Thursday, September 30, 2010

WiP... Thursday: Just Write!


[Tried to post this yesterday, for WiP Wednesday, but Blogger was giving me major agita and I gave up. I know, no one likes a quitter, but I felt like I was about to smash something that probably cost more than I make in a month. Makes the above picture that much more appropriate, non?]


Last night I hit the 30K mark of my WiP (see an excerpt here). Go, me! I rule!

Oh, wait, I don't really. Thirty thousand words may sound like a lot, but when I realize it's taken me almost a month to write the last five thousand words, it's really nothing to be proud of. *hangs head in shame*

In my defense, the past month has been pretty busy. So many books came out that I wanted to read, and I have to admit I've been a little... distracted. I've learned that having an agent hasn't stopped me from compulsively checking my inbox after all. If anything, my palms are even sweatier than when I was querying. My breath catches every time I check my gmail in the hopes there might be some good news: that an editor loves my book. Obviously, it hasn't happened yet, and I'm about thiiiiis far from a freak-out of epic proportions. Good thing I live in New Orleans, where no one would notice.

Ugh. Submission is worse than querying. I never thought I'd say that, but it's true. It's enough to make me throw my laptop out the window or set it on fire. Or go all gansta on it รก la Office Space.



But for a few hours last night, Finding Nemo on in the background (after I caught the beginning of this sweet documentary on t.v about the history of Pixar), I forgot about all that and wrote over 1500 words. And I thought of a new direction for the plot. No, there are no missing clown-fish involved, don't worry, but there's intrigue and danger, and magic... This story's going to kick ass, y'all!

That's when I realized that there's no excuse for not writing when I have the time to actually sit my butt in my chair and type. I know I'm not the first person to figure this out, and hell, it's not the first time I've had this same epiphany. But I'm adding it to my list of mantras for getting this first draft finished:

Butt in Chair = increased word count
Don't get it right, get it written.

Anyone else have a mantra they follow when drafting?

Anyone out there in editing/revision hell? What do you say to keep yourself motivated?

18 comments:

Dawn Embers said...

I'm trying to get my novel rewrite done by the end of this year, which seems like a long time but the last two months I've written maybe two chapters. So, it's going very slow, and I'll be taking a break during nanowrimo to start a new novel.

Melissa said...

I love that. Don't get it right, get it written... I need to apply this to my own writing. AS of NOW.

Sorry submission is so stressful. I'm sure you'll here something soon.

JEM said...

I'm giving you the right to go easy on yourself every once in awhile (um, yes, I totally have that authority). I once had a conversation with a good friend in which I said I thought I should be writing every day because I wanted this to be my profession, and she said that writing is a creative art and sometimes you have to let it sit and ferment before the idea is really ready. And while I do think we often procrastinate, I know you're passionate about writing and will make it happen when the time is write. Er, I mean right.

Jen said...

Don't get it right, get it written. I think I'll paint that on the wall next to my desk!!

Oh, and the Office Space picture? Yeah, I feel like that every day. Only not with my computer but with those of the people who call me. I answer phones for an IT company.

Ever see the IT Crowd? Yeah...

Happy weekend!
Jen

Susan R. Mills said...

I love that mantra! Can I borrow it????

Missed Periods said...

It sounds to me like you are actually doing great. Your story's going to kick ass- even if it's not going to feature a missing clown fish.

Krispy said...

Who knew there was another level of dread after getting agented? XP Well, I hope you are less stressed now, and congrats on the wordage.

I like your mantra: don't get it right, get it written. I may have to steal it. ;)

Sandy said...

"Just write" is definitely something I need to tell myself. I have plenty of time this week, but somehow, everything seems to be easier than writing. Definitely need some BIC. :)

Good luck with your writing!

Misha Gerrick said...

I'm still on the first draft stage, but I'm all about quantity over quality at the moment.

I'll refine the book later, but right now I need to get as much story done as possible...

Kelsey (Dominique) Ridge said...

My mantra for drafting should probably, "Just write the gosh darn thing, would you please?" because of I often find myself staring at the computer instead of putting black on white. Why thoughts can't automatically appear on the page for me, I don't know, but I wish they would.

Abby Annis said...

Congrats on the wordage!

I'm stealing your mantra and posting it over my computer. Maybe I should find a way for it to flash on the screen every 60 seconds or so... ;)

Jade said...

My mantra is: I am awesome! Nah, it's more like, "Crap is better than no crap" which is a little depressing.

Dude, I'm seriously excited to get to read this story, so you should hurry up and finish. That's an order.

Also, remind yourself that you are the submissions ninja. You karate chop rejection! (Sorry, I'm still half asleep.)

Tricia J. O'Brien said...

Don't get it right, get it written is one of the best mantras I've heard. It's so easy to find excuses, but when we just do it, somehow the magic comes back.

Plamena Schmidt said...

Just write it.

Yup, yup. And make sure you don't look over it, otherwise it totally kills your sense of delusion that it's super good and all that.

Good luck! Can't wait to read it : )

Jessica Bell said...

Ack! I know exactly how you feel. I'm a slow first drafter too. I've only accomplished 45K since JAnuary in my WIP!!! EEK! Hint: Don't ever come to me looking for motivation ;o)

Saumya said...

So true and so often forgotten. I have also become too distracted by all these great books but I need to find a real balance/limit to how much I read vs. how much I write. Great blog!

Alex said...

Jade that one made me laugh, and true words as well!

I'm in the middle of editing which for me I'm much more easily distracted than when actually writing.

Best thing to do. Cut off the internet, cut off distractions. Turn off Wifi pull the plug do what you have to do but turn you're computer into a typewriter and you'll get the work done.

Lola Sharp said...

Yeah, here's my mantra (for reals...and yes, the irony of it being connected to your post is not lost on me), in the words of Dory:
Just keep swimming.

Yeah. Deep. That's me, all impressive and stuff, quoting Finding Nemo.

(almost caught up on my comments of past posts...aka employing Advanced Procrastinating Technique from RH)