My husband has the day off today, which will probably mean I
won’t get much writing done.
I don’t know why that is, either. It’s like when he’s here,
I feel guilty writing! I shouldn’t. Especially when he expects me to.
Now, when we’re on a cruise, I have NO PROBLEM writing with
him sitting beside me. Of course, he’s usually reading or playing a game (on
his phone or iPad), so I shouldn’t have any problem writing at home when he’s
here. But I do. Call me strange. I know I am.
As for writing my current project…I got tired of being
stuck. I’m taking a class on adding conflict, because I though that might be
the problem with my book. Well… it is! I don’t have enough conflict to sustain
the story (duh! That’s why I’m stuck!). It’s kind of funny, though, because I’ve
never had this problem before. Not like this, anyway.
So, based on another article I read (it’s like my muse has
thrown all these articles and classes on conflict in my face, telling me to get
with it!), I’m going to re-draft my book. What is re-drafting? Basically
starting from scratch. I printed out what I’ve written already (210 pages
worth!!!) and I’m taking that and writing it into a fresh document. As I
re-write the book, I will determine where to add more conflict. I’m already
getting lots of ideas, and made some minor changes so far (I’ve only re-written
the first two chapters), so apparently this process has some merit after all.
Which is good. I really want to finish the first draft of this thing.
So since I’m basically just typing from my old manuscript, I
should be able to write if my husband is sitting nearby. Of course, I could
always take my work to another room. Except there isn’t another room where I
could comfortably write. Maybe I should just kick him to another room.
Yeah, like that would work—not!
In other news… My hubby has finished formatting Blind Temptation for mobi and epub. Yay!
Hope to get that sucker uploaded and for sale really soon. In fact, I’m hoping
Monday’s post will tell you where you can buy it. I hope a lot, don’t I?
Tomorrow my hubby, my daughter, and I will be going to Columbus Pittsburgh Crosby ). Can’t wait. Let’s go
Pens!!
So… have you ever had to start over from scratch? Did it
feel pointless or invigorating? I’m happy to say I’m feeling invigorated. Yay!
Have a good weekend!
Stacy
9 comments:
Columbus is hot, hot, hot right now. I don't like the Penguins, but I've got Chris Kunitz on my fantasy hockey team so I need him to do something.
Starting over from (almost) scratch is something you just have to do once in a while. Painful, but it sounds like it's already working for you. And I know what you mean, I have trouble sometimes writing when people are in the room. Enjoy the game!
My SF novel, True Believers, was restarted from the beginning.
I kept the characters and one scene (the bath scene). The rest was a complete rewrite.
In hindsight, I needed to write the first version to get to the better version.
I can't write with my DH in the room, because he always has to chit-chat about something on TV or what he's doing in Clash of Clans. And yes on adding conflict - my current WIP was lacking in that area in the romance part, and when I realized what it needed, that required writing a bunch of new scenes, all out of order which is not my usual MO. It was maddening, but also exciting because it made the book so much better. My book Hangar 18: Legacy was a complete, from the beginning, not even looking at old stuff, rewrite of my very first finished book. And probably 1000 times better! Have fun with yours!
Jeff - My husband is asleep in his chair (as if he didn't get enough sleep last night??) and instead of writing, I'm reading e-mails and perusing blogs. Smack me in the head, would you? Haha! :)
Maria - Yeah, I know my characters a lot better now and just this morning I thought of a good conflict to add. Now, I just have to get back to writing it! :)
Jennette - I know I'll have fun, but for some reason I just can't get started today. Bad me!!! :)
I've written a couple that I trashed and started over.
And I totally understand about the husband thing. Mine just took his first step toward retirement, cutting back to working three days a week. On the days when he's home, I can't get past the feeling that I should be doing something with him instead of writing.
Linda - Can't say I'm trashing my book, but I'm sure there will be scenes that will no longer work. Now, I just have to get back to writing it! Is it strange I look FORWARD to Mondays? :)
I have started over fresh and always with good results.
Feeling guilty working is something I cannot relate to. Hope you find a way not to feel guilty.
Ivy - I think the guilt thing is hard-wired in my brain. :P I am stoked about my re-draft. This conflict class I'm taking is really helping me think things through!
Wires can be cut. Cool beans on the class.
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