Stop & go writing

For me, writing a first draft is a stop & go thing. There's a flurry of inspiration and writing -- then I slam into a wall. I pick myself up, think my way through the next chapter or two, have another flurry of writing, then slam into a wall. By the time I get to the end of the first draft, I'm gonna have a freaking concussion. ; )

That being said, I got a lot done on Chapter 5 last night, and I hope to have it finished Friday night. Chapter 6 is pretty much plotted out. Then I'll hit another wall. Either that or while writing Chapter 6, Chapters 7 & 8 will come to me. It's usually a combination of the two.

This is how I work, how I claw my way through a first draft. It's the same with every book, and slowly but surely, I'm coming to accept that's the way my writing brain works, and that's the way it's gonna be. I'm not at peace with it yet, but I'm getting there. Though the "control freak" part of my writing brain is still holding out hope that I'll come around to an ultra-organized way of writing. Though between you and me, I think Satan will be serving Sno-Cones in hell before that happens. ; )

I'll bet some of you are wondering about the photo contest from last month. I got some great entries, but since I didn't get that many of them everyone who entered is a winner and gets a prize. I think my idea for a prize is pretty cool. I have final page proofs (or galleys, if you will) from MLTF and A&M. I think I'll let those who sent in photos pick their favorite page from whichever book, and I'll send them that galley page, signed and personalized. Those of you who sent photos, email me and let me know what you think.

Coming up tomorrow: I'll answer another reader question.

Lisa