Crunch time!
When I was writing
the first draft for my three previous books there came a point when I felt absolutely
compelled to finish. I’m talking about an overwhelming, OCD equivalent
compulsion to – as Larry the Cable Guy would say – “Git R’ Done!” It was almost
as if I was pregnant and I began having contractions. My mind…and body…were
telling me “This baby is ready to be born and I don’t care what else is
happening…we’re going to do this!”
The current
book I’m working on is no different. The big push actually started last week
when I found myself waking up in the wee hours of the morning (3AM) and couldn’t
go back to sleep because my mind was racing. You can guess about what. So I
gave in and sat myself down in front of my laptop and got to work. Then four
hours later I’d take a shower and go to my real work. This has been going on for two weeks and I
anticipate I’ll bring this baby home in another two. It’s not really surprising
that this has become my pattern because the type of books I write tend to build
towards a climatic end. As the tension builds in my book and the pace increases
to match it…so do my writing habits.
There are a
LOT of writers who are experiencing a different sort of PUSH this month, and
those are the NaNoWriMo contestants. For
the uninitiated, that stands for National Novel Writing Month and it takes
place every November. As it states on the website, NaNoWriMo is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to creative writing. On
November 1, participants begin working towards the goal of writing a
50,000-word novel by 11:59 PM on November 30. Valuing enthusiasm,
determination, and a deadline, NaNoWriMo is for anyone who has ever thought
about writing a novel. Many writers use NaNo as a way to springboard them
out of complacency, others use it for the structure and accountability it
provides, and some just enjoy the camaraderie of the shared experience. Whatever
the reason, NaNo has become a writing world staple. Myself, I’ve never
participated in NaNo. It’s not my cup of tea and my normal writing style isn’t that
regimented.
That is unless
I’m about to birth a book. :)
Happy writing! I hope that book is done soon. Your current schedule sounds like it can't be sustainable for long.
ReplyDeleteHi Don - good luck and by now you'll be even further on ... pushing on while the ideas are there, makes so much sense. I don't like being prescribed to ... I'm happy to do things - but in my own way. Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteThat's a very apt metaphor. In movies and TV, they always act like they have to coach the woman through contractions "Okay, Mary, I'm going to need you to push now!" Total BS - when I had my son I was shocked that your body just DOES it on its own. It'd be more of a fight NOT to push. So, I feel ya on the book!
ReplyDeleteI definitely pick up more speed once I get past the halfway point of the draft. Not quite there yet on the current one... just about 25%.
Git R Done!! Good luck Don.
ReplyDeleteKeep on pushing that book out! It's great when it comes in waves like that.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely that season. =) Some book labors are harder than others too. I love it when they go easy and make their debut without breaking a sweat.
ReplyDelete