100 Times

Yin Yang Dragon Avatar

When I was in Chinatown this past December, one of the store owners asked me if I was going to learn Chinese. I laughed (which is what I normally do when I’m nervous) and explained that the language was beautiful, but it intimidated me. “100 times,” she said. “You have to practice each symbol 100 times and then you’ll learn it.”

There’s a lot of power in repetition, especially when learning a new routine or breaking a bad habit. Sure, you might have to manage your addictions because they never go away completely, but there’s wisdom in “practice makes perfect.” What I like about the number 100, is that it’s a definable and clear goal: do this 100 times.

P.S. 100 is now the maximum number of times I’ll allow myself to look at a manuscript before handing it off.

P.P.S. Italian first, though!

    Mood: Sage writer is sage.
    Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Less than five but more than four.
    Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: 30. Boo-yah!
    In My Ears: Sappy New Age-y piano music
    Game Last Played: Sonic All Star Racing Transformed
    Book Last Read: The Book of Chinese Proverbs
    Movie Last Viewed: The Man from Tai Chi
    Latest Artistic Project: *Still* *still* *still* need to take pictures… It’s on the list!
    Latest Fiction/Comic Release: Last Man Zombie Standing
    Latest Game Release: Freedom Flyer
    What I’m Working On: Primarily tie-in games work and novels.




Monica Valentinelli is an author, artist, and narrative designer who writes about magic, mystery, and mayhem. Her portfolio includes stories, games, comics, essays, and pop culture books.

In addition to her own worlds, she has worked on a number of different properties including Vampire: the Masquerade, Shadowrun, Hunter: the Vigil, Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn, and Robert E. Howard’s Conan.

Looking for Monica’s books and games that are still in print? Visit Monica Valentinelli on Amazon’s Author Central or a bookstore near you.

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