A Flurry of words.

Yesterday I sat down and forced myself to write. It was a success. I churned out 3k on a couple hours. I need to do the same again today to catch up on my word count, but I think it’s possible. I’m still lacking my original enthusiasm for this project so I’m motivating myself by also working on a smaller side project. I only get to work on the shiny new project when I’ve done my work on this one, so there is a balance to it. I didn’t get to work on the new one yesterday because I burned myself out and tonight is writer’s group, so I’m sure I’ll not get a chance again today, but if I get another 3k out on the current project, then I will consider the week a success.

I have a few blogs topics in mine for later, if I find the time. In all honesty I have the time. It’s just getting it all organized and cutting out some of my internet faffing that’s the problem. ^_^

 

You don’t have to feel it to write it.

This is something I am having to learn and to train myself to accept. I don’t have to deeply feel every scene of the book to write it. Especially in a first draft. Yes, it would be nice to get really into the scene I’m writing, and usually I do, but sometimes that’s not how it’s going to happen. It’s sort of like marriage for me. Yes, I love to write, yes I love my book, but I don’t always feel in love with writing every day. Some days I’m just not in the mood. So what. Pretend. Sit down and go through the motions. That loving feeling will come back, and I can fix the crappy parts the second go round.

It seems heartless and untrue to the craft, but it really isn’t. Eventually, pretending to love writing each and every time I sit down to write will become habit. It will become true and practice makes perfect. It works in marriage. There are days when I wake up and I don’t ‘feel’ in love with my husband. But If I act like I love him then the feeling comes with it. Many marriages and good books have been ended because we let them die when the feeling is gone, instead of coaxing the feeling to return. So that is where I am at right now. Talking myself into loving my work every time, no matter how I really feel.

 

When drama is a good thing

I’ve been saying for a few posts that something is missing from my current project. Conflict or drama. I normally hate drama, and by that I mean that horrible interaction with other people that revolves around stupid conclusions, lack of communication and drama queen behavior. However, if conflict is the meat of a good story, drama is the potato. Especially when the project is YA fiction with a female lead. Then it is so close to the meat, it might as well be stuffed with it.

As you can guess, I’m feeling a decided lack of drama in my story. I don’t think it’s a failing of the story line itself, I still believe that to be solid. I think perhaps it is a lack in my own flair, or lack there of, for the dramatic. Perhaps that’s why I’ve never felt the urge to write YA before this. But I can’t give up the project, I’m committed to finishing it, so I’d better drum up some more conflict and get out some drama marinade to soak it in or this project will seriously lack flavor.