Well, everyone, it was pretty bad last week regarding writing progress. The totals for confirmation:
+1,003 words written.
Days writing: 2 out of 7.
Daily writing goals met (500+ words): 2 out of 7 days.
I speculated earlier why I might be going through this much of a losing streak, but I think most of that road is paved with procrastination and regret. I finished the threatening scene; now, I’m trying to write one more football scene, essentially my main character’s last game. I need to keep reminding myself that this first draft doesn’t have to be perfect.
Another thing to do is breaking patterns. I’ve noticed that when you get into procrastination ruts, you find yourself repeating the same behavioral patterns over an over. There’s no point in repeating the – not insanity, but – useless patterns if the desired result doesn’t occur. If you have to do things, do them in a different pattern. That’s the only way that you can try and break the mental locks on your mind. I’m still nowhere near an expert at mental reprogramming. But, I’m getting better.
I also think another factor is that I’m really starting to get antsy about getting this first draft completed. I’m thinking that I want to get into the revising process so that I can start forming what I have into a coherent whole. I’ve said before that I consider revising to be the heart and soul of writing, because that’s after you get the metal out and finally start pounding away on it in the forge to make it into something usable.
That’s about all to my ramblings, because I want to try and get to bed at a decent hour and get fiction writing in. So, Random Notes:
- I am planning on that revising/editing goal. I should have that next week, then I’ll see how to work that in with my existing writing goals. How I keep track of all of it is up in the air now.
- Currently, I’m trying to read manuscripts for three people wanting feedback. I need to make more movement on that by this week so they can get some feedback by this year, at least. 🙂
- Ideas for new posts (one of which actually needs to happen) include one on writing output that’s been bopping around for a while, one on the concept of revising, and one of my old writings.
- Anyone interested in seeing some excerpts or “deleted scenes” from the thing I’m working on now?
More later.
Liegois Media 
There are certainly scenes and events that are intimidating to write. It can get easier with practice (and the idea that you’re going to wallow in it while you write it). It can also be hard to just keep going day after day with the same enthusiasm. Have you tried writing something for both the current and next project? It might feel different, and possibly more exciting/motivating.
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One of the things that I attempted to do with this project was that I wrote it in a nonlinear fashion. That is, I wrote the scenes that I thought were the most interesting to me and that I thought were the most important to the plot.
So, rather than building the book like a chain (one link after the other) or knitting a scarf (one stitch after the other) I settled on a strategy that might somewhat resemble putting together a Lego sculpture.
I have to say that I found this to be s great success. My productivity and consistency has been far greater than past projects. It also has helped to cut out unnecessary scenes that might have gotten into the story.
Now, however, I’m getting closer to the envelope of scenes that will stay in the book and those that are not going to be in it. I’m looking more forward to the revising, because I have several ideas for that.
Thanks for the suggestions. I think this blog is a fairly good outlet for doing different things. Also, I’m revising some other friends’ and colleagues’ work, which also helps. I haven’t met my daily quota yet this week, but I’ve written more and more each day.
Also, thanks for interacting with me about the page. I appreciate you and everyone else who visits.
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