Tuesday 2 June 2009

Committed to June

June is a busy month at the best of times. There are multiple birthdays to remember – some even landing on the same day. This year June also means a month out from my trip to New York visiting my sister. So, why did I think finishing the manuscript by mid-June was a feasible and workable idea? I have no idea. I don’t think any vodka was involved in the decision making process either.

Once I finish the verbal stoush that is occurring in the current scene I will have made it to the beginning of the end of the book. Yay! Though the thought of reaching the end fills me with as much angst as any other section of the book. It happened in the last book I wrote too. I become caught in a state of stasis, unable to move forward or backward. I wonder if I’ll ever write again? If the story will work?

So we come to why I’ve committed myself to the 50k in 30 days challenge. Though in my case I chose 30k in 30 days. I like repeating numbers and also, the book should be ending in about 20,000 words. But having the commitment and guilt to achieve this being answerable to other real human beings…well, that ensures that FireWalker will be done. The wonderful discovery is that the real humans I am interacting with are a very supportive, wonderful bunch of people. I’m sure June (and the word tally) is going to fly on by.

Finishing under my tally means there will be 10,000 words to play with in another world arena that has been brewing for years too. Yes, you read right. Both worlds I am/wish to play in have been in my head for awhile. In some cases, the characters have been living in my head for nearly a decade. Even if they fill my brain to overcrowded levels, many have become like those comfortable old, fluffy slippers you can’t bear to throw away.

4 comments:

  1. Nicky, I have characters that have living in my head for years and haven't had a chance to tell their stories. Good luck reaching the 30ks. I think you are off to a flying start.

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  2. Thanks Eleni. I think it is fantastic when the characters have been able to stew and simmer for a long time - not unlike slow cooking. The way slow cooking brings out fuller flavour, I think character/story stewing can bring out fuller-fleshed characters.

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  3. Hey I found you! Thanks for stopping by my blog. I related to your 'verbal stoush.' :) Good luck with the rest of the challenge!

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  4. Thanks Rachael! I'm sure with the wonderful support in the sprint rooms many of us will be hitting our marks.

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