I can't even believe it's March.
It feels like winter just started and yet here we are, with our snow melting and spring on it's way. I think it's because we had such a mild winter here in MN. Not a lot of snow, not too many days below 0.
Besides a picture book I wrote last month, I really hadn't done any creative writing this year yet until last week, when I was able to pump out 15 pages on my WIPs (10 pages on my MG fantasy, and 5 pages on Book 2). And, I mean, that's not a ton of writing, but it felt really accomplished.
Especially since I've been in a whining funk for pretty much all of 2015.
I was actually more excited about the 5 pages on B2 because I had written ten pages already, and then felt stuck. I'd been staring at those ten pages for two months, thinking about how I had set myself up so piss poorly that I didn't even know how to continue.
Finally, last week, I just decided to skip the damn transition. To jump right into chapter two and deal with the stupid first chapter later.
Which, duh, of course that's a good idea. But knowing that and actually doing it, I find, are two different things. Especially since I write chronologically and edit as I go, so I know I'll keep reading that first chapter and it will still have problems (ugh. All the problems) and it will keep bugging me.
Which is fine. It can bug me all it wants as long as it doesn't stall me or stop me from making forward motion.
So, yeah. Last week was good. Not great, but good. But I think it opened the door for great days in the near future.
How are all your projects going? Are you ready for spring?
It feels like winter just started and yet here we are, with our snow melting and spring on it's way. I think it's because we had such a mild winter here in MN. Not a lot of snow, not too many days below 0.
Besides a picture book I wrote last month, I really hadn't done any creative writing this year yet until last week, when I was able to pump out 15 pages on my WIPs (10 pages on my MG fantasy, and 5 pages on Book 2). And, I mean, that's not a ton of writing, but it felt really accomplished.
I was actually more excited about the 5 pages on B2 because I had written ten pages already, and then felt stuck. I'd been staring at those ten pages for two months, thinking about how I had set myself up so piss poorly that I didn't even know how to continue.
Finally, last week, I just decided to skip the damn transition. To jump right into chapter two and deal with the stupid first chapter later.
Which, duh, of course that's a good idea. But knowing that and actually doing it, I find, are two different things. Especially since I write chronologically and edit as I go, so I know I'll keep reading that first chapter and it will still have problems (ugh. All the problems) and it will keep bugging me.
Which is fine. It can bug me all it wants as long as it doesn't stall me or stop me from making forward motion.
So, yeah. Last week was good. Not great, but good. But I think it opened the door for great days in the near future.
How are all your projects going? Are you ready for spring?
8 comments:
I write in order and would have a hard time skipping ahead. But maybe once you've written a few more chapters, you'll know what to do with that first one.
Not all weeks need to be great. I'll take good anytime! :)
Knowing it and doing it are DEFINITELY two different things.
That's what I do too. I usually don't have trouble with transitions, but more with specific details. If they don't come to me right away, I leave a notation on the page to remind me what the problem was.
I find even when you're not physically working on the problem, the brain is. The answer usually comes to me within a day or so.
Wait, how was your Minnesota winter more mild than my Chicago winter? NOT COOL.
Yeah, our winter here was pretty amazingly mild, as in we've been having off and on 80 degree weather since february. That's pretty much unheard of, especially considering the 75's in January, that just ain't right.
Still, it came and it went--if we can call that winter--and now spring is here in force, and so are my deadlines. I guess I should get back to work.
Yes, it's a terrible feeling when you get stuck. Just yesterday I was revising my book and wondered if I'd have to trash the whole thing--the goals, motivations and conflicts didn't seen to fit together. I had an a-ha moment, changed the conflicts, and my synopsis is finally coming together. I'm sure you'll have a breakthrough soon!
Great idea, skipping over the first chapter. I've been a rut lately. Maybe I'll write the scenes I have in me and fill in the rest later. Thanks!
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