Okay, I’ve never really been an expert at writing. I’m still
learning as I go, but I’ve been feeling like a right novice the last couple of
days. You see, I started two projects in October, managed to get a decent 4k
done on both of them . . . and then my hours went up at work, it was Christmas
and then New Year . . . then I quit my job because I was offered a better one.
. . .
Life invaded my space, zapped my energy and stole my
attention. That diva.
Yes, I know that outside of my head there is a world where
my family and friends live, where jobs happen because bills need to be paid,
but it has been so horrible not writing. I sat down last night and said, “hey, I know I have to work. I know there
will be days where I am tired, and not motivated. I know I have friends and a
family, and general things to do, but enough is enough. I need to write.”
I have never been quite about my dry periods. I don’t mean
to whine about them, and I really hope I don’t come across that I am. Its just
frustration that has to come out, but I have felt rather lost these last few
months; like part of me is disappearing.
So, the other day I woke up and said to hell with the
cleaning and the laundry and everything else. Writing is my top priority,
before anything else. It’s my passion, what I love and what I enjoy spending my
time doing. And guess what, I managed to get 1.5k written on one of my
projects. I know it doesn’t seem a lot, but I was very happy that I had managed
it.
Then I re-read it all and realized it was no good. It didn’t
sound right, or flow well.
I feel like I’m starting all over again. As a writer you are
continually growing, and improving with each story you write, but I honestly felt
like an absolute novice who really had no idea what she was doing. I don’t know if any other writer has this
problem when they have had a dry patch, but if you have, how the heck do you
snap out of it?
I mean, I spent last month editing my co-authored project –
which my writing partner and I have decided to self-publish, so more on that
when I have news – but editing is so very different from starting fresh.
Needless to say I deleted everything I wrote and did it
again, and then I tweaked and moved, and continued in this very slow manner for
two days until everything clicked in to place. The funny thing is I only have
another 1,000 words to write and then I’m done, and it will be time to edit. *Head desk*It feels good to be writing
again, though. So damn good. And I have to say that I’m very excited about
cracking on with my next project, but it is a longer story which is why I
decided to wait. It made more sense to get the shorter story done and dusted
first.
The current project is a short story titled, “Truth or
Dare?” It’s not plot heavy, just something sexy and fun, and it involves
tequila shots and a game that turns serious for two of the players. ;-P
The next project is a paranormal novella titled, “Let Me
In.” I’m not sure at the moment if it will be longer and end up being a novel,
or if it will be three novella’s. I haven’t got that far in to the planning,
because well, I’m a punster. Ha. But it’s a dark paranormal about the dangers
of falling in to bed with strange sinful men. :-D
So, I have 1k to go. I plan to have “Truth or Dare?”
finished this week, edited, and submitted. Surely I can do that? *Gets on knees
and prays, “Please let everyone leave me alone for a week. Amen.”*
Well done for getting those 1500 words done! No, it's never easy making the time, but I reckon just 500 words a day is good. 500 words a day gives you a novella in a month ;) xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks, hun. Well, I have aimed for 1k a week. I usually go way over that, but since I've done Jack for 6 months it's a good goal, I think.
DeleteGood news is that I'm a couple 100 words from the end, and I have beat my word count. Yay! :-) xxx