Another birthday has come and gone and I remain ever hopeful that THIS WILL BE THE YEAR!!
This will be the year I get a novel finished and published.
I hope, I hope, I hope…
Another Year Older and Another Year Wiser?
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Category Archives: Hard Work
If Only I Had…
If only I had a pen with good smooth movement, I would write my novel faster.
If only I had a fancy notebook, I would create more novel ideas and scenes.
If only I have a one of those tiny laptops, I would carry it in my bag and work on my novel when ever the mood struck me.
If only I had a writing area, a creative space all my own , I would be inspired and the novel would just flow out with ease.
If only I had enough money to get rid of my day job, I would work on my novel non-stop and finish it at last.
If only I won the lottery…
Until then… I have a hotel pen, a half used notebook my kids didn’t need, a laptop that crashes, a kitchen table with sticky spots and a few minutes to write after the work day is done and the kids are in bed.
“If I only I had…”
But the truth is I already have everything I need, including the relentless drive to write.
Maybe tomorrow I’ll buy a lottery ticket…just for good measure.
Moving at the Speed of Snail
Writing is easy once I get going. I can sit down and spit out five pages of a rough draft scene in nothing flat…super sonic speed even…
And then it happens…I slam smack into the editing wall of death.
Tweak a little here, tweak a little there, fix a description here, correct a character flaw there. How much can you spend editing a scene or chapter? Hours, days, lifetimes….it’s never finished. NEVER!
Spousal Abuse
Carolyn See wrote a book on writing called, “Making the literary life”.
Chapter one…”Keep it to yourself”. She goes on to explain, as much as your friends and family love you, they really don’t want to hear all about the great American novel you intend to write, the plot of this book, the fascinating characters you have created and the torments of being a writer.
I would just like to say, “Where were you 10 years ago Ms. See, when I had the great idea to write a novel?” It’s too late now!
I have been torturing my friends, family and especially my poor spouse for years and years now. I have drug my family through the tortures of 5 incomplete novel, several unenthusiastic attempts at article writing and countless attempts at writing different genres that crashed and burned in the early stages.
I can see the wear and tear on all the people that are exposed to my writing dreams day in and day out. When I swear this is the year, I get a smile, a pat on the shoulders and a, “Yes, I bet you will finish this year for sure.” But behind the weak smile I see it, the thought of, “Yes good gracious finish a novel already, because I can’t take another year of talking about a book I’ll never get to read and hearing all about the lives of made up characters that have nothing to do with me.
So yes Ms. See, your book is a little late to the party, where were you when I had this hair brain scheme to be a writer..hmmm?
Happily Ever After
Romance Novel Outline – Attempt #1
Let me see, it should go something like this…
-Girl is looking for love
-Girls is walking down the street one sunny day, trips and accidentally falls into the arms of a tall, dark and handsome stranger on the street
-She thinks he is a totally hottie and thinks this must be love at first sight
-They go on a few dates and she thinks he is perfect… despite his extensive criminal record
-Time passes and they live happily ever after
-Until… one day she dies in a freak lawn mower accident and he tells police, he has no idea what happened.
Hmmm…maybe I should back to my other novel.
Nanowrimo Throwup
I have been a member of Nanowrimo since 2007. (http://www.nanowrimo.org) I have participated in the November event every year since and have even been successful in the monstrous goal of 50,000 words in 30 days,five of the eight years.
I am a HUGE fan of Nanowrimo!
Every October I start thinking about what project I could work on during the Nano-riffic event. I put whatever current project I’m working on aside and come up with a new and improved writing project. Characters, plots catastrophes start floating through my head. I feel like an evil mastermind, rubbing my hands together…this will be the best book idea ever.
November comes and I take off running! The thrill of the speed and the goals push me forward. Quantity has never been an issue for me. I can throw up 1,667 words a day and not even break a sweat.
First week is great and it feels easy to keep up. Then second week hits and life begins to interrupt my stride. I start to miss a day here and a day there. But I know I can catch up on the weekend.
It’s around November 15th, I slam smack into the wall. My plot completely falls through and I am overwhelmed with the feeling of this is by far the dumbest idea I have ever had.
This is the point of failure for me on the years I was not Nano successful. The inner critic beat me down and then did a jig on my head while I lay there moaning about how my writing sucks.
But then there are the years I am successful and I punch the inner critic in the face and trudge through the mud to the finish line. YES…I’m a winner! The winner of 50,000+ words of pure writer throw up.
This is where the real work begins. Where I have to rummage through all the puke and decide whether to flush it all down the toilet or dig out a few good chunks.
This is where I am now, rummaging around with a few good chunks attempting to create a novel that is a step above colorful vomit.
The Failing Novelist 