Two chapters a week -- here we go
Because of finishing the copyedits for Armed & Magical, last week was half of a writing work week for me -- therefore I only had one chapter to get done. And yes, I finished Chapter 1 of The Trouble With Demons on Saturday evening. It'll need tweaking, but I'm pleased with it. I think I'm off to a good start. This week begins my "two chapters a week" pace. I haven't done any book writing from scratch since the spring, so getting back up to speed will be a struggle. It's a struggle because I haven't gotten my focus back yet. That teeth-gritting determination to ignore absolutely everything when I sit down at my laptop -- no surfing, no visiting blog buddies -- but most of all, snatching my brain back on track if it even thinks about wandering away from the story. I'm aiming for complete immersion in the story.
Oh man, that is so not easy. But for me, it's critical. My brain will flit all over the place if I let it. I think most writers are probably like that. It's the nature of the beast. Our minds like to run off and play in any and every direction. That's how we find our inspriration, how we experiment with different things, how we come up with the story we're now struggling to get from our reluctant brain onto the computer screen.
With Armed & Magical, some weeks I wrote four chapters in a week, and a couple of chapters were written in a day. Now that was focus. It was also a little nuts.
I think I'll back off the intensity a little this time. This is my third book. I have a better idea now of how long I need to get things done. I need the focus, but to get started with this book, I'm going to cut myself a little slack for the next week or two. If I don't quite get that second chapter finished by the end of the week, I'll accept that. I won't be happy with it, but I'll accept it -- but only for the next two weeks. After that, the gloves come off. No excuses. Well, except for extreme illness, family emergency, or an overwhelming need to get the hell out of the house for a Cinnabon. Sometimes taking a break is more important than taking down that second chapter.
I'll try to check-in today with Webmaster Todd on the updates (and the posting of the sample chapters for Armed & Magical). I'll add to this post later in the day if I have an update for you.
Oh man, that is so not easy. But for me, it's critical. My brain will flit all over the place if I let it. I think most writers are probably like that. It's the nature of the beast. Our minds like to run off and play in any and every direction. That's how we find our inspriration, how we experiment with different things, how we come up with the story we're now struggling to get from our reluctant brain onto the computer screen.
With Armed & Magical, some weeks I wrote four chapters in a week, and a couple of chapters were written in a day. Now that was focus. It was also a little nuts.
I think I'll back off the intensity a little this time. This is my third book. I have a better idea now of how long I need to get things done. I need the focus, but to get started with this book, I'm going to cut myself a little slack for the next week or two. If I don't quite get that second chapter finished by the end of the week, I'll accept that. I won't be happy with it, but I'll accept it -- but only for the next two weeks. After that, the gloves come off. No excuses. Well, except for extreme illness, family emergency, or an overwhelming need to get the hell out of the house for a Cinnabon. Sometimes taking a break is more important than taking down that second chapter.
I'll try to check-in today with Webmaster Todd on the updates (and the posting of the sample chapters for Armed & Magical). I'll add to this post later in the day if I have an update for you.
posted by Lisa Shearin at
7:55 AM
4 Comments:
Hey there,
Do you always have an idea for the next part of the story? What happens if you have acouple of great ideas vying for the next 'scene' of the tale...How do you decide which one to write?
Good idea with the less intense writing workout...remember to relax!!! :)
Take Care,
Lorna in Scotland
Hi Lorna! Great question.
Funny you should ask that because that's a very common problem for me, and that's exactly the problem I'll be having with Chapter 3. I've got over 100 pages of notes (single-spaced) that I've been collecting. Last night I went through them, did some "copy & paste" with the stuff I thought I'd use in the next five chapters. I opened five new Word documents and pasted the clumps of scenes and dialogue into the chapter I thought they'd most likely fit into. This always changes, but it at least it gives me something to start with.
Dang. Two chapters a week? I feel like such a slacker. I'm pleased if I do a chapter every two weeks. You go girl!
Thanks for the encouragement, Spartezda! I'll need all that I can get. Actually I used to do a chapter every two weeks, then while writing MLTF, I did a chapter a week. Then with the first draft of Armed & Magical, I'd do 3-4 chapters a week. That was just nuts. I'm going with a saner approach this time. ; ) If I do two chapters a week, I'll have a first draft by Feb. 1. That'll give me three months to polish before I have to turn it in to my editor.
I just finished my five pages for today, so I'm going to treat myself to a little TV viewing with Derek. I think I'll go make some orange rolls and we'll sit down and watch Two and a Half Men and How I Met Your Mother. I love those shows. G'night all!
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