I've got to finish this book. I've put my characters into some pretty hard places and that means they need my full attention. I have a family to be part of which means I should give them my full attention. And I have students who need me and that means.... yaddi yaddi yaddi.
This blog has to drop down the list. It's now going to mingle with the 'must sort out the linen cupboard' and 'put back all the books I've pulled out'.
If anything exciting happens I promise I will post but, for now, I have to hide myself away.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011
The tyranny of the word count
You have a contract to write a book. Some writers would argue that is a good thing. And, it is good to have a contract but NOT having a contract means a lot of other things like: finish the novel when it's finished; write it as long as it needs to be written; no one is depending on you - hell, no one even knows you're writing something. There's freedom in that.
You have a contract to write a book and with that will be a deadline. Deadlines are good - don't get me wrong. I do deadlines: your essays are due Monday; reports are to be written by Friday. Kind of thing.
How it affects me is in the rewriting stage. The word count sits in judgment on the lower left side of my screen. Whenever I go 'what the.... This is rubbish' and DELETE the word counts goes down and my anxiety goes up. Sure, it's better writing but now I'm going to have to make it up at the other end. Dammit.
How it affects me in the day to day: well - day and night is currently merging into grab sleep when I can, nod to understanding family and students and hope that no one notices I didn't check I had lipstick on my teeth before I started teaching period one.
Finally, it affects me, this contract thingy because it affects others: my publisher, my agent, my editor, my readers.
Writing isn't fun. Ohh, no way. Don't even go there. Or perhaps go here to read Libba Bray's account of writing a novel. It's so true.
So why on earth do we do it? I won't speak for other writers but for me it's to get the story out of my head: the conversations, arguments, graphic and wonderful scenes. All gone.
Oh and because I hope to one day become stinking rich.
How am I tackling this particular stage of my writing career? I am Making! MAKING! myself write every single day. Day or night - don't care. I am putting words down because, in the end, that's the only way the story is going to be told - with all its dramas and heartaches (and there are plenty) we will, by the end, find out what happens to Fleance, Rosie and Rachel.
You have a contract to write a book and with that will be a deadline. Deadlines are good - don't get me wrong. I do deadlines: your essays are due Monday; reports are to be written by Friday. Kind of thing.
How it affects me is in the rewriting stage. The word count sits in judgment on the lower left side of my screen. Whenever I go 'what the.... This is rubbish' and DELETE the word counts goes down and my anxiety goes up. Sure, it's better writing but now I'm going to have to make it up at the other end. Dammit.
How it affects me in the day to day: well - day and night is currently merging into grab sleep when I can, nod to understanding family and students and hope that no one notices I didn't check I had lipstick on my teeth before I started teaching period one.
Finally, it affects me, this contract thingy because it affects others: my publisher, my agent, my editor, my readers.
Writing isn't fun. Ohh, no way. Don't even go there. Or perhaps go here to read Libba Bray's account of writing a novel. It's so true.
So why on earth do we do it? I won't speak for other writers but for me it's to get the story out of my head: the conversations, arguments, graphic and wonderful scenes. All gone.
Oh and because I hope to one day become stinking rich.
How am I tackling this particular stage of my writing career? I am Making! MAKING! myself write every single day. Day or night - don't care. I am putting words down because, in the end, that's the only way the story is going to be told - with all its dramas and heartaches (and there are plenty) we will, by the end, find out what happens to Fleance, Rosie and Rachel.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Inspiration
I think Fleur Beale once told me she considered them 'shower moments' or 'a HA! moments'. Whatever they are, they are the 'slaps forhead and exclaims OF COURSE' moments.
I had one of them on Friday morning as I drove to school and another, after dinner, as I jogged down to the supermarket to get dessert.
It is clear to me that these 'inspiration' times come when I am detached from the noise and busyness of daily life.
I like like like such moments. Has given me much needed mojo. (Maybe Vanda's slapping helped!)
I had one of them on Friday morning as I drove to school and another, after dinner, as I jogged down to the supermarket to get dessert.
It is clear to me that these 'inspiration' times come when I am detached from the noise and busyness of daily life.
I like like like such moments. Has given me much needed mojo. (Maybe Vanda's slapping helped!)
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Procrastination blues.
I'm thinking of getting my daughter to write me a song. And sing it. Isn't that what procrastination is all about - not doing the doing?
My evenings are free, currently. Television is not that enticing. I do have a stack of unread review copies to read but don't want to dive into them because I know that will make my writer-guilt even worse.
I wish I could pay someone to write the last 60,000 words. I've got it all mapped out. I've even written some compelling bits to be scattered throughout. But, dammit. I have to do the leg work myself and I am currently a lazy author.
What is a lazy author?
Oh, so easy to identify. The one who watches more than the average amount of DVDs; who goes more frequently to the theatre (movie or playhouse); who has books beside the bed, toilet, in the car, in the handbag...
The lazy author is not lazy. She (or he) is in avoidance mode and justifies her behavious as RESEARCH.
A message to the friends and relatives of an author going through the procrastination blues: do not be kind. Slap them (metaphorically of course) and remind them that they have a duty to fulfill their obligation to the reading world.
My evenings are free, currently. Television is not that enticing. I do have a stack of unread review copies to read but don't want to dive into them because I know that will make my writer-guilt even worse.
I wish I could pay someone to write the last 60,000 words. I've got it all mapped out. I've even written some compelling bits to be scattered throughout. But, dammit. I have to do the leg work myself and I am currently a lazy author.
What is a lazy author?
Oh, so easy to identify. The one who watches more than the average amount of DVDs; who goes more frequently to the theatre (movie or playhouse); who has books beside the bed, toilet, in the car, in the handbag...
The lazy author is not lazy. She (or he) is in avoidance mode and justifies her behavious as RESEARCH.
A message to the friends and relatives of an author going through the procrastination blues: do not be kind. Slap them (metaphorically of course) and remind them that they have a duty to fulfill their obligation to the reading world.
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