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Baraka_Guru · 11-11-2010, 01:26 PM

I'm sitting at just over 7,100 words.

I'm going through a mix of things. Apparently Week Two of the contest is notorious because it's the week during which the lion's share of participants drop out.

I've found it especially the case that this is more so a psychological challenge more so than it is an artistic or creative challenge. I keep wanting to drop out. I keep telling myself I could be doing something else with my energy. Like getting a better job, like reading more, like writing a "real" novel and taking my time with it. You know, the grass is greener.

I slipped on the weekend. I intended on doing a bunch of writing to keep on pace, but I didn't write a single word. I didn't do much of anything. I tried not to think of the book.

Silver lining: I've found that the last two or three thousand words were much easier to write than the first five or so. I think this is because I have the shell of a story now: I have characters, I have the makings of a setting, I have a plot, I have a plot trigger that can lead to a climax. I just need to keep going. Keep on keepin' on. I need to stop thinking about it too much. I need to just work on it.

I just restocked my coffee stores. I have a machine now that makes a quick single-serving cup of coffee—much less work than before, much less setup, much less cleanup. Fuel.

I really want to hit some kind of stride and do most of the work needed to still make the deadline with 50,000 words. Wow, 50,000, it seems so far away sitting at ~7,100 and 10 days in. The work will need to be backend-heavy. I see a pressing need for it, but that's what deadlines do to you.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that another stall for me was fighting off the flu over the past two nights. I hope to continue writing tonight now that I'm feeling better.

11-11-2010, 01:26 PM	#45 (permalink)
Baraka_Guru warrior bodhisattva Super Moderator Location: East-central Canada	I'm sitting at just over 7,100 words. I'm going through a mix of things. Apparently Week Two of the contest is notorious because it's the week during which the lion's share of participants drop out. I've found it especially the case that this is more so a psychological challenge more so than it is an artistic or creative challenge. I keep wanting to drop out. I keep telling myself I could be doing something else with my energy. Like getting a better job, like reading more, like writing a "real" novel and taking my time with it. You know, the grass is greener. I slipped on the weekend. I intended on doing a bunch of writing to keep on pace, but I didn't write a single word. I didn't do much of anything. I tried not to think of the book. Silver lining: I've found that the last two or three thousand words were much easier to write than the first five or so. I think this is because I have the shell of a story now: I have characters, I have the makings of a setting, I have a plot, I have a plot trigger that can lead to a climax. I just need to keep going. Keep on keepin' on. I need to stop thinking about it too much. I need to just work on it. I just restocked my coffee stores. I have a machine now that makes a quick single-serving cup of coffee—much less work than before, much less setup, much less cleanup. Fuel. I really want to hit some kind of stride and do most of the work needed to still make the deadline with 50,000 words. Wow, 50,000, it seems so far away sitting at ~7,100 and 10 days in. The work will need to be backend-heavy. I see a pressing need for it, but that's what deadlines do to you. EDIT: I forgot to mention that another stall for me was fighting off the flu over the past two nights. I hope to continue writing tonight now that I'm feeling better. __________________ Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing? —Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön Humankind cannot bear very much reality. —From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot Last edited by Baraka_Guru; 11-11-2010 at 01:39 PM..