I seriously underestimated my ability to procrastinate.
While I rid myself of technology (for the most part) I forgot, well, everything else - my giant to be read pile for starters.
Needless to say, the first five days of my self-imposed isolation passed with me reading several books, staring blankly at empty word documents for hours on end, and distracting myself by working for my grandparents.
To pass the time I even bought Zac Effron.
Well actually I bought his (long lashed, very girly) action figure at a garage sale for two dollars. I gave the plastic replica to Ramona (what would I have done with it?).
Then there was Canada Day. And what kind of national pride would I be showing if I ignored my countries birthday? Not a very good one, I suppose. (It’s a good thing I did celebrate then, right?)
After that, the Great Purge of July began. I wrote like a crazy person, foregoing sleep and only ate enough so I wouldn’t pass out. My mind honed on the task at hand and approximately 46,000 cliché riddled, adverb strewn, rule breaking words poured into a word document. For two days my fingers pounded out my stream of consciousness in a sort of written word vomit of utter rubbish.
For the first time since September my mind cleared, my emotions and sanity righted themselves; despite being underfed and awake for over forty eight hours, I felt more awake than ever.
Sunday, exhausted from the Great Purge, I had a nap then spent several hours scouring the forest around my house, looking for my cat (Sister let her out).
In the end, I only have 745 words. Abysmal as it may be, considering the amount of time I set aside, I’m ridiculously happy with the first 200. I finally found the powerful beginning so many writers search for and I rediscovered my own writerly confidence during the Great Purge.
My fingers ache (I keep expecting bruises to form).
The pain brings a satisfied smile to my face: the voices in my head are sharper, louder and even more insistent.
I’ll be done my first draft by August 23rd.
I know it.
In the words of the Wiseman from Jim Henson’s The Labyrinth: The way forward is sometimes the way back.
How are you doing in your creative endeavors?
PS. I seriously missed you guys!
Word Of The Day: Astern - in a backward direction
Awww I missed you, too! When I write a few hundred good words I consider it better than writing a thousand bad ones!
ReplyDeleteGood luck and I hope you finish your rough draft!
AHHHHHHHH! I MISSED YOU! I can't wait to hear more about your time unplugged. I have been back and forth on both WiP's. One character won't shut up...take a guess. I got some work done on both but I finally have a strategy back in place (plot) for the one that was missing it, and I think I could get this one done by late August.
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited you got that much done! AND that your back!
Oh yeah, got a contest goin on and you have an award on my blog :D
ReplyDeleteGlad you're back! Writing a few hundred good words is a whole lot better than writing a few thousand bad ones! Good for you and keep it up!
ReplyDeleteGlad to have you back! Hey, in the end, you still kept some worthy words, so it wasn't all backwards! And you're left with some good voices to keep you going in the right direction!
ReplyDeleteCreatively, I'm plotting, world building, etc. It's fun work!
I missed you, too. Glad you got some writing you're happy with done.
ReplyDeleteAstern? You mean I'm wrong when I think : "Gee, I feel like I have lead in my astern?"
Thanks for the great words you left on my blog. Music is a great part of my creative life.
Here is my reply from my blog to your question if I have an actual physical soundtrack to my novel (as a courtesy only so you won't have to bop over there again) :
Melissa : I actually do have a physical soundtrack to my novel. I put references to it throughout my novel : Sam and Renfield looking at the flooded streets of New Orleans has Bette Midler singing : "I Think It's Going To Rain Today."
Sam hears Billie Holiday singing "You Go To My Head" throughout the novel. He plays a recording of Meilori on the piano doing the Moonlight Sonata as he waits for DayStar to visit and kill him.
In the deserted campus of a nearby college, he dances with the ghost of Meilori to a tune played by the spirit of Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong.
In his jazz club, the greats of jazz actually sing, even though they are undead. In a desperate fight within his club, the living Thea Gilmore warns him of a trap with snippets of "Rags and Bones."
He wears the Spurs of Haephatus which sound out with music not jingling. The tunes are chosen by the watching Olympian who both loves and hates McCord. Usually they play Dimitri Tiomkin's version of the Deguello, the No Mercy tune ordered by Santa Anna at the Alamo - as a mocking announcement that McCord is facing unbeatable odds.
During his battle against overwhelming numbers in a realm some call Hell, McCord hears the Spurs play "Dark Chest of Wonders" by Nightwish.
And at the novel's end, to mock McCord, DayStar has Tarja singing at his return to his jazz club. McCord has been cursed never to be touched again by anyone lest they die by doing so -- he has become a walking Ark of the Covenant.
She is singing "I Walk Alone."
Have a great new week -- and no bruises on those fingertips, Roland
I missed you, too. Glad you got some writing you're happy with done.
ReplyDeleteAstern? You mean I'm wrong when I think : "Gee, I feel like I have lead in my astern?"
Thanks for the great words you left on my blog. Music is a great part of my creative life.
Here is my reply from my blog to your question if I have an actual physical soundtrack to my novel (as a courtesy only so you won't have to bop over there again) :
Melissa : I actually do have a physical soundtrack to my novel. I put references to it throughout my novel : Sam and Renfield looking at the flooded streets of New Orleans has Bette Midler singing : "I Think It's Going To Rain Today."
Sam hears Billie Holiday singing "You Go To My Head" throughout the novel. He plays a recording of Meilori on the piano doing the Moonlight Sonata as he waits for DayStar to visit and kill him.
In the deserted campus of a nearby college, he dances with the ghost of Meilori to a tune played by the spirit of Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong.
In his jazz club, the greats of jazz actually sing, even though they are undead. In a desperate fight within his club, the living Thea Gilmore warns him of a trap with snippets of "Rags and Bones."
He wears the Spurs of Haephatus which sound out with music not jingling. The tunes are chosen by the watching Olympian who both loves and hates McCord. Usually they play Dimitri Tiomkin's version of the Deguello, the No Mercy tune ordered by Santa Anna at the Alamo - as a mocking announcement that McCord is facing unbeatable odds.
During his battle against overwhelming numbers in a realm some call Hell, McCord hears the Spurs play "Dark Chest of Wonders" by Nightwish.
And at the novel's end, to mock McCord, DayStar has Tarja singing at his return to his jazz club. McCord has been cursed never to be touched again by anyone lest they die by doing so -- he has become a walking Ark of the Covenant.
She is singing "I Walk Alone."
Have a great new week -- and no bruises on those fingertips, Roland
see? you have to finish by that date. You said you would!! yes! Also, you cant nag me every second while I read it haha. Im really happy you had your writing days. I love hearing all the random parts in your book. Hopefully there will be some surprises when I go to read it hah. No I know there will be. And don't worry I miss you too. hahha. I love my Zac Efron doll, he says hi, and he also says he doesnt look like a girl. (I agree with you though) wow Im a tard haha.
ReplyDeleteWelcome Back! Glad you found yourself again.
ReplyDeleteNow I need some of that good mojo to get me unstuck from the third chapter of my manuscript :)
I missed you! Welcome back! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you made progress. 745 words you can actually USE is huge!