Monday, January 17, 2011

Thy Name is Freedom

Hello little black four door French car.  
Thy name is freedom.

Up until now I’ve been borrowing my mother in law’s tiny French car, but since yesterday, I now have my very own to contend with. 

I forgot what it was like to have a vehicle all to myself. - It’s a used car, nothing special, and we’ll probably have to fix something on it before the year is out.

But it’s mine.

Which makes it just perfectJ

When I think about it, hardly anyone I grew up with got a new car for their sixteenth birthday. 

They got clunkers. – Their parents used cars, or something picked up at a junk yard sale.  (or maybe that was just me?)

It’s only after they’ve been driving for years, earned money and worked hard before they could get something right off the mold- something without dents or decay, paint that shines in the sunlight and an engine that gleams as though it’s never seen an oil spill.

(Yes, I’m totally comparing used cars to manuscripts, -in case you’re slow on the uptake.) 

It takes years to be able to sit down at a computer and pump out something that’s close to perfect.  For some people, it seems an impossibility. (-kind of like me ever getting a brand new car.)

Doesn’t mean we should stop driving.  No matter how much of a crapper you might think your car is, it still gets you where you’re going.  Just like every manuscript serves a purpose.  It might not be ‘the one’, but it will definitely keep you on your way.

And that concludes my succumbing to writing analogy addiction this week.  Sorry, couldn’t help myself!

Happy Monday people!

*CQG*

32 comments:

Vicki Rocho said...

I'm totally with you on this analogy. I was just thinking about the similarities to moving out for the first time -- that first crappy apartment (the rough draft) and how over time you 'trade up' for something better and better until you wind up in your dream home (get published)

Laura Pauling said...

I think anything in life can be compared to writing - b/c almost anything is a learning process! Congrats on getting a car!

Unknown said...

That's a great analogy. Congrats on the car. I agree, where would all the fun be if you could shoot out a perfect manuscript first time? If there's mistakes and flaws, then it's easy to see what needs to be improved and this will help to hone the skills to become a successful writer. Therefore, you should not give in, because with every flaw and dent that gets buffed out, is working towards that perfect story.

Stina said...

I love it! Here's to one day you getting a new car with the royalties of your best selling novel. :D

Or at least getting a new car and getting a wonderful agent and book contract. ;)

Unknown said...

I love a good analogy and you my friend have nailed it!!! Always so creative (it's why I love you)!!!

Yay for having a car of your own!!! I'm with Stina, Cheers to one day having a new car with the royalties of your best selling novel!

S.A. Larsenッ said...

I had a clunker, too, growing up. Actually, I think it was made by a toy company.

Congrats on your wheels.

Kelsey (Dominique) Ridge said...

Your post makes me think of my sister. She loves driving for the freedom of it all. [Jack Sparrow voice] "A car isn't a steering column or a windshield. Those are a what a car needs. But what a car is is freedom."

Congrats on your new wheels. :)

Old Kitty said...

Lovely Creep Query Girl!!!! I don't drive or own a car but these minor points do not detract from thoroughly getting your fab writerly analogy!!!!

Congratulations with having a car all to yourself now!!!!! Yay!!!

Take care
x

Carolyn Abiad said...

Congrats on the new wheels! And great analogy! Now I should really get my rusty, hunk of manuscript into the shop... :)

Anonymous said...

Good point! Whether it be cars or manuscripts, they definitely get us where we're going. ;)

LTM said...

excellent analogy! But I'd expect nothing less. And look at your car! Congrats! Here's to smooth driving~ ;p

Talli Roland said...

Love the analogy and congrats on the car! When I got my first car in London, I felt so frreeeeee! Until I got stuck in traffic...

Matthew MacNish said...

Is that a Renault, or a Peugot? Hey, at least it's not Le Car.

klahanie said...

And indeed, the freedom of having your own car. It opens whole new avenues of possibilities.
And no matter what the car, be it clunker or a new one, with all the toys, maintaining a positive, pressure-free focus is, I believe the key to writing happiness and the key to the ignition that drives us forward. Yikes Gary that was so corny :-)

K M Kelly said...

What a fab little car - looks just the thing for dodging through that French traffic!

Hart Johnson said...

I've never owned a new car. I failed to marry money and can't seem to make enough myself, so here I am.... in the 12 year old Toyota minivan my hubby always has... *cough* Not bitter.... Maybe when I finally perfect this MANUSCRIPT thing, I will be able to buy one...

(congrats!)

Stephanie said...

Where I grew up, hardly any kid had their own car. Our school's lot was so tiny, cause we just didn't need a big one!!! And the kids that actually did have cars, total clunkers!! I never had my own car until I was 20.

Now, where my husband grew up, it astounds me the cars these kids drive. It's not an overly wealthy area, but the kids are just spoiled. It's a small town, but almost every kid whose driving age has their own car. Ridiculous. In fact, my nephew had his own car before he even took his road test!!! The kid has failed it twice! Still can't drive the damn car!

Dawn Ius said...

Yay for new cars! Congrats on your baby. And good job on the analogy :-P

Carolyn V. said...

Awesome analogy! I love the freedom I get from driving and writing.=) Love the picture of the car! So cool.

Nicole Zoltack said...

What a great analogy. It really does compare to writing.

Colene Murphy said...

Ooo great writing tie in! True that.
(I had a clunker too when I turned 16. 89 Ford Escort named The Bat Mobile that I WRECKED all to hell and back. Definitely appreciated and took better care of my moms hand me down that was WAY nicer after that...16 year olds with new cars just make me giggle...you know that isn't going to end well...)

Christopher said...

I've yet to own a car that was less than 7 years old. Maybe someday.

Melissa said...

I like this analogy. And congrats on the new car! Owning one yourself is awesome!

Nicole said...

Congrats! It's very cute :) My first car was a knackered pink honda civic *sigh* we used to jam sooo many people into it *giggle* I loved that car!

The Arrival, on Amazon NOW!
www.damselinadirtydress.com

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the car!

Red Boot Pearl said...

Yeah I drove a white minivan in high school, it was cool to pile my friends in...but not so cool that they didn't want to slide on the floor when we actually got to school. Our lot was not a clunker lot, it was a my-daddy-has-lots-of-money-he-likes-to-spend-on-me lot...

but clunkers build character.

And I definitely agree cars = freedom and so does writing :)

Susan Fields said...

Congrats on getting a car! Who cares if it's used as long as it gets you where you need to go? And you're so right, every ms has its purpose and each one gets us that much closer to the ultimate goal, even if it's not THE ONE.

Happy driving!

Laura Maylene said...

Hmm...I wonder what it says about me as a writer that I don't aspire to ever own a brand new car? My husband and I have various reasons for not wanting a new car right off the lot. Does that mean I'm destined to toil forever, revising old stuff and trying to make it at least up to the "certified pre-owned" stage? Ah!

Clara said...

Ha this was soooo cool, awesome analogy! About the Synopsis from your last post: I keep mine with 1,5 to 2 pages in word (at most), and I try to stick to the main plots and characters! =)Maybe this helps!

Samantha Vérant said...

When I get a get car I'm hoping for an automatic! Hard to find here, but they exist. At any rate, at least I have my French driver's license...

Shannon O'Donnell said...

Great analogy - love it! :-)

And cute little French car!

Anonymous said...

Hey, possibly this post is not on topic but in any event, I have been browsing about your site and it looks really neat. It is easy to see I am creating a new blog and I am struggling to make it look great, and supply excellent subject matter. I have learned a lot here and I look forward to additional updates and will be returning.

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...