Out In No-Mans' Land…

On the days I don't work on my novel I feel  guilty for leaving Tessa in no-mans’ land.  Tessa has been in no-mans’ land for at least six weeks, although I have been working on the novel I haven’t moved her along.  I have her suck in a conversation with a four year old boy in Boston’s South Station.  She’s stuck there because I can’t seem to get the words right with this conversation.  I’ve been editing the same conversation for over a month and that is not helping Tessa move along.

Today I think I got the conversation the way it should flow, lets at least hope so…for Tessa’s sake.  I won’t know until I go back and read what I wrote the next time I sit to write.  Until then Tessa’s still in no-mans’ land.

Sorry Tessa I’m working on getting you out as soon as I can.

February 1, 2011—

4:00 PM—

Worked on my writing time sheet — also wrote

 

February 2, 2011—

4:18 PM—

Worked on the manuscript for “A Thirst for Love”— some editing and continuing the scene I’m on in chapter two— also, searched for descriptive words in Word Menu Software. ™

 

February 8, 2011—

5:09 PM—

I edited what I wrote on February 2—

 

February 13, 2011—

4:33 PM—

Edited page 7— of “A Thirst for Love” manuscript— for at least the fifth time— there is a lot going on, on that page and I’m trying to get the words right!

A Writer’s Time Sheet…

I was trying to think of a way to get more productivity out of my writing.  The first thing I needed to know was how long I was writing/working on the novel.  I also needed to know how many days of the week I was actually working.  Below is a table that may help me keep my productivity up and my procrastinating down.  I was just thinking, maybe I should also add a slot for the total of hours a day I work.

I’ll see how this works for me and let you know.  Maybe it can work for you.

Day/Date:	Time Start:	Time Stop:	Notes:
Wednesday / Jan 12,11	12: 00 PM	4:30 PM	Wrote an outline for a scene in chapter 2

Procrastination Is A Bitch…

Why is it a bitch?  Procrastination is very easy to do!  If you don’t feel like doing anything you’re not being lazy you’re procrastinating about doing something.  If you are doing something other than what you’re suppose to be doing you’re procrastinating what needs to get done.  So yes, it’s very easy to do!  I did it everyday last week!  I did a lot last week…slept late, changed my cable plan, played Moh Jong and lost too many times to count.  That’s is just a few things I did, the one thing I should have been doing everyday I didn’t do, and that was write!

If you read below you’ll know why I was procrastinating. Hopefully I know where I’ll be going and won’t procrastinate getting myself there.

 

January 22, 2011—

5:47 PM—

Wrote a little today…may write later tonight. Mad at self for procrastinating for so long. In my own defense, I was having trouble seeing what was happening to her and couldn’t get it on the page. Now I can see what’s happening!

 

January 23, 2011—

5:05 PM—

I didn’t write last night. However, I wrote a scene in the manuscript today it seemed to flow I wish that could happen everyday. Actually, I’m in the middle of the scene but the part I wrote today seemed to flow well. I wasn’t looking at the page with a blank stare like I usually do!

 

January 25, 2011—

4:00 PM—

Edited what I wrote Sunday and wrote a little more today. I didn’t do as much as I planned to but at least I did something today!

Back To Work…

With the holidays over, and the issues I needed to address during the holidays have been taken care of I can get back to work.  Since it's winter in Massachusetts I have at least two months to work on my novel,  most likely three months because April isn't all that “Springy” as far as springtime weather is concerned.  Most of the time springtime doesn’t start until May in Massachusetts.  Tonight, we will have at least 12 inches  of snow maybe more dumped on us.  So I won't be going anywhere anytime soon so I won't have any excuses not to write.

As you can see, I have started writing in the last couple of days.  Hopefully I can get back into rhythm and not get any “life” distractions to derail my productively or progress to getting my novel written in 2011. 

By the way…Happy New Year everyone!

January 9, 2011—

4:15 PM—

Worked on mapping out a scene in chapter two for “A Thirst for Love”— skimmed through two of my writing reference books to get a better idea of how to get the scene on paper.

January 11, 2011—

3:30 PM—

Worked on chapter two on “A Thirst for Love”— editing some paragraphs and wrote some…

Better Late Than Never...

It's been a while since I've posted, but that doesn't mean I haven't written or worked on the novel.  However, I would have liked to work on it a little more than I did.  I had a few issues I had to deal with which prevented me from writing or working on it all together.  Hopefully in the new year, I can get back on track.  As you can see I have worked on it sporadically in the past two months.  As always, life seems to get in the way.

Hopefully I can get into Tessa's life more in the new year and less in mine.

 

November 19, 2010—

3:27 PM—

Started chapter two the other day but didn’t  write it in my notebook until today.

Today I worked on editing what I already wrote the other day and continued writing chapter two. I haven’t worked on Tessa’s character’s sketch because she’s letting the words flow today!

Thank you, Tessa!

 

November 18, 2010—

3: 30 P.M.—

Deepened the description to South station in the manuscript

November 29, 2010—

4: 15 P.M.—

Entered everyday terms of the 1920s for research for Tessa's story, from the book "Everyday Life from Prohibition through World War II."

December 1, 2010—

4: 44 P.M.—

Wrote some of the manuscript for "A Thirst for Love"—I am using Dragon dictate hoping that I can write faster with it. Time will tell I haven't used it in quite a while. So I'm still getting used to it.

December 22, 2010—

4:30 PM—

Worked on outlining the scenes for "A Thirst for Love"—I found an article in Writers Digest on different styles of outlines. There was one that I liked the most. It was called signpost outline so I worked on that.

Chapter One…Done?

Wow, I’m actually writing and starting to get a routine down! Granted I’m not writing everyday yet.  However, since I changed the focus of this blog I have written more then I have in years.  I actually have chapter one done.  A month ago I had the name for my main character and old notes now I have a whole chapter, that says a lot.

Putting my thoughts and progress on the blog is helping me tremendously to move forward. I’m trying to keep my self critic in a “time out”  seems to be working, so far.

November 1, 2010—

2:20 PM—

Still working on “A Thirst for Love” manuscript — I’m hoping to work on it a little more sometime later in the day.

Not doing NaNo but will try to write something everyday in the month of November.

 

November 5, 2010—

3:48 PM—

Finished chapter one of “A Thirst of Love”— I’m sure I will be editing it over and over again but right now I’m satisfied —until tomorrow!

November 8, 2010—

3:06 PM—

Edited chapter one. Will work on the relationship between Tessa and her mother and work on Tessa’s character Sketch. Try to get chapter two started.

Working It Out…

I was able to put some words together into some sentences and write a little.  Tessa {my main character} is showing me her story.  However, she is showing me in bits and pieces which is why I seem to be moving in slow motion and can’t write a whole scene in a single writing session.  I’m lucky if I get three or four sentences together that is why I’ve been working on formatting the manuscript and research.

That’s okay Tessa take your time, I got all the time in the world.

October 29, 2010—

5:07 PM—

Worked on formatting the manuscript for “A Thirst for Love”—wrote some too, I think I’m finally finding my words!

 

October 30, 2010—

5:33 PM—

Worked for approximately two hours writing “A Thirst for Love”— slowly moving along—starting page four and word count at 738 —yea

Slow Progress…

I’m not happy with the progress of my writing.  I sit in front of my computer and it is just not flowing out of me (which it should be flowing out of me) and that is frustrating me.  I’m having a problem getting my words on the page.  I know what is going to happen in the story for at least three chapters but expressing what is happening seems to be very difficult to convey on the page for me.  

“They” (published authors) say don’t worry about editing or punctuation just write what comes to mind.  I have trouble “just writing” it’s very hard for me to do.  I have to punctuate and capitalize my sentences it doesn’t feel right if I don’t.  I even have to capitalize and punctuate when I text or IM my friends.  It’s the critic in me that won’t allow me to “just write”.  I need to teach myself to let go of Ms. Perfect because she does not exist no matter how much I want her to or think she does.

Tomorrow’s another day. 

 

October 28, 2010—

3:17 PM—

Formatted, edited and wrote a little (very little) on “A Thirst for Love”—

Writing Goals…

I know I should have more entries in my writing journal than just two since I changed the topic of this blog.  It takes time to form a habit and that’s what I’m trying to do.  Hopefully I will be posting the progress of my novel at least once a week or maybe once a day if I can get myself on a daily schedule.  Stay tuned.

 October 20, 2010—

3:42 PM—

Wrote some of chapter one of “A Thirst for Love” — since I know where the story is going for the first three chapters I thought writing it out should help with getting to know my main character better.

October 23, 2010—

6:21 PM—

Wrote some and did a little research online for “A Thirst for Love” — Worked for about three hours.

Change Is Good…

I think this blog needs a face lift.  It’s old and tired and I need to change things up.  So this blog is no longer about current events, sports, multi media or meaningless shit found on the internet. This blog will be my journey trying to put pen to paper. My thoughts, ideas, things I may find helpful and the notes to the stories I have in my head. This blog will be my writing journal of sorts. By doing this, I may get into a rhythm with my writing habits which may turn into writing an actual novel.

On the days I write, I will write something like this on the blog:

March 25, 2010—

6:03 PM—

Finished entering old notes for—“A Thirst for Love” Entered the “Big Willy” scene I noticed it needs a lot of editing. I will work on that soon. Tomorrow I will work on Tessa’s Character Sketch, Wardrobe, and Back story.

I may post about some of my many writing referencing books that I may be using or reading. I may want some opinions on what I’m writing.  Hopefully someone will have an opinion and will give it to me honestly.

A friend of mine has read some of what I have written, she seems to think I’m good.  For me, the jury is still out looking for proof because there is no consistency to my writing habits.  Nor am I organized sufficiently to be putting a three to four hundred page novel together.  I’m hoping changing this blog will help me get to where I want to be…a career as a published author.