The intro to The 90-Day Novel includes two questions: Will it be good? and Will it get done? Alan Watt suggests that the first question prevents us from getting the necessary work accomplished, stops us from starting, prevents us from finishing. He says we need to ask ourselves the second question. This idea of getting the messy 1st draft finished is the key and is echoed wherever I go.
When I search out, on purpose, people with similar interests, I find out the most astonishing things.
I have discovered that I am a novelist – the being I want to be. I have completed – finished – 5 1st drafts of novels and have 3 novels for which I have fully formed ideas and for which I’ve begun the writing. This, according to people who know, means I AM a novelist. Here I thought I was a failure because they aren’t perfect yet but the exact opposite is true. [I am re-reading what I’ve written here and realize I still think at some point my novels will be perfect – they can never be perfect but they will end up being the best I can make them.]
I am further along on my path than I ever imagined. I AM A NOVELIST.
Today’s writing goal: write 10 minutes without stopping, back typing or in any way editing while I write. I did this last night and a weird scene for Married to Death popped into my head.
Current Tools:
How To Think Sideways by Holly Lisle
The 90-Day Novel: Unlock the Story Within by Alan Watts
Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way To Success by K.M. Weiland
Finding Your Way in a Wild New World by Martha Beck
Write or Die by Dr. Wicked
Current Novels:
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Another Man’s Moccasins: A Walt Longmire Novel by Craig Johnson
Hunting the Corrigan’s Blood by Holly Lisle
~ Merry Meet & Blessed Be ~
I wrote my first novel in 30 days without an outline. I wrote the second in the same amount of time. I discovered that I’m fine with writing them but don’t like tweaking and editing them. Most people stare at a blank page. I stare at the changes that are necessary…