The Weekend Novelist, by Robert Ray, is a great book for anyone who doesn't have the time to write during the week, but is disciplined enough to write on the weekends.
I can't write on the weekends...even if there's a blizzard outside or it's pouring down rain with thunder and lightning I will want to curl up in a corner of the sofa, in my soft, cuddly robe and warm, fuzzy slippers and read...someone else's novel. Any other weather conditions and I just want to get outside and have some fun! Not that my writing isn't fun, at times, but it's an isolated, lonely endeavor for the most part and I am a very social person. To be a weekend "writing warrior" I would have to get up on Saturday morning and instead of spending time with the newspaper and a giant cup of coffee, feet elevated, sitting on my lovely screened-in back porch, listening to the birds chirping, the sound of lawn mowers running, children laughing at play and my next door neighbors loading up equipment for their son's ballgame...I would have to sit in my home office with the door closed, trying to block out the noises of life in my cul-de-sac and pound away at my computer keyboard.
I can't give up my weekends! I will simply have to develop a habit of writing five days a week and spend my Saturdays and Sundays enjoying the energy of the 8-5 group that swirls around me as they enjoy their down time.
I am making a vow to myself...and my fellow readers (I know you're out there)...Monday morning 8a.m. I will open the box holding my manuscript, turn to page one and begin reading it...page by page...all over again, make my FINAL changes.
Until then, I want everyone to enjoy their weekend hours and if anyone would like my copy of "The Weekend Novelist"...just let me know............
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
THERE'S ALWAYS TOMORROW...
A friend of mine, upon reading my blog yesterday, gave me some very sound advice. Write every day, the same time ever day. Hmmmm, interesting concept that I have also seen suggested in many of the "how to get that dang novel completed" books sitting on my shelves collecting dust.
Knowing and doing are two very different things. I found it much easier to write when I had my 8-5 job than I do now. There are currently too many distraction in my life. I start out the day with great intentions. I pick up my manuscript-in-a-box and my laptop on my way out to our back porch balancing my bowl of cereal. I place it on the table. I watch it while I slowly consume my toasted oats and fruit. Don't want it suddenly taking off so I lose a chance to actually open that box and go over what I've written for the fourth time. Upon finishing my cereal I must take my bowl inside. While there I figure I should empty the dishwasher, put away the clean dishes and reload with my dirty bowl, rather than just letting it sit in the sink. The counters could use a good scrub down and when's the last time I really cleaned the stove and microwave? Putting away the milk container I see several moldy science experiments I should toss in the trash and then decide a good disinfecting of the whole refrigerator is in order. Don't want those mold spores spreading to other food items. (do they do that?) If my kitchen is going to look truly spotless, then I should probably vacuum and mop the floor too. Wait...what's this receipt doing on the counter? It belongs in the files upstairs. I could make the bed while I'm up there...put away clothes...maybe start a load of laundry....
Well you can see where this is headed. Two hours later I am finally back out on the porch with my second cup of coffee (the first having been consumed while picking up a little). I'm surprised to see that my novel is still sitting exactly where I put it when I set it on the table.
I start my computer. Look at the clock. Oh wow, it's almost lunch time I should start the water boiling for the pasta that I plan to make into a salad. The phone rings. It's a friend I haven't heard from in at least a week. I should take time for this call...after all I've already missed my "time to write" for today. There's always tomorrow............
Knowing and doing are two very different things. I found it much easier to write when I had my 8-5 job than I do now. There are currently too many distraction in my life. I start out the day with great intentions. I pick up my manuscript-in-a-box and my laptop on my way out to our back porch balancing my bowl of cereal. I place it on the table. I watch it while I slowly consume my toasted oats and fruit. Don't want it suddenly taking off so I lose a chance to actually open that box and go over what I've written for the fourth time. Upon finishing my cereal I must take my bowl inside. While there I figure I should empty the dishwasher, put away the clean dishes and reload with my dirty bowl, rather than just letting it sit in the sink. The counters could use a good scrub down and when's the last time I really cleaned the stove and microwave? Putting away the milk container I see several moldy science experiments I should toss in the trash and then decide a good disinfecting of the whole refrigerator is in order. Don't want those mold spores spreading to other food items. (do they do that?) If my kitchen is going to look truly spotless, then I should probably vacuum and mop the floor too. Wait...what's this receipt doing on the counter? It belongs in the files upstairs. I could make the bed while I'm up there...put away clothes...maybe start a load of laundry....
Well you can see where this is headed. Two hours later I am finally back out on the porch with my second cup of coffee (the first having been consumed while picking up a little). I'm surprised to see that my novel is still sitting exactly where I put it when I set it on the table.
I start my computer. Look at the clock. Oh wow, it's almost lunch time I should start the water boiling for the pasta that I plan to make into a salad. The phone rings. It's a friend I haven't heard from in at least a week. I should take time for this call...after all I've already missed my "time to write" for today. There's always tomorrow............
Thursday, July 16, 2009
WRITER'S ANGST....
I went to a premiere showing of the new movie, Julie & Julia, last nite. What an amazing movie. It inspired me to finally start my own blog, which I've been wrestling with for months now. I kept thinking...what do I have to say that people would be remotely interested in reading about. After seeing this movie I had an "ah-ha" moment and realized that I could blog about my continued angst over my writing career. I know there are lots of frustrated writers out there who may just need to know that someone else is as miserable as they are about fine-tuning their craft.
Last year I completed my first novel...or I thought I did. I'd been working on said novel for about nine years. Seven of those my manuscript was sitting in the bottom drawer of my filing cabinet, half written and I had totally run out of steam and interest in completing it. I was working a full-time job and didn't want to spend my "free" time typing away on my laptop. As my work load got lighter and lighter though I realized that I could actually work on my writing...on the job. I took my manuscript out of that bottom file drawer, blew the dust off it, coughed and choked on the dust particles, then shoved it into my carry bag and took it to my 8-5 office. It was perfect! My cubicle was in the back part of our office suite, very isolated and I was able to spend at least an hour or so each day pounding away on the keys. Five months later...my great American novel was completed. Or so I thought. A good piece of advice. When you think it's done...put it away for a couple of weeks or even a month, then get it back out, re-read it and try not to cringe. Oh there were great parts in my manuscript...parts that made me proud...parts that made me realize that writing was what I was born to do, but there were also parts that made me want to crawl under my bed for a month or two. Instead...I had a friend willing to sit and listen to my written prose read out-loud to her every Monday night for about two months.
I thoroughly recommend reading outloud to anyone who will lend an ear. Just handing your scribbles over to someone to read in the quiet of their own home, doesn't have nearly the same effect as hearing your voice...reading your words...out loud. I learned so much from this process and I was able to come up with a "game plan" for making the changes necessary and completing my debut novel for the second time.
Where is that novel now? Sitting on top of my desk, in a box, covered with dust and a huge knot wells up in the pit of my stomach, whenever I think about tackling this project again.
Today though...I will grab the Pepto, deal with the "knot" and start at the beginning again. After all, I have three other novels banging around in my head wanting to get out, but it would be nice to get at least one completed to the best of my ability before moving on.
Last year I completed my first novel...or I thought I did. I'd been working on said novel for about nine years. Seven of those my manuscript was sitting in the bottom drawer of my filing cabinet, half written and I had totally run out of steam and interest in completing it. I was working a full-time job and didn't want to spend my "free" time typing away on my laptop. As my work load got lighter and lighter though I realized that I could actually work on my writing...on the job. I took my manuscript out of that bottom file drawer, blew the dust off it, coughed and choked on the dust particles, then shoved it into my carry bag and took it to my 8-5 office. It was perfect! My cubicle was in the back part of our office suite, very isolated and I was able to spend at least an hour or so each day pounding away on the keys. Five months later...my great American novel was completed. Or so I thought. A good piece of advice. When you think it's done...put it away for a couple of weeks or even a month, then get it back out, re-read it and try not to cringe. Oh there were great parts in my manuscript...parts that made me proud...parts that made me realize that writing was what I was born to do, but there were also parts that made me want to crawl under my bed for a month or two. Instead...I had a friend willing to sit and listen to my written prose read out-loud to her every Monday night for about two months.
I thoroughly recommend reading outloud to anyone who will lend an ear. Just handing your scribbles over to someone to read in the quiet of their own home, doesn't have nearly the same effect as hearing your voice...reading your words...out loud. I learned so much from this process and I was able to come up with a "game plan" for making the changes necessary and completing my debut novel for the second time.
Where is that novel now? Sitting on top of my desk, in a box, covered with dust and a huge knot wells up in the pit of my stomach, whenever I think about tackling this project again.
Today though...I will grab the Pepto, deal with the "knot" and start at the beginning again. After all, I have three other novels banging around in my head wanting to get out, but it would be nice to get at least one completed to the best of my ability before moving on.
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