"The only reason some people get lost in thought is because it's unfamiliar territory."
-- Paul Fix, American actor (1901-1983)
Guilty as charged. Can I help it if I have a mental Rolodex?
I'm not retaining as much these days as I used to, though. This does not bode well for someone who's supposed to read books and review them. Or, for that matter, for someone who's supposed to be writing a book. I know my story, but I still have to go back and fact-check every so often. Did I mention a few chapters back that this character wore glasses? That kind of stuff. It's the little things I tend to lose.
Which is why the character profiles I did in the spring seemed to really help me get to know these people. Sadly, I probably know more about them than I do about my real-life friends and family (and for that, loved ones, I apologize).
Sometimes getting lost is a good thing - as a writer you have to be in your story so that you can pull your reader in with you. If you're not there, they won't be there, either - that's logical, isn't it? Other times I get lost and when I come back to Earth, hours have passed. That can be a good thing, too, as long as those hours were productive. You know, thousands of words' worth.
I've decided I'm going to dive into NaNoWriMo again this year. Haven't quite decided how I'm going to manage it, but I have faith it'll all work out. The way I see it, I have until October 31st at midnight to get the WIP in some semblance of marketable shape. That's 12 days. It's doable, especially since volleyball is over and I'll be back to my regular schedule for at least the next four weeks. Then, I have the entire month of November to add another 40,000 words to the NaNo novel I wrote last November (invoking the Zokutou Clause). When I did this last year I felt like I accomplished something, and I had the support and encouragement of my family. I need to get into that happy place again, only this time we're going to come out on the other side with something I can send out to agents. November is going to be my month!
At least, that's my goal. I know I'll have support, and I'm going to rely on those people (you know who you are) to keep up the encouragement and the virtual seat-kicking until I get something done. I didn't give up my gainful employment to sit on my keister and peck aimlessly away at this computer. I am a writer!
Starting tomorrow afternoon. Over the next couple of days I need to wear a few of my other hats - church member/ministry supporter, basketball booster/parent, wife (the WGH's birthday is tomorrow), band booster/parent ... again, as always, real life intervenes. Then I'll get back to being a writer/reviewer. I have a stack of six waiting for my critique and opinion, including the new Elizabeth George, which I am tres excited about getting to read.
Off to the races ...
Read a book. It's good for you!
=) JB
No comments:
Post a Comment