Almost the end

One hour and fifteen minutes to go...

Still writing as we're winding down...

Still writing, and writing, and writing....

Writing

I'm writing writing writing. Fifteen minutes at a time. Once I start writing for only fifteen minutes...I find much longer has passed and that's a good thing. It seems to help break down the task...only fifteen minutes.

The Last Week...

This is it...the last week...the final push. And it would be forcast to be a gorgeous week outside. Still, it's just a matter of finishing the rough draft really. I am having a difficult time not thinking forward to the editing process. Still. Sheesh! But writing away anyway.

Happy July!

Knitting and Noveling

Noveling is like knitting in a rather surprising and odd way. When you knit a sweater, you have to check your gauge first – make sure you’ve got the right size needles and yarn for the sweater to come out the right size. Even then, once you start the sweater, you may find your gauge off, the sweater flapping in the breeze even though it should have fit a six year old, or an extra-large that’s now going to look quite nice – as a dog sweater.

Patience – if you want to have the right sweater or the right novel. Thing is, you have to write the novel, knit the sweater, in order to even have something to correct. It’s part of the process – to correct. Thus go the knitting and the noveling this week. Imperfectly, but growing.

WEEK 2!? Already!?

“Don’t get it right, get it written.” That pretty much says it all, I’m thinking. Just write something. Eat well, step outside to see the sunshine every now and again; take my vitamins; write; and sleep.

My writing is admittedily sporadic as of late. I've got family visiting (which is good) and we're taking lots of adventurous excursions (which is also good) but it's taking my pre-planned writing time (ok - really it's my pre-planned procrastination time but this then, means that I'm procrastining during my actual planned writing time!? Who knew?!). Yes - I'm sure it will come as no suprise for those of you who know me - I've been procrastinating. It's a mind-boggling thing really, to procrastinate while writing a novel in a month. But I had a good talk with Quincee this past Thursday and she reiterated the importance of writing - actually doing the writing daily - and, since she's actually finished the first draft, I'm taking the advice (and for those of you out there not writing - consider the same). Write. Just get it written.

“A big fractious family over several generations. If you think you can keep all those feudes and romances within the structure of one uncomplicated beginning, middle and end, you are in for trouble.” - Koch

Ok - this quote is kinda' guiding my content right now. It's a crazy mess of times and dates. I'll figure it all out later. Right now, I'm just doing scene upon scene upon scene. I even thought about trying to write each scene as a different Word doc. But I don't want to make this any MORE complicated than it needs to be. Still, some of it has to make sense. Because my plot covers so much time, the characters' life experiences affect how they respond to the situations depending on the age they are. Ain't this exciting? :)


A powerful scene in itself:

And Death took her up like a baby,
and she lay in his icy arms
But she didn’t feel no chill.
And Death began to ride again –

- James Weldon Johnson, “Go Down, Death”

Day 7 of the Month of July

And I am waffling. Need to update the word count but it's nothing to brag about just yet. I'm trying very hard NOT to edit but it's difficult. Whew. But since I'm back, we can expect a more regular update of status... I hope... :)