Yep, I have them - compounded today with the Sunday blues! I’m in survival mode now: first survive January, then survive February, then survive March, and so it goes for every me, every year.
Anyway, I thought I should post an update on my writing, even if it’s just a record for my future self to read on some warm spring day. And I thought I should put in place some deadlines for myself, in order to insure that I complete these projects. No, I don’t really think fake deadlines are any more effective than the other tricks I play on myself, like making my alarm clock run 15 minutes ahead, or hiding away fifty dollars for when I need it, while pretending I don’t know I have it. But maybe posting my fake deadlines here in an open forum will bring the full force of public shame upon my head if I fail to meet stated deadlines. So with that bright hope, here goes:
Beamstar - That’s my sf novel about killer satellites. I completed the draft months ago, and for writing it by the seat of my pants, I was happy with the way it turned out. But it needs revision (aka, lots of rewriting) and I am not doing it, not now. The deadline here is a bit hazy: 2009.
Short stories – I’m working simultaneously on two, which is something I usually don’t do. They’re both fantasy, though one has sf elements. Deadline: the end of January for both.
And… drumroll…
A new novel! Yes, that’s right! I don’t really have a title that I like yet (I keep trying out titles, then rejecting them), but it is a fantasy. I’m using the snowflake method to develop the story. I first heard about this last summer from Mary Garcia and I’ve wanted to try it ever since. I’m on Step-5 right now, and it’s going very well so far. My goal here is to complete up to Step-9 by the end of January (though I’m not sure about using spreadsheets) and then to begin writing in February, sticking to a strict word-quota plan. Once the actual writing begins, I will publicly state my deadline for completion of the first draft.
So that’s it. Please feel free to heap scorn upon me if I fail to meet my made-up deadlines.
Hey, cool. I’ve recently discovered the Snowflake Method, too. I haven’t tried it on a novel yet, but I’ve been using a condensed version to work up short stories, and liking that so far. I’ll be curious to hear more about how this goes.
Hang on through the winter blues. Spring is just around the corner if we can just keep moving. Already the days are longer, and that helps, too.
Erica: yes, I will definitely post on this topic again. Stay tuned.
BJ: That’s exactly what I keep telling myself: right around the corner, right around the corner….
LOL.. yeah.. I used to try setting the clock ahead 10 minutes.. finally just gave up..
I’m been fighting with the muse on and off this past week.. sometimes it’s been hand to hand combat.. and my friend finally told me to just take the day off and have a beer.. she’ll come back to visit..
I hope she visits this afternoon..!
Love the blog!