a copy of the book for your birthday.” Get out, Kelly. Yes, I was seriously deluded. She’ll be turning 96 this September.

Burnaby dawn

What’s dawned on me since then? It’s one thing to say you’re going to write a book, it’s quite another to do it.

I mentioned to a friend the other day that I was working on the first chapter. Bless her. She immediately advised me to get on with the rest of the book and that the first chapter would write itself once I’d done that. Fair enough. The last time we spoke, about a month ago, I mentioned that I was working on the first chapter. Of course, because I’ve not fired the promised multiple chapters at her, she thinks that’s all I’ve been working on. However, since she’s last had a peek at the book (and given me extremely good advice, I must say)

I won’t bore you with the dreary details except to say that to date, I’ve written 42,428 words of a second draft. I’ve still got 6,774 words of the uncompleted first draft to redo. My goal is to write 70,000 words.

Dry Like A Piece of Toast

So, what’s with the fixation on the first chapter? Well, you know that great line uttered by Toula’s Dad in My Big Fat Greek Wedding after he meets the future in-laws “They’re different. So dry, like a piece of toast …”

Ok. You simply must check out that clip. It’s brilliant and perfectly captures what I’m trying to say about chapter one.

 

As with the in-laws, I perceived the original and subsequent drafts of chapter one to be dull, stiff and lifeless. It took me awhile to figure out why but I’ve finally had an epiphany. I was too worried about Francine’s reaction. Then, somewhere along the way in the subsequent chapters I forgot all about Francine’s reaction. The words flowed, color was added and the chapters came to life. But always hovering in the back of my mind was that toast chapter one. Ugh.

Finally. Dollops of Jam

However, I am delighted to say that after hours, yes hours, of rewriting I think we’ve finally arrived at a place where I’m comfortable. While the topic is the same – with no thanks to me, the store’s $100,000.00 inventory barely escapes total annihilation – the tone is far less earnest and more me. Does that make sense?

I was chatting with Francine this weekend and she asked how the book was coming. I heard myself say, “It’s fun. I’m really enjoying it now that I’ve jettisoned you.”

The thing that I love about my 95 year-old mother is that I can say stuff like that to her, and once she recovers, the water calms and we’re golden.

Powell River sunset

2) Now I’m going to cut this a good 50 – 100 words short today because it’s finally a gorgeous sunny and warm day here in Vancouver and I need to get out.

3) Before I go, have you seen the movie Get Out? No? You simply must. It’s chillingly brilliant.

Enough about me and get out. I’m curious about you. Do you go through periods in your life where you’re just treading water? How do you get moving again? If you’d care to share, I’d love to hear.

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18 Responses

  1. That’ll be the day when Francine is jettisoned. Can’t wait to read the first chapter, one day soon, if not on the 96th birthday. Way to keep on trucking.

    1. Oh, glory be, yes! That WILL be the day when Francine is jettisoned. Thanks again, Wend, for your truckload of never ending support.

  2. I’ve been treading snow, Kelly, and yes, I have those periods of time. I have a work in progress and I can find a million other things to do besides work on it. But I find any action gets me going again, no matter how small. I may not jettison, but I start moving again. Can I come over for a play date? Gorgeous, sunny, and warm sounds fantastic! And I haven’t seen the movie.

    1. That’s so interesting, Molly, about getting going once you step in with a little action. I sometimes find that when I first sit down everything seems totally overwhelming and I have to force myself to stick with it. But, like exercise, if I hang in there until that resistance passes, then I’m ok. If I don’t well … hello, cinnamon buns! YES! I’d love it if you could come over for a play date! Why, we could even watch Get Out! Both my two say that they got so much more out of it the second time around …

  3. Just keep writing, just keep writing.*

    *sung to the tune of Dory singing “Just keep swimming” from Finding Nemo.

    I’m so helpful, no?

    I’m currently still on the boat at my work as I’m going through a transition period. All my life experience is telling me to stay on the boat and ride it out. If it sinks, then I’ll start treading water. One day at a time!

    1. Very helpful, Katy! I shall download that little ditty the next time I strike a bit of a block. As for your work, ugh. I do hold a lot of stock in intuition though and recommend that you listen to your life experience. Let me know if I can toss you a life jacket. And yes, great advice “One day at a time.” As my late hubs used to say “this too shall pass…”

  4. I admire your work ethic Kelly, especially on a beautiful sunny day !
    Can’t wait to read the book !!

  5. “…the tone is far less earnest and more me. Does that make sense?”
    It sure does to me! In blog land we hear it all the time: find your voice and use it in your writing. No one, and I mean NO ONE, does that better than you, my friend! If I might add a Frozen song to Katy’s “Disney Soundtrack for Kelly’s Writing”… Let it go! You do you. And do it in your own time.

  6. When I have a big commitment towering over me I trick myself by saying I’m only going to work on it for a set period of time-usually 15 minutes. And by the time the period is over I’m engrossed in the project.

  7. Oh Sis… I can’t wait to read it. If it’s as good as your teasers, it’s going to be a flippin’ best seller.
    Hope you have another gorgeous day and you GET OUT there!!

  8. There is a lot of pressure on that first chapter. Really just the beginning. I’ve currently trying to start about six books. I keep going back to one or the other trying the get over the hump of the beginning. They are all good books and yours will be too. Regardless of your beginning, I already know you have a good book so I’ll hang with the first chapter no matter what.

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