Productive Day

Today was my first whole day all to myself since I've been home from India, so it was my first chance to really get organized and try to get on top of actual work. I have two pieces to write for Argonne National Labs that they wanted by the "end of September" (Can you say "first week in October??") so I really hit them hard today. Got the first draft of one completely finished, and will work on the second one tomorrow. Since I have written for them before -- and even written on the same subjects for them before -- this is nice, non-stressful work where I know the style and the information and it's just a question of DOING it.

I still have a quote to get for the Ride article on personal watercraft, and that's also due basically this week, so I will get on that tomorrow as well.

Jump starting

One of the things everyone says you're supposed to do, especially if you're having a tough time writing is make sure that you're leaving lots of time for all your bad writing. Write in a diary every morning, do writing exercises, spend time getting to know your characters and writing stuff about them that you never anticipate putting in the book.

I KNOW this and yet, when confronted with a blank screen and a blank mind the only thing I can think to myself is "if I'm not getting enough writing done lately, then I do not, do not, do not have enough time to waste on exercises, for goodness sakes." And so despite the fact that I know this is not a logical process and getting a wee bit of creativity flowing will unlock the whole jam, I sit there and keep staring at the screen and nothing happens.

And then, finally, something comes that kicks you awake and makes it all work again. In this case, I just signed up for an online novel writing course -- something one does because in amongst all the stuff you already know, there is hopefully one sentence, or two, phrased in just the right way that it resonates in your brain and it makes you work again.

This time around it was so very simple -- but instead of suggesting basic exercises (pair these nouns with these verbs and see what fun sentences you get!!) the first writing exercise was to write down some of the scenes you have already imagined about the book. They didn't have to be good (they never do, we all know that about first drafts. . . ) but just write some. Pick the ones that have been marinating in your brain, no matter how out of order, no matter if you don't know where they fit in (oh, but of course, I know where they fit in, have I mentioned my 30 page outline recently??) but do it.

Suddenly I had an exercise that also was part of my first draft. A silly crutch to require, but damn if it wasn't exactly what I needed. I realized that there are 5 or 6 scenes floating around my head, and it was time to jump from that point one-third the way into the book where I had stopped and go for some of the good stuff. (Sex scenes, anyone?)

Anyway, this is just to say that the writing has been flowing the last week. . .

Marketing

So last night I spoke at a Meet the Author's event at the University Club. It was a really fun time -- set up so that each of three authors sat at three tables and answered questions for 15 minutes, before a bell rang and everyone moved around. Not unlike the way I imagine sorority interviews to work, but frankly a great way to talk to lots of people. The people were interesting and enjoyable, and I really liked the other two authors -- but here's the thing. One of the other authors had. . . props. Not only did she bring her Emmy Award and sit it on the table, but she had book marks with tips from her book printed on them. And she had a quiz! She had a quiz that she handed out.

I clearly don't know anything about marketing. I need to get on it. . .

Home Again

I am back home, sitting at Tryst, with all the motivation and excitement that the fall brings. I swear the ingrained patterns of starting school every September still leave me in such a state of organization and determination.

Of course, I have been home exactly two days, am coming home to a novel that was totally stalled when I left, an article for Ride to edit asap, two technological writing pieces to do for Argonne National Labs, an overflowing e-mail inbox, and a whole host of other things to follow up on. We'll see how long this so-called organization lasts.

That having been said, it's the novel that's hanging over my head the most. Having taken a six-week break, it's time to get a move-on. Especially when I was feeling fairly blocked six weeks ago. I need all the cliched writing tricks to get me going. Do some exercises. Force myself just to sit down at the computer. Set a timer and promise myself I'll work for a solid hour before turning on my e-mail. I have pulled out my copy of Writing Down the Bones, and am looking at some exercises to get my juices flowing. Am being reminded about powerful verbs, bad first drafts, scrawling across a large notebook without lifting your pen. . . but most of all I am thankful for a sentence she has in her introduction: "Every time we begin, we wonder how we ever did it before."

How have I managed to do it before??