Why
do we do what we do? Why do we show up
at work each day and slave away? What if
we don’t like what we do? Why don’t we
change our direction towards something we want to do?
The
answer is simple. We gain momentum in
life and changing momentum is difficult.
Momentum,
scientifically, equals mass multiplied by velocity.
We
can have many different momentums (can you pluralise momentum?). For example, my children provide me with a
certain momentum, metaphorically, when I reflect on the above scientific
equation. They and I are busy propelling
them through school. They have a
velocity of one grade each year, and their mass is the accumulated education of
previous years. This multiplies, and the
end result is the momentum to reach the end of school. Let’s hope they pay enough attention to their
education so they don’t falter before they reach the end.
Employment
is another example. Some people travel
with great velocity towards the top of their career. They’re the high flyers. Again, let me suggest the mass equates to
their capability, which can be improved through education and experience. Neglect the mass, and the momentum can peter
out. There’s no reason you can’t restore
the momentum, but the mathematics rule the equation – make sure you work on
your mass...
I
suspect you could derail my little metaphor here, but not inside this
blog. It’s my blog.
Getting
enough momentum to write a novel has taken some serious work. Momentum started back at primary school. All my stories in Grade 3 were longer than
everyone else’s. Once I started writing
I couldn’t stop. My voracious appetite
for reading caused me to wonder if I could do the same. The seeds were sown. Over the following years of education, prior
to employment, I occasionally worked on my mass (no smart remarks thank you). English literature in Year 11. First year English literature hidden inside
my Bachelor of Science.
Then
a short course in creative writing. Only
eight weeks long. More mass, but no
velocity.
The
breakthrough was the suggestion from my wife to do something serious. I started at Holmesglen TAFE – a diploma of
professional writing and editing. I don’t
need the diploma. I’ve got a Bachelor of
Science. I took the course to gain some mass,
but mainly velocity. I needed something
to get me travelling.
I
have a pile of short stories from my first three years at Holmesglen. Year 1: Popular Fiction. Year 2: Short Story 1. Year 3: Short Story 2. Then a hiatus as I studied Editing 1 in year
4. Finally I tackled Novel 1 in year 5,
last year, and Novel 2 this year.
Another
time I’ll tell you about the things I’ve learned. But rest assured; I’ve got velocity. Writing is a habit now. Nearly every day, 300 or more words. Writing every day would deliver 110,000 words
in a year, which is enough for a novel. With
80,000 words in my first novel written already I have mass too.
It’s impossible to consider not finishing.
Now
I’ve got a blog with a few posts. I have
two short stories on the go. It’s been a
huge investment to get this momentum, but with a fair amount of fun along the
way, and a few friends I would never have met in my normal circles.
Who
knows if I’ll get published. I have no
illusions about this. But I have changed
the momentum of my life. You can too.
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