Monday, August 27, 2012

Where the Heck Have I Been?

The short answer to that is probably at a wedding.

I did attend three of them within two weeks this month (and I actually have 11 to go to this year, no joke). Two of them required weekend-long travel; one of them I was in; and, for the record, all of them were a good time.

The existential answer to that title question definitely involves some soul-searching, some metaphorical long walks on the beach, and an attempt to figure out not only where I've been, but where the heck I'm going.

This is especially true of writing. Something which this blog is a small part of. The long gap between my previous post and this one is indicative of how writing has been going.

I am working on a first draft of something veeeeeery slowly. Too slowly for my liking to tell you the truth. I'm very afraid of losing the spark, the blind excitement that keeps me going through the awfulness that is a first draft. But I've also had such a busy month, that it's been a good excuse to not write.

And then, of course, I can always find more excuses not to write. Depending on my mood, pretty, shiny things that are much more fun to stare at than a blinking cursor. Or some days a fatalistic attitude that is sure of rejection anyway so what is the point. Or some days, pure and simple laziness. And sometimes, the very lethal combination of all three.

But ANYWAY, I'm going to try to go back to finishing the first draft of this manuscript. My personal deadline is by the end of this year and I know I will be very disappointed in myself if I don't meet that. Putting that on this blog also holds me somewhat accountable to Taskmaster Me, who, by the way, is rather scary.

But, boy, when you get rusty in the butt-in-chair method...man, is it hard to get back to it. I need a writing equivalent of a Richard Simmons yelling in my ear. But, you know, with good ideas I can use and perfect sentence structure that never needs to be edited.

Mystical creature, if you are out there, call me maybe.

4 comments:

  1. My personal deadline for a first draft is also the end of the year. Considering I've been at it for 3 1/2 years, I figure it's about time. Actually, this is my 4th attempt at a first draft so I think the extraordinarily long time involved so far is allowed, especially since the story itself has changed and evolved into something almost unrecognizable from it's beginnings. Oh, and my writing has gotten much better. When I read any of my scribblings from when the story's idea first came to me, I'm almost embarrassed.

    Anyway, here's a toast (you can use coffee for a toast, right? It's early in the morning, you see) to our WIPs and a pledge to see them finished by 31 December. *raises mug* Cheers.

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    1. You can do it, Suzanne! Let's check in and hold each other accountable. :-)

      I read this tweet from an editor a few months ago: [Paraphrased] The only job of a first draft is to exist. I've been trying to hold on to that and remind myself it doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to be.

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  2. I'm ALSO attempting to finish a first draft by the end of the year. My original goal was by the end of the summer, but this book is turning out to be way longer than I anticipated, so I'm trying to cut myself a little slack (while still pushing myself to actually finish it).

    Anyway, if you want another buddy in the accountability club, count me in. :)

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    1. I will ALWAYS gladly accept buddies in the accountability club. Also, color me jealous that your book is turning out longer than expected! I am a notorious underwriter.

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