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Messy Creation

May 6, 2010 by becca

I’m two days away from the half-way point of my WIP. Is that completely unclear? If When I continue to do my 1000 words a day, in only 2 more writing days I will be at 25,000 words. Big deal. It is. A big, big deal.

In fact, it makes me happy to meet a milestone. Here are a few thoughts on my journey this far (and other stuff that’s on my mind):

* My character has a Real first name. And a middle name. And a last name. But the first name is what matters. It is, in fact, a family name (great-grandmother) , and also a sort of flora. Kind of. (She always had a name, but in a place-holder kind of way. Now it’s official. And cute. Very cute.)

* My 23,000 words are quasi-edited. This is, for all Real Writers, against the rules. But I don’t care about the rules. I care about reading my story and not going “ew. that’s messy.” So I move things where they need to go. I replace the things that get wrinkly or warped in the daily writing grind. There is plenty more to do at the end of a draft, natch. But I allow myself to edit around here and there as I go. Because I’m just like that. Maybe it’s a function of my non-linear mind. Like when I decide to make the Kids’ lunches and get about 3/4 through sandwiches only to realize that there are no clean knives, so I do some dishes, only to realize that there are no clean towels in the drawer, so I fold some laundry only to realize that the carpet is in dire ned of a vacuuming… you get it.

* When I do pass the 25,000 word mark, I will allow myself to watch “A Very Potter Musical” on YouTube, which Kid 1 assures me is moderately PG-13 and completely hilarious. Yes, I understand that I will never get those hours back.

* Time Machine on my Mac is a great thing. Because through Time Machine I found a draft (this morning) that had ALL THE WORDS in it, which was not the draft I pulled out of the WIP folder. I heart Time Machine.

* It has been more than 2 years since I had a haircut (by anyone other than myself) and I find myself writing haircuts into all my stories. My subconscious is telling me things.

* Sometimes people are mean. I have to let that happen in my book. And leave it there for a minute without making an apology. This is hard.

* The sky today is the most lovely color of clear blue – the color that gives me Ocean Envy and makes me want to shop for perfect blue dresses.Or learn to write nature metaphors.

* I own one (1) reusable grocery sack. In fact, “own” may be an overstatement. The lovely Mary brought me some food in it a few weeks ago, during a crisis, and I kept it. I haven’t used it. Because, really? When’s the last time I went to the store for one bag of groceries? But I think my WIP Characters would use reusable grocery bags. So I should try it. I’d go and buy two mangoes and a salami. Mmm. Salami.

* Blogging is never a waste of effort, even when the words are senseless. It is exercise. Flexion. And it’s necessary to shake the cobwebs out of my brain. But I have to do my 1000 words first. Otherwise, it becomes an excuse. And we can’t have that, can we?

Back to creating: I’m off to create neat piles of folded laundry. And possibly some vacuum lines in the carpet. But, you know, one thing at a time.

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(6) Comments for this blog

  1. May 6, 2010

    I shoot for a thousand words a day, too. Unfortunately (and real writers shouldn’t say this, either) I’m neck deep in revisions and I hate it because I can’t just draft freely on a new project. Being able to write and NOT edit to me is akin to being able to wear my pajamas and no bra all day long and eat chocolate for breakfast while a “I Love the 80s” VH-1 marathon plays in the background. In other words, it’s comfortable and familiar. Revision is uncomfortable, like the first day of yoga class. But revision stretches me so I do it for the same reason I keep going to my stupid kickboxing class. It’s good for me and for my story and eventually means I can get back to drafting.

  2. May 6, 2010

    I’m pretty sure “real writers” just do whatever they darn well feel like doing, “rules” be darned. We’re so used to making things up, why not make up rules that suit us better, eh?

    Reading this made me want to write today. Thanks for that.

  3. May 6, 2010

    Aw Becca! I love how you peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. It sounds like how I plan on making fudge and end up reorganizing my pantry. =)

  4. May 6, 2010

    I should really get back to doing some real writing.
    *sigh*

  5. May 6, 2010

    You know, anytime you get the urge to fold more laundry into cute little piles and/or vacuum stripes into carpet, you are more than welcome to come on over. I have no problem getting the clothes washed, it’s just getting them folded and put away that’s the problem…

  6. May 7, 2010

    I like the way you think. Rewarding yourself with Youtube, realizing people are just mean sometimes, and appreciating blogging for its exercising. Thanks!

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