The Quiet Grace of a Forced Reprieve

Last year was The Summer of the Move.  The first part of the year seemed to be shaping up into The Year of the Medical Maladies.  However, (knock on wood) things seem to be settling down a bit, so I am hopeful that the remaining part of the year will be known as The Year I Finished My Novel.

Where I sit and write...or at least thing about writing.

 

While recovering from surgery, I wrote.  A lot.  That is the good thing about writing, even if you are unable to move around much–as long as you brain is fairly clear and your fingers function–you can work on stories.  Depending on the amount of pain medication the doctor prescribed, there may be a bit more revising that normally required, but at least you can work toward your word count.

 

The novelization of The Collector is progressing.  I hate to speculate on an estimated draft date, because every time I do that Life explodes all over my meticulously crafted spreadsheet and then days pass without pen being put to page.  No, it seems that I do better when I try not to tempt fate.  When I write quietly, sneaking in words when no one is looking, that is when I make real progress.

If you notice my relative quiet on Facebook and Twitter, it is because I am adding words towards my story rather than into the ether.  If days, or a week, or even two (ahem) pass without a blog post, it is because a plot point has suddenly become clear, or a character needs my attention.
I go to sleep thinking about the story, and I wake up with snippets of dialogue in my head.  I drive to work plotting out scenes, and I spend my lunch typing them out.  It is a comfortable kind of routine, and it is yielding progress.

However, truth be told, I am grateful for the forced reprieve of the past few weeks.  I am blessed with amazing friends, a good surgeon, and a family that repeatedly humbles me with their love and dedication.  My husband and kids have taken such good care of me, and my mom and dad have surrounded me with love and prayers.  Yes, I am definitely blessed.

Nothing like a cancer scare to make you reassess and prioritize things.

108 Handwritten Pages and Counting

First, I should probably get you up to speed.  I am 108 handwritten pages into my novel.  I have to squeeze my writing time in between a full time job, a family, and, well, life in general.  I write on my lunch hour.  I write when everyone else is asleep.  I jot down bits and snippets on the back of napkins and envelopes.  I am one of "those" people. 

My goal is to write for at least an hour a day.  I estimate that I can get about three handwritten pages out of it.  I don't type it out on the computer because I can steal more writing time this way.  At some point, when I am further along, or perhaps even finished with my first draft, I will type it all out (revising along the way). 

I want to have the book available on Kindle within the year.  The blog title only mentions one year because, quite honestly, "Sometime Under One Year Until my Book is Available on Kindle" is a bit cumbersome to type and doesn't sound nearly as appealing (albeit more truthful).

So, here is where I will mark my progress, vent my frustration, and (hopefully!) garner some encouragement.  You will find out more about the books subject matter.  I might include rough ideas, character names, and snippets.  I will also keep you updated on when it is finally available!