Saturday, August 28, 2010

So today was the day I was supposed to have my novel done.

About three and a half months ago (or maybe it was four? I dunno - my memory sucks) I gave myself a deadline. I thought this deadline would lit a fire under my writing butt so much that I would stay up all night clicking away at the keyboard trying to give my character her ending that she's been dying to have for the past two and a half years. That's right people - two and a half years I've been messing around with this story. Changing the character's past, changing the plot lines, changing just about every single thing you can think of.

I'm not one to brag, but I'm a pro at writing beginnings. Beginnings are my things. I can write a damn good beginning but get me to the middle and the end - holy moly I've never really fully reached that unless you count fanfiction which you probably don't. This book though. Oh my. This book has had a total of 12 beginnings. 12! That might not seem like a lot to some, but this is unheard of from me. It's also had about four complete 100 page starts. That's 400 pages I've written in the past two and a half years that never even really reached the good middle. INSANITY!

I failed. I didn't meet my deadline today. After starting over completely three and half (or maybe four? who the heck knows by now) I wrote 100 new pages of stuff. And you know what I did two weeks ago? I started all over again. After changing this plot to that plot and trying to make my main character's damn boyfriend fit into everything (seriously this guy was a fiance then went to a boyfriend back to a fiance then I just made him break her heart at the beginning cause I had to have a reason why she's so damn angry), coming up with a few reasons of what happened the night that made my character leave town in the first place it ALL CAME TO ME! You know what those ideas were? The whole idea I had when I first started this story two and a half years ago.

So what does all this rambling mean? It means that sometimes when your story is frustrating you and driving you bonkers don't give up on that grand awesome epic idea you had that made you want to write it. Sure you should venture out into other ideas. Sometimes when you think a plot isn't working you just need to look through it all. Don't just drop it like a hot potato. Charge through it. Don't be like me and have about 4 huge main files, 8 random beginnings, and 2 files filled with notes that equal about oh 100 pages (holy crap that makes 500! pages!). Don't stray away from your story just because SHINY! NEW! FUN! ideas come along. Just write the damn thing already!

But in case you're wondering according to my little word counter I am 57% with my novel and on the right track at least I think for today.

I have no clue if this post made sense. I was supposed to be in bed over an hour ago.

Monday, August 9, 2010

I'm leaving on a jet plane....

On Wednesday morning I will be heading to the airport ready for the vacation I've been desperately needing for the past two years. The one thing I will not be thinking about as I hit up Sea World, Daytona, and where ever else my friend and I find ourselves is my novel.

Oh and work of course. Yeah, definitely will not be missing that place. (And if my boss is reading this I still heart you.)

When I get back from this epic vacation, my head will be cleared and the big portion of my novel (I only have 24K - I had way more, but then I decided to go back to my original storyline and everything changed) will be ready and willing for me to tackle it so I can meet that dumb fake deadline I gave myself - August 28th.

BUT before I head out Wednesday morning, I do want to try and squeeze in 10K. I don't know if this will be possible, but I'm going to give it a spin. Let's face it. Even though I say I won't be thinking about my novel, I still packed a notebook in my suitcase just in case an idea or two or twenty pop into my head.

I also added a few songs to my ever growing playlist:



When I heard the lyrics:

You always did kind of drive me crazy and pissed me off ‘cause I let it faze me
But I never wanted my time with you to end


I knew this was a Memphis song.



This complicated song of letting go but not wanting to let go is so.Augustus (better known as Gus in her hometown and YES she's a girl with a dude's name)



It's come to my attention any Gaslight Anthem song lately reminds me of Kaden. This one for some reason just keeps catching my ear.



Driving down the road, this song came on, and an idea for Conner just popped in my head.

That's all folks! Have a great week and hopefully my next post will be me bragging at my huge bump in word count.