After weeks of negligence I finally finished Chapter 19 and made it to Chapter 20 of TBO last night. TBO– initials for the few who know their true meaning. Am I getting any closer to the finish? Hell no! I keep adding, adding and adding. The plot yet thickens again. I’ve taken my dear sweet characters on such a rocky ride I’m not even sure what is going to happen next. I’m excited to find out though especially in the next month or so. My finals finished on Saturday and I have over an entire month to dedicate myself to my novel. Yeahhhh!!!! The joy, especially around the holiday season, to be able to hang with my old friends again is such a real treat.
When you have homework piling in corners of your house, boxes that need to be sorted and emptied out after a recent move, and a seven year old son who needs tending to on a daily basis when do you find the time to write. Sheesh! That is a question I’ve been having the most difficulty resolving these past few weeks. Regardless of my recent deadline I appointed myself I haven’t written anything in weeks except for today. Finally, I opened my story up this morning and began to type away. That’s right – a break through! Woo hoo!
I couldn’t stop thinking about my story last night that I absolutely had to put all other matters on hold and type away at my very neglected chapter. And to my surprise I instantly fell back in love. Honestly I don’t care if anyone else doesn’t understand or love my story because I love it. I’ve already considered the fact that its going to be put on hold again due to finals however I didn’t want it to sit untouched for too long before my break hits in the middle of this month. I’m looking forward to spending my days filled with my characters, my Apple Pro and me.
There is nothing like the utmost satisfaction of finishing a chapter. When you plan on writing a novel, which could be anywhere between 200 some to 800 some or more pages, chapters are the steppingstones that climb up to the very tippity-top to reach the ultimate goal – a completed manuscript. Chapters also make writing a lot less intimidating. A goal of twenty pages isn’t as frightening to look at than lets say 600 or so pages.
So far during my journey the writing is going a bit slow due to the fact that I’m going to school full time and my teachers love to gang up on me with assignments, however I’m doing my damned-est to write every single day. Since I started my 1-year writing project I have written two whole chapters. Despite the fact that my chapters are merely 8-10 pages long, at least that is two chapters more towards the finish line.
Chapters can also be however long you want them to be. I have chapters that are over twenty pages long and some that are a mere five. Chapters are little small stories that make up one big long story, like a sitcom during prime time television. There are also chapters in life. Some that we nostalgically crave to repeat and some we wish it would end as quickly as possible. But as in life chapters must end so a new one can begin. When should you end a chapter? That’s for you to decide my friends.
When writing a novel, that’s usually a good thing. The night before and this morning at my usual hotspot where I love to write when I’m away from my home office, I was completely blown away about how my main character ended up in such a predicament. I have no idea how it happen but I’m very excited to see how he gets himself out of this jam that I subconsciously placed him into.
It’s one of those moments that you just can’t stop writing. But unfortunately I’m on a tight schedule and had to stop in the middle of a mini climax, ugh. Not good in any situation let me just say, right, lol. Okay I need to get my head out of the gutter.
Perhaps the idea was brought on by guilt. I skipped a night of writing. I felt so guilty that somehow somewhere in the deepest darkest trenches I pulled an idea out of my ass and just went with it. And what can I say. I’m loving where this story is going. It’s taken a completely different twist when I wrote my dribble of a first draft. Actually I don’t even want to call it a first draft because it is such a shameful piece of crap that I spewed out just so I could say I wrote a first draft. I didn’t think much about the rewriting, revision, editing process. I wasn’t even developing complete sentences. I’m not even sure its even legible to tell you the truth therefore from now on I’m going to call this my first draft and my last one a disaster.
It’s a thrilling part of the writing process when your characters surprise you. Although you invented them, they somehow take on a life of their own – sort of like giving birth. I can’t wait to find out what happens tomorrow or if I have time perhaps tonight. I can only hope I’ll have some free time left over from my busy day to spend the night with my amazing friends.
First night was a complete success. After making it past the mumble jumble I left myself, reasons of leaving my book left unattended, I got back on track. Whether it was the same path I took last time I was writing a few months back, who’s to say. Remember always write your ideas and thoughts down on where you want to lead your characters next. Sheesh I learned my lesson.
I spent two hours with my story last night, which for me is not too shabby considering that I go to graduate school full time, have a seven year old son, and just moved into a new place and yet still have boxes piled up in corners. For today the plan is to flip back and forth between my story and school. Somehow this has worked for me in the past. Whenever I get stuck inside a chapter and can’t find my way out I take the time out to brainstorm. Painting is an excellent way to build up your creativity for writing. Heck I’m being creative using a brush so why wouldn’t it work for brainstorming. Did I mention I go to school for Fine Art?
Killing two birds with one stone is the key into finishing my story by my preset deadline. It’s the only way I’ll be able to establish this. School comes first however if I keep pushing my book off to the side because of using school for an excuse I’ll never get around to it. Remember writing is supposed to be fun. It’s exciting, adventurous and a stress reliever – well for me it is anyway.
I can’t wait to dive right back into my story this morning. And yes, that is where I will be after I drop my son off of school this morning. Between my landscape class and my characters from a far away land I’ve decided not yet to reveal except for the exceptional few, you know who you are, it’s bound to be a very fulfilling day for creativity.
After I opened my story up for the first time in months I instantly fell back into it. Although I ended my last chapter in the most exceptional way, I can’t remember where I was going next with it. I know there was a plan but I’m not sure what. UGH! This is why you should both write ideas down the moment they arrive and never walk away from your story for too long a period. I’m hoping with this new project and goal I set for myself this particular problem won’t happen again. Being fairly new to writing I can only imagine how much easier the second book is. There are so many things I would change about my writing process. But no doubt it’s a live and learn situation.
Following tonight’s writing session I’ll provide an update on my progress. I’ve actually psyched myself up for my fun filled night of writing. A tall cup of hot tea, my Apple and hanging with old friends (characters) by candlelight – does it get any better than this?
What made me decide to work on this 365-day project was because the 1st of November is tomorrow. After a fun filled night of ghosts and goblins with my 7 year old son, I will spend my morning with a grande cup of Earl Gray and my Apple Pro Book typing away at a story that I haven’t spend months on. The reason I decided towards an entire year on this project is because I realized that my novel is not going to be one of those 300 page starters. It’s one of those books that will pack on a heavy burden to an old bookcase with over 500 + pages. Besides a year just sounds good.
Back to National Novel Writing Month– for all of you aspiring and diligent writers out there November is the month to do it. Check out this website: http://www.nanowrimo.org/. If this won’t give you that extra nudge you’ve been asking for nothing else will.
So there we have it. This is my year to shine. I know it’s going to be a tough one. I’m asking for as much inspiration and motivation I can find out there to keep me going on this project. There are going to be moments when I’m asking myself, why I’m I doing this and other moments when I will give up all around because of doubt towards both my writing and my story however quitters never made it towards publishing and I’ve been a quitter for far too long.
After two years of procrastinating I have decided to dedicate an entire year to finish my fantasy novel. Starting November 1st 2009 and ending October 31st 2010 this will be my year of writing, revisions and editing.
