Last week, I missed my weekly writing goal by 1,893 words. It was freaking hard to get the 10,007 words that I did write. This week, I’m trying to cram 11,900 words plus the words I missed into 4 days since I will be in VIVA LAS VEGAS from 11.14 to 11.17. I say 4 days because I’m sure that this Friday will be my mad dash to pack, get a pedicure, manicure, & eyebrow wax, and so on. (Note, I haven’t had a mani/pedi since I went to Key West in June/July and I haven’t had my eyebrows down since I don’t remember. Luckily, I don’t look like Bert from Sesame Street right now.)
Anyway, tonight I knocked out 2000 + plus words & feel really good about it. I can’t say I feel good about all the words I wrote last week. I’ve also started a different way of writing. Not the unformatted way that I had mentioned in KEEP ON KEEPING ON but if I’m stuck in a scene, I make a note and write another scene and/or chapter. It was very weird at first, but I read an article last week on successful writers and how they write, and one mentioned that he doesn’t have writer’s block. If he’s stuck, he just moves on and writes something else and then goes back when he’s unstuck. When I read that, I thought, wow, I’m going to try that.
I have and I rather like it. I write in a different color, make a note of it in my notes section, and move on. It was weird at first, but because I have tried this new way of thinking, I was given a plot/character twist that was unexpected. It was a twist that fits so perfect that it actually moves the story forward.
Right now, if I looked at my WIP, it would be a complete & utter mess. The OCD in me cringes and wants to straighten it out RIGHT NOW. The writer in me accepts this new practice. It’s freeing. It’s inspiring. It’s making me create more. Instead of dread, I write knowing that it might not be perfect at the moment, but it will be perfect through multiple rounds of editing.
I’ll leave my baby for 4 days of Vegas fun, but will come back to my baby, it’s 5 days of writing & nurture. My vacation will be filled with half fun and half writing.
A mental break I need & crave.
Listening to “Don’t Stand Too Close to Me” by The Police & enjoying a glass of 14 Hands Cabernet