Yesterday and today I am putting most of my energy into proofing, with some revision, the second book in my duology (completed appropriately enough on Labor Day). Journal entries and keeping track of hours spent physically writing help maintain momentum. There is also a lot of the process that occurs gazing out at Mt. Thunder or pacing under the soggy rafters of September trees.
Finally, writing first instead of last. 2 hours. 1510 words. Every time lately that I get into the writing quickly I feel like I might be going the wrong direction, but I also know not to trust that feeling, that there are many roads to take, even more so when the final destination is unknown. Better just to get words down. (A French African physical therapist just made a one-time appearance--first he was just a blank and within minutes he got a lovely accent, a backstory, four kids, and a tragic future. Mean of me, as always.) And then get on with the day, letting the subconscious keep wrestling with what comes next.
Alright, got a solid couple hours of writing in today, 1300 words added to the new novel idea. Some of this will be slimmed down tomorrow, no doubt, but it was a productive day in which the writing came easily and felt good.
Drafted four lines of a poem. In-laws visiting with various unpredictables; fatigue from previous day's productivity; jobjobjob. Is it okay to have days like this, flow and ebb, or to expect each day to win gloriously? -Olga
Also, noticed how much I'm facebooking when very tired and work is sluggish. Time suck -- need to curb this appetite... save the energy for the writing. (Naps: better than Facebook, I hear.) -Olga
Today I clocked 1 hour writing, no new words, no revised words, and 1 page journaling BUT I experienced some choice material from my profession that will go into future writing. (Hint: The material involved trees pranking a guy into believing he was a dryad and untrammeled rage at a microwave that refused to cook Eggo pancakes properly.)
There are Eggo brand pancakes that NEED microwaving. There is a toaster, yet it goes unused. Unnecessary. If the microwave fails, there is no fallback save smashing things.
Skipped yesterday in favor of dinner and conversation and generally poor time management skills. Today: blogged a little, looked sadly at my abandoned journal. Finally have some new post-thesis essay ideas starting to form, and have been babbling about them to anyone willing to listen. Olga: sometimes what gets me out of bed in the morning is the excitement i feel about getting to nap 10 hours later. Naps are incredible.
Today I wrote about 300 words. Not a lot but they were quality; finally hitting a groove. Also I left my laptop cord in Alaska and my laptop is fading, so starting tomorrow I'll probably be writing on paper with a pen like a common peasant. (...or a poet??)
Once again wrote an uncertain amount of minutes/hours, spread throughout the day. Journaled some, put down about 500 more words of rambling prose attempting to be fiction, and got a serviceable draft of a poem done. This whole trying/pretending to write fiction thing I'm doing is great - I'm obviously terrible at it, but it's turning out to be a good way to warm up or let myself ramble with a purpose of sorts, or something.
In between a 14 hour workday and feeding my kids (with pizza) and my dogs (with, well, dog food) and myself (pizza again) and testing my daughter on physical science terms (physics is the study of matter, energy, motion, forces and how they change) and having a conversatoin with my 14 year old son to congratulate him on being moved from Spanish 2 to Spanish 3 as a Freshman (Hey, Liam, so excited! Tell me about getting moved from Spanish 2 to Spanish 3?? ---- Well, Dad, see, I was in Spanish 2, and then they put me into Spanish 3), I managed to visit with Campbell and bounce some ideas around on how we get out of this crazy story anyway. Not much was learned, nor were many words placed to paper, but some, some. Maybe an idea, maybe some humility, maybe an appreciation for how goddamn hard it is to bring a story to a valid, respectful, meaningful conclusion. Maybe that I like Campbell and feel bad for him and want him to have more of a resolution than I seem currently ready to provide. He's a little lost. Inspiration will strike, I'm sure.
Dan, you need to send Teresa that first story at least. Send me more too, when you feel like you can. I hope this is not too public a place to say that Campbell is one of my favorite voices/characters ever.
Wait a minute. I know this Campbell. Dan, you did send this story to me. I remembered the dude, but not the name. ...It's all coming together in my forgetful little brain.
Today I wrote about fifty words and then went for a long walk because the sun was shining and according to the forecast that's the last sun we get until next Friday. Then I went to work, where, like Ben, I got some good material. Gotta hand it to public libraries. Good night, y'all. Hopefully the solar storm won't take us all out before we meet our writing goals.
I was IN a public library today and all I could think about was how you would deal with the guy I was with. Those ladies at the library are professional as fuck and I salute you.
3 hours. 2000 words. Did not complete the dragon-wrangling story. Did listen to the world's greatest writer of climbing fiction for an hour at Great Harvest Breads on Benson Blvd. Going now to pick up my parents from the airport. They will be in town for a week. That may test my writing resolve.
Yesterday and today I am putting most of my energy into proofing, with some revision, the second book in my duology (completed appropriately enough on Labor Day). Journal entries and keeping track of hours spent physically writing help maintain momentum. There is also a lot of the process that occurs gazing out at Mt. Thunder or pacing under the soggy rafters of September trees.
ReplyDeleteFinally, writing first instead of last. 2 hours. 1510 words. Every time lately that I get into the writing quickly I feel like I might be going the wrong direction, but I also know not to trust that feeling, that there are many roads to take, even more so when the final destination is unknown. Better just to get words down. (A French African physical therapist just made a one-time appearance--first he was just a blank and within minutes he got a lovely accent, a backstory, four kids, and a tragic future. Mean of me, as always.) And then get on with the day, letting the subconscious keep wrestling with what comes next.
ReplyDeleteAlright, got a solid couple hours of writing in today, 1300 words added to the new novel idea. Some of this will be slimmed down tomorrow, no doubt, but it was a productive day in which the writing came easily and felt good.
ReplyDeleteJournaled for 15 minutes this morning. Success! -Darla
ReplyDeleteDrafted four lines of a poem. In-laws visiting with various unpredictables; fatigue from previous day's productivity; jobjobjob. Is it okay to have days like this, flow and ebb, or to expect each day to win gloriously? -Olga
ReplyDeleteAlso, noticed how much I'm facebooking when very tired and work is sluggish. Time suck -- need to curb this appetite... save the energy for the writing. (Naps: better than Facebook, I hear.) -Olga
ReplyDelete2 hrs digesting workshop comments from Bread Loaf.
ReplyDeleteToday I clocked 1 hour writing, no new words, no revised words, and 1 page journaling BUT I experienced some choice material from my profession that will go into future writing. (Hint: The material involved trees pranking a guy into believing he was a dryad and untrammeled rage at a microwave that refused to cook Eggo pancakes properly.)
ReplyDeleteThere is no such thing as a microwave that can cook Eggo waffles properly. Toaster required. ERGO no trammeling was justified. Are you a communist?!?
DeleteThere are Eggo brand pancakes that NEED microwaving. There is a toaster, yet it goes unused. Unnecessary. If the microwave fails, there is no fallback save smashing things.
DeleteI live in a Beckettsian nightmare.
Skipped yesterday in favor of dinner and conversation and generally poor time management skills. Today: blogged a little, looked sadly at my abandoned journal. Finally have some new post-thesis essay ideas starting to form, and have been babbling about them to anyone willing to listen. Olga: sometimes what gets me out of bed in the morning is the excitement i feel about getting to nap 10 hours later. Naps are incredible.
ReplyDeleteToday I wrote about 300 words. Not a lot but they were quality; finally hitting a groove. Also I left my laptop cord in Alaska and my laptop is fading, so starting tomorrow I'll probably be writing on paper with a pen like a common peasant. (...or a poet??)
ReplyDeleteI do like a good pencil on paper, especially for early drafts. I may just be a peasant, though.
DeleteOnce again wrote an uncertain amount of minutes/hours, spread throughout the day. Journaled some, put down about 500 more words of rambling prose attempting to be fiction, and got a serviceable draft of a poem done. This whole trying/pretending to write fiction thing I'm doing is great - I'm obviously terrible at it, but it's turning out to be a good way to warm up or let myself ramble with a purpose of sorts, or something.
ReplyDeleteIn between a 14 hour workday and feeding my kids (with pizza) and my dogs (with, well, dog food) and myself (pizza again) and testing my daughter on physical science terms (physics is the study of matter, energy, motion, forces and how they change) and having a conversatoin with my 14 year old son to congratulate him on being moved from Spanish 2 to Spanish 3 as a Freshman (Hey, Liam, so excited! Tell me about getting moved from Spanish 2 to Spanish 3?? ---- Well, Dad, see, I was in Spanish 2, and then they put me into Spanish 3), I managed to visit with Campbell and bounce some ideas around on how we get out of this crazy story anyway. Not much was learned, nor were many words placed to paper, but some, some. Maybe an idea, maybe some humility, maybe an appreciation for how goddamn hard it is to bring a story to a valid, respectful, meaningful conclusion. Maybe that I like Campbell and feel bad for him and want him to have more of a resolution than I seem currently ready to provide. He's a little lost. Inspiration will strike, I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteHey, you should use that Spanish 2 to Spanish 3 thing in your writing. It's riveting. Who is this Campbell, anyhow?
DeleteDan, you need to send Teresa that first story at least. Send me more too, when you feel like you can. I hope this is not too public a place to say that Campbell is one of my favorite voices/characters ever.
DeleteWait a minute. I know this Campbell. Dan, you did send this story to me. I remembered the dude, but not the name. ...It's all coming together in my forgetful little brain.
DeleteToday I wrote about fifty words and then went for a long walk because the sun was shining and according to the forecast that's the last sun we get until next Friday. Then I went to work, where, like Ben, I got some good material. Gotta hand it to public libraries. Good night, y'all. Hopefully the solar storm won't take us all out before we meet our writing goals.
ReplyDeleteI was IN a public library today and all I could think about was how you would deal with the guy I was with. Those ladies at the library are professional as fuck and I salute you.
Delete3 hours. 2000 words. Did not complete the dragon-wrangling story. Did listen to the world's greatest writer of climbing fiction for an hour at Great Harvest Breads on Benson Blvd. Going now to pick up my parents from the airport. They will be in town for a week. That may test my writing resolve.
ReplyDelete