Well it's the end of Week One at Photoshop Valley 166.
It's been an exciting, frustrating time for you all I'm sure!
So, going into week two, you're probably facing an almost blank screen peppered with cut-outs of Pavarotti's head and Marlon Brando in his tighty-whiteys. It's the most difficult part of Photoshop Valley 166: deciding what you'll make.
Here are some tips we've compiled over the years that may help:
1) The more you write, the more inspired you're going to feel. If
you're feeling pokey now, it's because you're not writing enough. Push
yourself to write every day, and make a point of adding something to your
word count any time you're within striking distance of a keyboard.
Harness the power of micro-sessions. If you're far behind, stop figuring out
where you're supposed to be each day. Instead, just dive into your
story and write until you've rolled the word counter up by a thousand. Then
take a twenty-minute break, and go after another thousand. Don't worry
about getting caught up - that'll take care of itself. Just keep
rolling those thousands.
2) Don't linger in the 20,000s. The 20,000s are a quicksand pit filled
with dyspeptic hyenas. The best way to deal with the 20,000s is just to
heave yourself into them and then write like mad until you're out
again. Some participants do the 20,000s in three big days. These are wise
participants.
3) Abandon the quest for pretty sentences. Beautiful language is
small-stakes writing. We're doing something epic here. We're aiming for
completion. We're shooting for the dramatic arc, for the roar of the crowd,
for the ticker-tape raining down on us in slow motion as we type our
final sentence, run one last word count, and then close the book on a
truly triumphant month.
Now, just replace any references to "writing", "word count", "dramatic arc" and "pretty sentences" with other words and phrases that are more appropriate for a photoshopping contest.
Well as we march inevitably into Week Two (and to our death) just remember the words of the immortal wisdom of Solomon:
"Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee."
-Artemis Strong
