I started writing the novel I mentioned a few days ago. Just the scaffold, and I didn’t even finish that, but I like how it’s going so far. I appreciate seeing something come together slowly but surely. Not bad, not bad indeed. I think I need to work on that even, but I like that I at least managed to get to it. Today there was no stream, so I had a bit less fun than usual, but it was still a fine day. I played Battlegrounds. Won a few, lost a few. My rating barely changed if at all. It’s whatever…
I don’t have much so say. I haven’t read too much Babel, which sucks honestly, I should get to it, but I’m really stressed out with the start of the academic year; classes got delayed and whatnot, some problem with the administration or something, I don’t know, but it fucking sucks. I have other shit to do, you know?! Why do I have to worry about this kinda stuff as well? Once again, it’s whatever.
I wanted to make a post just so I can say I kept it up. If I stop, I feel I won’t ever pick this up again, and I think it’s doing me some good.
I hope to read some Babel today.
A small add-on to this as I’m currently reading Babel. It’s about how the characters are now constantly thinking of etymologies and the history of words and language as a whole. They can’t speak without stopping to think about where their words came from.
Is this not completely absurd? I mean, they’re linguistics students! Nay, they’re language-raised. They were groomed to be linguists, and you’re telling me only now they’re going through this? Please.
I’m an engineer. I’m good at languages but not a brutal talent. I have gone through this. I’ve been like this for a decade now, ever since I realized words actually came from somewhere, they had histories that could be traced genealogies that could be mapped lineages that could be outlined, ever since I was a kid I’ve been stopping as I come across a word that rings a bell in some other language. And these translators, grown adults, highly educated individuals, are only now thinking like this? Ridiculous.
R. F. Kuang, I denounce you! Cursed be thy name, fiend!
Joking, of course, but I am actually mildly upset at this.
Hey, good on ya! Getting started can be the hardest part! Don’t worry about it feeling slow, or feeling like you’re not getting far. There’s days where words will flow like water, others where the well feels dry. What matters is that you keep working at it, keep encouraging yourself to go forward.
Don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s easy, especially with personal projects, to let the negativity build up, but we need to be willing to give ourselves a break from it, especially when it’s a skill we might not exercise often!
