Words

[pjthompson]

Alas, not a productive week, word-wise. A number of distractions, plus I had to stop and do a "Where the hell am I and where am I going?" outline for the rest of the book. I'm not an outliner, per se, but about once every third of a novel, I get flustered at where the book is leading me and have to stop and reconnoiter the landscape. Is it still possible to get to the endpoint from where I'm currently traveling? The answer is almost always yes, but once that panicky feeling starts, there's nothing for it but to think things through. I may not follow the outline now that it's done, but at least it's done it's job and I can hopefully get back to writing.

I'm definitely at the "this is no longer fun" stage of the novel. But that usually just means I'm close to the hump that will allow me to get on with the downward slide. Not as close to the hump as I'd like to be, can't see over the top, but close. I suspect future drafts will have me telescoping some of what I've written and expanding other stuff, but this is not the time and place to worry about that. Just pushing forward here. I want to get through the current slog and get to those action scenes, but I keep getting distracted by more and more slog.

I do find myself thinking longingly of the next novel I'd like to do, even to the point of doing a good deal of research reading for it. I'm also itching to put the final final final FINAL polish on the last novel so I can start inflicting it upon the world. But I know these sirens do not mean me well. They care nothing about humps and mountains, being largely aquatic. They want me to jump overboard and drown or smash my boring-old-definitely-not- fun-anymore boat upon the rocks. I must stuff my ears with wax and keep on rowing. That's the only way I'll ever see the shores of home again.


Venus In Transit

72,250 / 100,000 (72.2%)

Comments

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Have to do one of those outlines for current p, sigh.

[pjthompson]

Hates 'em, except when they alleviate panic. :-)

[kmkibble75.livejournal.com]

If it's any comfort, I haven't noticed anything that really needs telescoping yet (well, save for that one chapter... but that's it!)

[hollailama.livejournal.com]

Ya know, I have to do that re-plotting thing about every third, too. Maybe every quarter. Dunno what it means. *shrug* Sounds like you're getting somewhere, though, so yay!

[pjthompson]

You're too kind. The novel is still young, though... ;-)

[pjthompson]

Yes, eeking forward. I think when you're an organic type all kinds of things are coming out of the woodwork and it's hard to know if they belong or if they're a tangent. At least for me. And, at least for me, doing that period reassessment helps me determine that. Usually it's okay. Because the subconscious usually knows better than the forepart of my brain.

[pjthompson]

Eking forward, too. :-) Though eek may be more appropriate now that I think about it.

[bummble.livejournal.com]

This is a very... encouraging, reassuring, something like that, entry to read.

Thanks!

[pjthompson]

Hey, I'm glad if that's the case.