Went and saw my dentist today. It was the first time in a year and a half because I lost my insurance last year. No cavities! I still have these three spots that are *borderline* cavities, but they’ve been there in the same state now for three years, and my doc says their new directive as a health community of scientists dedicated to constantly improving their practices is to let such borderline cases just sit there and be monitored. So, that’s freaking good news to me, man. It means that my brushing and my flossing every day is actually working. I’ve finally figured out how to take care of my teeth. All these years later. Congrats to me.
I worked today, and made a significant dent in the Flix work. I’m very, very happy about that. I need to do more of the same tomorrow, this time without the interruption of going to the dentist. Looking forward very, very much to having a badass day tomorrow in the editing world. Wish me luck.
I also had a badass writing session today. Very, very much enjoying the timer method. I’ve been able to put it on for the past several days and just turn that part of my brain off and just go. Granted, the work I’ve been doing the past few days is pretty basic…but I suppose that’s the whole IDEA behind sitting down to work every day, right? That you break up your work into these small steps that each feel basic and elementary?
2/3 of the way through my manuscript in terms of breaking it down into scenes. It’s incredibly illuminating, and I’m so freaking happy I decided to go through with it. All this structure is incredibly, incredibly empowering when it comes to rewriting. I honestly think that my first draft routine will stay the same…outlined and with a clear direction in mind, but allowing myself to wander a bit with my prose and change things on the fly. Not necessarily plot everything out beforehand down to the scene-by-scene, intention-by-intention level. The first draft, then, is more of a gut-level and emotional draft. All of the analytics and the structure comes during the rewriting process.
We’ll see if I do that. I’ll be very interested after, say, next year when (goddamnit) I’ll have written another three manuscripts and *start* to have a feeling for my own craft and routine. I’ll be very interested to see what I’ve learned and what I’ve picked up, and what I’ve ditched…but my gut is telling me tonight that what out outlined up there is probably where I’m headed. It’s probably the kind of writer I am. Step 1 is (almost) pure creation…directed, yes, but not incredibly so. Step 2 is structure and analysis. That second part is what I’m tackling now in the present. It was overwhelming, to be completely honest. Still is. But not nearly so much so, because now I know…all I need to do is sit down every day at the same time, set that timer, and just work. No deadlines. No sweating a timeline or a google calendar. Just sitting down to work every single day.
I’ve got this.
Artwork tonight is from the incredible Angus McKie.