I’m a cheater. There. I said it. I’m admitting it right here on Waterworld Mermaids. I’m cheating on my sprinting partner. Actually, I’m cheating on all of them.
I’m the type of girl who needs someone to always keep me accountable, or I drift away. Like a woman married to a great guy that just can’t be with her all the time. Apparently I’m a lot more needy than I thought. I can’t be happy with just one partner.
I’m a swinging sprinter!
There you have it. I’ve opened up my writing relationships to other partners. Each one gives me something I need that another one can’t. One is published and is working on edits, and that’s great, but I need someone who’s looking to create new words and meet goals and stuff like that. One is struggling right along with me, and I love that we’re on the same page. One is on vacation, and one of my grandma’s favorite sayings comes back to me: “Absence makes the heart grow fonder…for somebody else.”
Yesterday I had so many sprints going that I felt like Mrs. Doubtfire when she/he kept showing up at different tables in the restaurant, forgetting who she/he was supposed to be. I had to start keeping track on paper! At one point I had two going at the same time.
My Young Adult chapter started a #YARWAsprint, but I was in the middle of trying to finish up one with a friend. In the end, I had to split my word count between them.
Then I realized…MORE IS BETTER! Now I’m introducing all my partners to each other so we can all sprint together. I’ve found that when we’re all working toward the same goals and trying to lift each other up and encourage each other to keep at it, we all succeed. It’s easy to get distracted with the internet and social media, but it’s a hell of lot harder when you’re supposed to make yourself accountable to somebody else. Somebody who is actually working when you’re scrolling through Twitter feeds and you’re checking emails and clicking on one link after another. And by “you,” I totally mean me.
If anyone wants to sprint with me, I’m your girl. Don’t feel guilty about cheating on your own partner. Ask them to join. We can all be “Swinging Sprinters.” The more, the merrier. You can find me on Twitter at @KimMacCarron. Or just comment below.
Here’s my very favorite saying in all the land to help us get motivated and get those books either finished or started or polished: “When we are dreaming alone it is only a dream. When we are dreaming with others, it is the beginning of reality.”—Dom Helder Camara
Let’s dream together and get it done. Happy Writing. Happy Sprinting.
Do you have a favorite motivational saying?
Follow me on Twitter @KimMacCarron if you want to sprint
Work smarter, not harder!
Yay for sprinting! I need to get back into that. It’s been a while since I’ve put down new words, and I’m in desperate need of something to get my butt in gear.
Let us know when you’re ready. We can have a DAUNTLESS sprint. 🙂 I’m already fooling around with a couple of you already. lol
What?!! You’re cheating on me????
You’ve got nerve! You’ve been cheating on me? (LOL)…and oh, I cheat, too…
Lol, Denny. You’re my favorite person to cheat with — ha ha ha!
Yeah….Denny…you have no room to talk. You’ve been swinging in Sprinting Slutsville a hell of a lot. Just sayin’. I know this for a fact. You’ve swung my way a time or two.
Okay, I’ll admit I can play it loose – but how come you’re the one that turned a simple act of sprinting into a sordid affair? Huh? I think you’re the queen of the harem, missy.
You just couldn’t give me what I needed…sorry. haha
This post made me soooo tired! Ha-ha! I wish I could do a sprint with you but sadly day job is ruling my life for the next week. Sigh!
As for sayings, I just read this one this morning and I love it. Although it really has nothing to do with writing.
“Love me when I least deserve it, because that’s when I really need it.” -Swedish Proverb
Just thinking about writing this post made me tired.
Good luck with the EDJ.
Love the saying! And too true!
Feeling left out…we haven’t sprinted in months. Of course, sprinting for me right now is a geriatric jog.
Lovely post.
I feel you on the geriatric jog! lol. I’m just kind of the couch potato of sprinting. I try, though. Let me know when you’re available. I’ll swing with you anytime, Julie! 🙂
I’m like you. I need to be held accountable. See you on Twitter. @stephanieberget
Sounds good, Stephanie! I know exactly what you mean. I need someone to light a fire under me, and then help me when my feet get too hot. haha. I’ll track you down on Twitter. 🙂 Thanks for visiting.
Love the post! (Pintip, don’t hate me! Let’s consider a Ménage à trois instead of looking at it as Kim cheating!) Yes, I’m one of the sprinters. But I can’t always do it when Kim wants to (or vice-versa) so I agree that having a multitude of partners in your support group is the way to go. Accountability does give you that one extra boost to push through and reach a goal (just so you can say you did!) when so much is conspiring against us in our real lives to keep us from our goals. I also agree with Kim that we should have differing levels of experience in our partners. I’ve been at this way longer than I care to admit to still be unpublished. Most of my friends have crossed over into the publishing world, some who’ve been writing for much less time than I have. I am happy to have all their experiences to draw from. But it’s also great to also have those around me who understand the heartbreak and frustrations of the struggle to even get in the door. You really can’t have too many besties in this business… we all need all the support and help we can get! Great post, Kim. (Oh, and I have too many fave sayings of inspirations too—not just one—so, I couldn’t think of just one to share. Guess I’m a cheater in all ways.)
Sheri Adkins
Sheri, I could never hate you.
Yay, one of my sprinters-on-the-side! lol. So great to be sprinting together lately. And you’re so right. Accountability does give us that extra boost. And love that we can’t have too many besties in this business. You really can’t. Glad I can count you as one of mine, my Savvy Sis.
Love this post, Kim. And I’m ready to sprint now if you’re available!!
I was available. And we did it! So, yay, us! Loved sprinting with you Sharon! Let’s get these books done! 🙂
I was ready, and we did sprint. 🙂 Yay, us! Had fun sprinting with you today. Let’s keep it up until these books are D-O-N-E!
Well, it comes as no shock to me whatsoever that you’re a swinging sprinter. Just remember, you’re swinging with all the people your other cheaters have swung with before, so be sure your virus protection is up to date. ;0)
Sounds like you’re on fire!
Miss you!!! XOXOXOX
Yes, I do realize that. We swingers certainly get around. I’m sure I’ve been a-swinging with some of yours as well. Tammy! Have we seriously never sprinted together??? hmmmm. *scratches head* We need to rectify this situation. Pronto. And I miss you, too!!!
“I can fix a bad page, but I can’t fix a blank page.” (From La Nora)
I love ALL of Nora’s sayings. Thanks for stopping by, Gail! Perfect quote.
Such a fun post, Kim. I’m weird in that I can’t sprint. I’ve tried to do it with writer friends and the minute someone says go, I freeze. I’m a lurker and love to watch though. 😉
Sandra,
Too funny about the freezing. I do too sometimes, but it really helps get me going when I know I SHOULD be writing. It’s actually more of a way to keep me from getting distracted by Twitter and email. If I know someone thinks I should be writing, then i actually do. It’s all mental. I’m mental. lol
I’m sprinting at noon if anyone is interested! 🙂
I’m the same, Kim! 😉
I was sprinting on and off all day, so I’m sure we were sprinting together but just didn’t know it. haha. I’m up for tomorrow though. 🙂
Okay, NOW I can see a reason for getting back on Twitter! I’ve only sprinted with other people a couple of times, but I’ve definitely found it effective.
Fun post, Kim. 🙂
Let me know when you feel like sprinting. Or put it up on our Lucky loop. I’ve had the privilege of sprinting with several Luckies. 🙂
Waaaaiiiittt a minute! You’re cheating on me too, Kim!!! Okay, we’ve never sprinted together because of our pesky time difference. But one day, we should have a race. I’ve been training hard!
Fun post!
Vanessa! We have sprinted together! What about all those times Kim and I set our alarms for the crack of dawn?!
As Pintip has pointed out, we HAVE sprinted together. And I know because I distinctly remember getting up so damn early. haha. I know you’ve been in training. You scare me. I’m like a slow walker compared to you. 🙂
Are you guys sure? I honestly don’t remember… I need to slow things down!
You floozy!! Last night was great (wink, wink). 🙂 Better watch out or I’m going to get serious about you and want you all to myself.
It was rather great, wasn’t it? (winks back) Now, don’t be greedy, Amy. I distinctly remember you calling me a “trashy sprinting slut” earlier. You knew what you were getting yourself into. lol!
This is hilarious! I totally enjoyed sprinting with you 😉 But I’m not just a one night stand! Wanna try again?
Any time, Lenore. Any time. haha. And you could never be a one-night stand to me. Shoot me an email or Tweet when you’re ready.
Oh my gosh Kimberly! I read this earlier and was grinning ear to ear. You write ***The Best*** honest posts that are so entertaining! You’re always saying what we all want to say but don’t have the guts. You are my heroine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks, Carlene! You’re my heroine, too. 🙂 Hey, wanna sprint? *wink, wink*
Kimberly MacCarron – you get around!! I didn’t realize until reading through the comments how much you’ve been cheating on me – and with so many people!! Busted. But I know I haven’t been putting out lately, so I don’t blame you…
Well, there you have it. If you’re not putting out, I’ve gotta go elsewhere. Sorry. HOWEVER…from comments seen above, you’ve been putting out just fine. With other sprinters. hmmmm
Ack! I’ve never sprinted but I cheat on my CPs all the time. In fact I’m a serial polygamist with my critique partners. Have lots of them stashed away all over the place.
And Have the Courage to Suck might be my favorite mantra when it comes to writing.
Hugs and cheat long and prosper!
Too funny, Sonali! I think I’m in some weird incestuous relationship because all my CPs end up EACH OTHER’S CPs. But, it’s kind of fun that way. I thought mine were stashed on the side, but apparently I didn’t stash well enough because my other CPs were apparently rummaging around in my stuff and found them.
Love the “Have the courage to suck.” I had plenty of courage the other day. I was writing one sucky word after the other….:-)
Thanks for stopping by!