Good-Bye, Simple Life

When I started this blog about writing my first novel, I had no idea of the complexities of the world of publishing and selling books. I didn’t know that the writing of the book would be the easy part.

There was a time when I read the daily blogs of many, many people, keeping up on details of their lives and projects. I enjoyed the interaction, the making of new friends. We talked about our dreams. We dreamed about telling stories that others would read and enjoy. Together–at our own pace–we put one foot in front of the other and started the Writer’s journey. We encouraged each other.

Man, I loved those times!

Then came knowledge–cover design, marketing strategies, book conferences, interacting with the media, and more. Intermingled with all of this is the grind of the re-write and editing, editing, editing.

Plus, I have work outside of writing. And family and friends who need nurturing. And it’s summer: the grass is growing; the garden needs weeding, the ants taking over my house need murdered; the animals need care and play time.

I have complicated my life–by choice–in so many ways. Even though I have given up commercial farming, there is no spare time in the schedule. In fact, I am busier than I ever was. And I am trying to get the #$%^# novel finished!

Okay. Now that I have bawled like a baby and thrown a tantrum, let me say this–I wouldn’t change a thing. Well, maybe one thing. Me. I’d change me to be better organized, less frazzled, less fearful of the unknown, more optimistic about the future. But I wouldn’t change a thing about the craziness of the book world I have embraced.

Simply said, “Good-bye, Simple Life.”

Time Is the Enemy

Kristen Lamb speaks truth when she says time is the enemy of the writer. If you have followed my blog, you know I have worked in fits and starts on my novel. The manuscript has collected dust for months between writing sessions.

Recently I chose to cloister myself away from life to finish my first novel. It has been a struggle for the exact reason Kristen warns about: loss of momentum, massive re-writing, and sometimes loss of interest in the story because time has passed.

My terrier-like persistence is what keeps me working. Setting a daily quota of words also helps. I set a goal–1,000 words per day–that isn’t too arduous, but makes completion likely within a month. (I don’t write on weekends.)

My advice? Read the following and heed the warning!

Time is the Enemy

When writing anything (but especially fiction) taking time off can kill momentum. We need to go back, reread, familiarize ourselves with the story and characters (since we’ve slept since that last bit we wrote). This can lead to editing the beginning to death and stalls forward progress. We get bogged down in the first part of the book.

Take too much time? Likely, you’ll have to start all over.

I did. Yes, even NF authors are vulnerable to time.

I spent more effort trying to retrofit work I’d done for my agent back in 2011 than I want to admit. Finally, I just tossed most of the writing and started over. 100 pages of wasted work all because I didn’t keep writing.

My mistake. Won’t happen again.

3,000 Words for the Week

Okay. I confess. I goofed off this week by taking a couple of day trips.  I am calling the trips research. I have met some cool characters out in the desert. You KNOW they will show up in future stories. And I am learning about the land itself, for setting the story. See? Research!

Even goofing off, I pounded out 3,000 words this week.

However, the most important work I did during the past five days was to go through the manuscript chapter by chapter and write a brief summary of each chapter. Doing so reminded me of loose ends that needed tying, characters that were introduced after which nothing more was said about them, and redundancies in storytelling: all things needing fixed.

Turns out the character I introduced early in the book, and promptly forgot, will be pivotal to the solving the mystery.

So far, I am on track. I am still thinking this writing getaway was a great idea.

 

Holing Up to Write

Ok. I am making a pledge here. I want to feel compelled to do what I promise. I am taking six weeks to check out of my day-to-day life in order to hole up in solitude and FINISH MY NOVEL.

(No excuses, Moore. You are on the hook now, so finish the book already.)

I will check in regularly to let you know how I’m doing. Hold me accountable. If I start floundering, kindly pull out your riding crop and, well, you know. It’s time to complete novel number one, so that I can start novel number two.

Step 1. Get the suitcase out of attic storage

Step 2. Pack clothes, computers, cell phone, checkbook, arm sling

Step 3. Get to the airport early

Step 4. Settle in and start writing