ROW80-1 - 02/04 - Not a good example
February 05, 2015
I told some writer friends all about ROW80 and how great it is to keep you on track and even got some to sign up. Yet, after several years of me following it, this has to be my worst session.
Here I am, after yet another break, a day late for Wednesday's check-in. I've two distractions/excuses - a wonky back and the Helping Our Northern Neighbours cause. Well, and a pile of boks and soem tempting TV series - but those are always there. My back is pretty well okay, but the cause - and time demands - is growing. I'm helping out as one of of our local chapters' FaceBook group admins, but also stay active on several associated groups. It's mostly welcoming new people, putting out fires, and adding suggestions, but it can take up most of the day. And often has.
I've started working offline, which helps. I changed my writing backup to a local external drive, and just unplug my router and set my timer. I know that it takes several minutes for the network to sync when plugged back in so that is a useful deterrent to just popping online to check something. In addition, my 'muse' is coming to town for a visit February 21, so that gives me a hard target now to get things cleaned up enough for another print out.
I'm still at the structural level - moving walls, adding some windows, covering some over. Not yet at the stage of picking the baseboard colour in the living room. I wrote the first novel with a very sparse plan, so then had to do a lot of structural changes. For the second one, I had more of a plan, so it went together better. However, I want it to be better than the first one, and have learned a lot about writing since then, so I've set the bar even higher for myself. Unfortunately I'm seeing this novel as not a delight to nurture and expand but something to get over and done so that I can get an agent then get on to my other editing writing. I need a way to change that mindset.
Ah, Mike, although I am at a different spot on the continuum, I share your feeling--this is not my best Round, by far.
I hope you can regain your delight in this second novel. I have to write so much for the day job, much (if not all) of which is sheer drudgery, that I recognize that feeling. And just so you know, I like your first book. :)
Posted by: Elizabeth Anne Mitchell | February 07, 2015 at 08:15 PM
Some Rounds are better than others. Remember that everyday is a new chance to do better, make better choices, and find yourself. I have been struggling to balance my theatre life (I do community theatre) and am a writer. Some days I am really productive, whilst others I am lucky to be able to do the bare minimum. And this is hard because I have a non-writing day job, and when you add in the theatre and the writing, plus just general stuff one does in life, it leaves less time at the end of the day.
Take a deep breath, find what you want, and take a step forward. You got this!! :-)
Posted by: Cindy | February 08, 2015 at 02:52 PM