I had a very much-needed day off today.
Ms. Kerry Kleiman was visiting today, and we basically spent the whole day just talking amongst ourselves. It was just what I needed; a day off. I didn’t actually write new words today…I outlined, and here’s the reason why:
I realized that I’d written myself into a 14,000 word detour. Sigh. It’s so obvious now, but I was adding in at least one set of locations too many and it wasn’t necessary. I will actually keep about half of that 14,000 words and turn it into an extra short story, or something along those lines, but I don’t think it belonged in the novel. I was finding myself getting antsy about getting to a certain location…and it struck me that I should be there already. I was wasting time.
So…frustrating. I’ve now CUT more words than I’ve kept…but here we are. We live and then we learn, you know? Can’t do it the other way around. I’ll say this from the whole process: I’m starting little by little to understand how much plot I can fit into a 95,000-word novel. It’s not as much as you’d think. And the adventure is really starting to crystallize. Finally. I’m looking forward to this change.
I also decided to kick by my second deadline, the deadline for book 3, another couple weeks so I could ease off on my writing schedule that I was realizing was giving me fucking fits of doubt. THAT might have been the major breakthrough today. I don’t want to have to work 12 hours a day, you guys. I don’t do my best work like that, at least not every day in and day out. In spurts, sure, when I really need to barrel through and get some shit done…but that can never be the PLAN on a regular basis.
Do less more often.
What this last week has proved to me is that I can crank out 6,000 words in a day if I need to. I have that in the tank. On a DAILY basis…I think I can handle 3,000 words. I really do.
Anywho, still have to get my reading done for the day. Don’t break the chain!
Good night 🙂