Yesterday I hit the 80,000 word mark on my current WIP.
I’d love to take some time off and just write, but I sometimes wonder if I work that way. I know how I want a certain scene and when I finish that one, I usually have to stop and think about the next one. Technically, I can do that at work (when I’m not bombarded, anyway). If I was at home, would I still stop and think or would I check e-mails and blogs? Oh, wait – I do that at work, too!
Okay, so maybe it wouldn’t matter. I’d just be happier (and less stressed about being caught). Yeah, that’s it.
The end is so close and I’m consumed. Thank GOD my husband understands. He has kept the TV off (for the most part). He’s even checked to make sure I’m writing and not “surfing” (something I need at times). He’s been a real trooper because he knows how badly I want this book finished.
And I want it finished this month. That will give me enough time to edit and have it critiqued before I start to go pitching it at Nationals (June 28-July 1). And now I’ve also signed up for Lori Foster’s Reader/Author Get Together, where agents and publishers are taking pitches. That occurs June 3-5. Not so sure I’ll be ready by then, but by gosh, I sure can try!!
And I said work was making me stressed? Ha! But I prefer being stressed with writing, because it’s more fun – that’s for sure! I guess there is such a thing as good stress and bad stress.
5 comments:
I know it feels so good to be close to the finish line. It will get there. I'm with on the stressed at work bit. It seems when I am swamped there, my creativity suffers. I write at work to, some of my best stuff comes from there, and when there's no time--well, there are no words. Good luck!
Congrats at getting so close. Now the real pressure starts. :)
My story is percolating in my brain at all times. I wish I could do this full time, but then worry I would end up looking at it as an obligation rather than my passion. Then again, sometimes I resent (frequently) my day job because I wish I was writing.
I did write at work once, but it was during a creative writing class and I wrote with them, so it was still work. :)
Okay, back to writing. I'm only on 29k with a goal of 85-90. I have entered the MIDDLE.
It can be tough forcing yourself to stay off the emails and blogs when you're trying to finish a WIP. But when you do it for long enough I think you start to get into a rhythm. At least, that's how it was for me after I got laid off and it took me nine months to find a new job. After I finished my job search stuff each day, I had a few hours carved out for writing and melted right into it.
That being said, my creativity always busts out when I'm at work and my brain is distracted by other stuff. My muse is coy like that.
I am right there with you. I hit the 85k mark over the weekend with 5 scenes left to finish. Now, I'm not sure what to do. Talk about stress. (It's all in my blog today if you care to take a gander.)
AJ - Yes, I do love writing the ending of my books. That's usually when I "vomit" words. But hey, that's what editing is for!
Erin - When I was in the MIDDLE, I just had to figure out what kind of conflict to throw in there. I'm finding conflict to be my friend (and a lot of fun to write).
Tracy - The writing does flow better when I turn off AOL. But when I'm stuck on a scene, I also find it helps to get my mind off of it - so it comes back on (or I check the blogs). Unfortunately, I spend too much time there!
Anne - How the heck do you KNOW you have 5 scenes left? I have no idea how many scenes I have left (can you tell I don't plot?). I only know I'm getting close. I can't wait to see how it ends, too!
Thanks for all the comments. It's nice to know I'm not the only stressed one here!
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