It helps to be obsessive when you’re a writer. That’s pretty much how I have written all of my books. People talk about writing a page or two every day, but I have a hard time switching gears. And so I do what I call “binge writing,” which translates to obsession.
For years I had given up the idea of writing books during the school year. I really don’t read books for enjoyment at that time either, unless it’s on the weekend. Again, it’s not a matter of time; it’s a matter of focus. I can’t focus on writing when I have a dozen other things going in my life.
Or at least that’s what I thought. National Novel Writing Month taught me otherwise. It’s probably not my best, most focused work. But it is written. I am more one of those writers that deals in bulk anyway. Instead of chipping away at a tree, I pull out the chainsaw. This is the fifth time I have done NaNoWriMo, and I have completed it three times before.
This time I suspect I won’t write the whole 50,00o words, but it is helping me complete my work. After a week of focused writing, I am within two chapters of finishing the rough draft. And I am jazzed.
Just to be clear, I am seeing things I want to change as I go along. For example, I wrote the climax to the book this morning, and ended up rewriting it before I was done. But I got it done. Two more chapters; that equates to about 30 pages. I can do it!
I’m happy, not just that I am completing a project, but that I will be able to share it with you very soon.
Stay tuned.
The Great Adventure 