I've been working on another short story, the difference of course, between this, and virtually everything else I've ever done, is that I'm writing very little, maybe 150 or 200 words per day. It's an odd way to write.
The reasons are practical, I've been busy, and when I write, I want to take 5 or 6 hours and go nutty. To write a masterpiece in a burst of creative energy that leaves me drained and ready for a break. Then, I'll get up the next day and do the same, then again, and again. It's gotten to the point that when I'm writing a first draft of a novel that I'll plan my vacation time around it and go crazy for as long as I can before I can get back to my real work, the one that actually makes me money.
So, I don't want to burn up any vacation time, and I know I can't spend all my waking hours working on something right now. I'm still playing with my new Wacom tablet, catching up on old TV shows on Netflix, reading a lot. So I'm experimenting by trying to write a short story by just trickling out the story, a little here and a little there.
So far, as is always the case, I love it. I have no idea where it's going and how long it will take to get there. If I have a complaint about it, it's that it is way shorter than I would have thought. I've had enough time to get 20,000 words but I've barely got 2,000. I'm afraid I'll run out of gas before I get the story out.
Part of me is waffling a bit on what I should do next. I've got at least 3 novels in various stages in editing that I want to get done, as well as an idea for a brand new one that I want to get started on. Given the way I work, I can't do more than one at a time.
So, I procrastinate. That's okay with me. Procrastination is really just another word for thinking.
6 comments:
That last line is truer than you think.
Dude! Crappy stuff fixed. Adding scenes. And it's so cool! My critique partners - you guys rock!
Wow that's a lot to juggle. I don't think I could handle going that slow. Though that's probably about as slow as Elmore Leonard works from an article I went once. I think it said he gets out maybe 3-5 pages a day. That would drive me batty.
another word for thinking... that's awesome!
I don't feel guilty for procrastinating either, until I do it for too long. But I think it's necessary, to keep oneself sane!
Arg, procrastinating. Killer of many a good project.
Maybe pick one of the books are really get stuck into it? It helps me to just focus on one project at a time.
Alex - I'm glad your novel's about done. About time to unleash it upon the world I hope.
Rogue - Going that slow is hard. It's tough to keep the momentum up. But again, it's just so I can say I'm working on something until I actually work on something.
Andrew - Thank you. I worked on it for weeks. If I could have copyrighted it I would have.
Trisha - Seriously, I agree. Sometimes it's nice to relax and not be fretting about a WIP.
Les - Dude! You've been gone for so long. I'm glad you didn't forget about me.
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