Thursday, October 18, 2012

Writing: a way to ignore waiting

I hate waiting.
It dives me nuts. I am not a patient person at all. I can't even wait for the toaster or the coffee maker without fidgeting from foot to foot. It does not matter the duration of time that passes...if I have to wait at all it has been far too long for me.

I know patients is a virtue and good things come to those who wait but I just can't seem to shake the impatient me.

Currently, I have a book that is getting the first round of spit-shining with my editor. And let me tell you, it already has gone a lot faster than generally expected.  After everything is all said and done the book will be out in E-format in February.  How awesome is that?

The problem is: I am an antsy impatient person. Sadly, I am also the person who jumps to my e-mail constantly to see what is up and if I get anything. *shakes head*

To reign in my bad behavior I decided that I needed to keep busy and use some of my creativity elsewhere. So, I decided to write another story.
Insert story instead of Essay and you have my writing process.

This one is about my main character's sister and is set  on a steamy tropical getaway.

In one sitting late last night I wrote 1500 words and feel at least another poking at me. At this rate I should have the story done by the weekend and giving myself a week to clean it up. I think I will have a new story to shoot off to my editor.
I'm not sure if she will be happy or if she'll boop me on the head for throwing more crap in her lap but I think this might be the perfect solution to keeping my mind off the other story that's sitting on the back burner.

With that in mind. I plan to go purge my imagination of the demons that are chasing my Muse around. Until next time. Tata.

So what are some of your flaws. Are you patient or just as nuts as me? How do you fight the problem ani-virtue?

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Writing around life



Like everyone else, I have many things that I juggle everyday. Work, school, family, obligations, etc...
The one thing I have learned is that if you want to be a writer, you have to set aside time for writing every day. You have to treat it like a job and sit down and spend a certain amount of time at your computer. Just like a job.
           So what if you have a horrible work ethic? Not very motivating to treat your writing like a job.
Well, then treat your writing like a child. (which it is sort of like that)
Just like a child you:
-create it through much time, effort and labor(Outlining, research, typing, cursing, pulling out hair)
-you have to nurture and feed it and keep it healthy and growing(more writing and researching)
-you have to clean it up over and over(editing)
And then, just when you think everything is clean and happy--you have another mess to clean up(more editing and revising)
-but then after much, blood, sweat and tears. Finally your child(book) has matured and developed and is getting ready to go out into the cold, judging world alone. Now you have to set it free and sit back and worry and fret while it bounces around out there without you.
And if your lucky, your child/book will find a new home(publishing company) and a place in the world(New York Times Best sellers list? hopefully) And you my friend, will rejoice!
And then....
You start the process over again.
But if you have a sense of freedom and escape through your writing--then you know that it is worth it.
So, find time in your day and just let yourself go. See where your imagination takes you.

How do you write? Do you write every day? Have you queried a company and waited in nail-biting suspense for a response?
I'd love to hear from you.