Drawing from the Well
Last week, I finished the third character arc for book 3 and started the fourth arc. Aron’s done and Meibor’s underway. It’s a lot to do. I never started Meibor’s arc during NaNoWriMo so finding the right way to start is always a challenge. I’m into now, though, so I’m moving along. There’s definitely things from the planning phase that I forgot. That’s what editing is for. Next week, there’s more to come.
Scenes: 161/230
Words: 94,676/~135,000 (70% EXACTLY, though I still feel like the word count estimate is low)
Filling the Well
It’s been a good reading week. I finished Play the Man and The Girl Who Drank the Moon. Both were great for totally different reasons. Now, I’m working through Rebel of the Sands. I look forward to chewing through it.
48/100 for #ProjectBookworm2022
Well Chat
Lately, I’ve spent a lot of time on continuums. Today is no different.
We’ve all been excited for something new. Even if you’re not a writer, you’ve seen a new movie, a new book, or a new video game get announced or even get released and gotten excited before. The sight or the idea of the new, novel thing sparked your enthusiasm.
At first, you’re consumed. You can’t think of anything else. You’re overwhelmed with enthusiasm. Some time after that, though, it wanes. It could be minutes, it could be weeks, but without fail, your excitement fades. At that point, either you forget about it or your enthusiasm transforms into determination to do or consume the thing that initially excited you.
The same is true of writing. I’ve talked about Shiny Object Syndrome before. That’s the start of the enthusiasm response. The idea sounds cool and exciting and you want to dive into it. At some point, though, that enthusiasm goes away. You have to start working harder to keep going with that idea. Eventually, the enthusiasm disappears completely. All that’s left is the work. At that point, you have two choices: quit or finish.
That’s where the determination comes in. You have to overcome the doubt, the boredom, and the encroaching ideas that spark a brand-new SOS response. You have to be harder than the work to reach the end.
I’ve done it twice and it always takes positive self-talk to get to what I call “the tipping point” where the enthusiasm returns. At least, that’s the case for me. Regardless, there’s a point in every book, every arc, where I have to push HARD to keep racing to the finish. I tend to slow down in word counts and have more zero-word days. It’s discouraging to look back on it…so I focus on how close I am to the goal.
What do you do to keep your enthusiasm and determination high to complete your goals?
May the tide carry you to safer shores.
BSG