I’m sitting in Panera at 3:45 in the afternoon, a bit late for my 2:00 designated appointment time with my muse, but still within my creative window (2 – 6 p.m.). I’ve got my latte and chocolate cookie beside me, which is the preferred treat of my muse. Yesterday I had an excellent plot brainstorming session with my friend and fellow NaNoWriMo-er Judy Schneider, then proceeded to write a terrific chapter introducing my character’s romantic interest. I’ve met or exceeded my word-count quota every day. Until, that is, today.
Today I’ve written nothing. Zilch. Nada. I’ve been here for 20 minutes and nothing. I need to head home by 4:30 to attend an event downtown tonight, so today will mark the first day I do not make by quota. Perhaps the small window was too much pressure. Perhaps I used up my writing ability today working on sales inserts for my insurance client prior to coming here. I should have quit copywriting at 2:00 and gotten my butt here. Instead I kept going until 3:00 thinking I could finish (which I didn’t) and then spent a good 15 minutes debating whether to bag today’s NaNoWriMo session and finish the copywriting project or bag the copywriting and place priority on my creative writing. In the end I let my stomach vote and, since there was nothing yummy in the house, I hurried off to write my novel.
And now, the copywriting project sits unfinished and my novel didn’t progress 1,666 words. Or even one word.
Maybe the plotting work backfired. For now I know what will happen down the road in the story, but I don’t know what to have happen in the short term.
AAARRRGGGHHH.
Whatever the problem, it’s obvious that there will be nothing written on the novel right now. So I’m going home. Calling it a day. And possibly a tomorrow, for Saturday is filled with commitments. But Sunday offers hope to get back in the writing groove, if not back on quota.
Get back on that horse!
I’m a fine one to talk, not having written in nearly a week. But still, I know the process, and the process is 1. butt in chair, and 2. type.
You got step one down, which is excellent. Once you did that, you haven’t had trouble yet in the writing, but there was always trouble waiting at some point. Now that the trouble is here, you need step two. Which is to type garbage.
It can be anything, from repeating the phrase “this is so stupid, i’m not writing anything,” to “And then this thing happens.” Doesn’t matter what. The action of the fingers will trigger your brain, and something will come out.
(I suggest not typing “all work and no play makes jack a dull boy” though. Shades of the Shining, you know.)
Trust the process, and you will succeed.
Cindy, thanks so much for reminding me of the simple 2-step process and pointing out that all I needed to do was type something, anything. That’s exactly what I did on Sunday and ultimately I ended up with a scene, and my quota for the day. I’m still two days worth of words behind but I’m confident I can catch up bit by bit. I’m back on the horse, thanks.
Hooray!
I had to use the two-step process last night — actually almost had trouble with step one, because I was really tired, but I can’t afford to fall any farther behind. So I started, and spent a few words describing the room in which the character was sitting. Then I decided to move her out of the room, and by then I was rolling.
Funny how simple it can be.
You all rock. But, yeah, get back to work.
(ha, I’m one to talk — and I’m not even doing NaNoWriMo!)
Susan, you may not be doing NoNoWriMo, but remember you swore you’d finish your novel by the end of the year. Don’t think I’ve forgotten — I’m watching you. Why not finish it in November and the enjoy the holiday season!!! I’ve been where you are in past years, while Cindy and Judy did NaNoWriMo, so I feel I’m allowed to give this directive: Dig in, dump all extraneous writing (even your blog) and get the damn thing finished!!!
I’m working on it, honey, I’m working on it. I promise!!