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First, I had to write a self-evaluation today, an exercise in hyperbolic conflation if ever there was one. And I had to carve time out of a over-busy morning schedule to do it. That'll lead to chocolate bingeing every time. Then, I've been denied writing time two days in a row. Four if you count the weekend. I usually get some writing in on the weekend, but that didn't happen this weekend. More chocolate! Next, some people who had to do the same self-evaluation as I were having whiny snivelly fits about having to do it and I was not in the mood. Be a man! buck up! CHOC-O-LATE!!

Adding to all this, I've reached a point that I reach in every novel, what I call the panic point. That's when I've got a sufficient bulk of novel behind me to know I'll probably finish, but still have a ways to go before I type The End. This is also the time when the passages through the story start narrowing as I draw closer to the denouement. Alternate possibilities disappear on the horizon, never to be seen again, and I begin to wonder if I'm going to be able to pull off the vision thing as, well, envisioned. Do I really know what I'm doing? Is the ending as viable as it seemed when I thought of it, or is it just an absurdity echo in the gag factory of my mind? Am I about to make a really big fool of myself? Did I write the correct novel after all? Or should I have turned the story in a different direction and written that other novel?

Oh, slather me in chocolate!

Knowing this panic happens with every novel, I should draw comfort from it, but I never do. This time around I've got a fresh failure to remind me that I don't always pull it off at the end: the overly ambitious Night Warrior/The Making Blood—three, three, three novels in one! I expect that one's going to continue haunting me until I either do a successful rewrite or successfully finish another novel. I'm hoping Charged with Folly will be that successful finish, but one never knows.

I do like the ending of CWF. I took a mechanism I used at the end of my first completed novel, a sort of generic quest fantasy with a science fiction twist which will never see the light of day again, and will apply part of it to this ending. Then I took another piece of science and added it to the mix with a bunch of metaphysical/philosophical crud to finish off the concept. It seemed like a viable resolution. But some days there isn't enough chocolate in the world to reassure me—until the damned thing is actually done.

Random quote of the day:

"I'm here because I was born here and thus ruined for anywhere else."

—Colson Whitehead, The Colossus of New York


Something for the boys (of both sexes):

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Date: 2007-03-07 02:12 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kmkibble75.livejournal.com
The fear is always irrational, but it's not like we can pretend it isn't there. I have some cupcakes and brownies if you need more chocolate, just let me know!

Date: 2007-03-07 02:12 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kmkibble75.livejournal.com
and thank you for the pic. :-)

Date: 2007-03-07 03:54 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] merebrillante.livejournal.com
Oh, gosh, I hate that precipitous moment in novel-making. It's like your water just broke and you've realized that nine months of intense and growing discomfort is nothing compared to the next several hours.

Breathe. And eat some chocolate. As Professor Lupin says, "It'll make you feel better."

Of course, if Lupin were there to say it to you, you wouldn't need the chocolate.

Date: 2007-03-07 06:09 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] merebrillante.livejournal.com
And I don't get Harry Potter references.

0.0

Date: 2007-03-07 07:39 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] frigg.livejournal.com
Yup, this definitely calls for a chocolate fondue.

Date: 2007-03-07 06:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] frigg.livejournal.com
Aw PJ let yourself splurge to the fullest. ;)

Date: 2007-03-08 08:34 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] java-fiend.livejournal.com
My word... I don't know that I've ever wanted to spend an entire day licking a Choc-o-pop before. Thanks for putting that notion in my head. :-)

Hope things ease up on you and you get some time to write soon!!!

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