I’ve been taking it easy this week. More me time. It’s been nice.

I did write on Friday, completely redoing what I’d already done for chapter 2. I needed to get that voice *right*. I’m still working on it. Took another run at chapter 2 today. After writing two pages, then taking a nap and throwing out those two pages, I backed up, started again, and when I looked up it was 10 1/2 pages later. Felt so nice.

In the first draft of the novel, there were maybe half a dozen sentences that I threw into the first chapter to show character. About midway through writing that book, I realized that it was actually the start of one of the first subplots of the first novel. Today I realized that it also formed the spark of another subplot that will take up much of book two.

Often, while I was writing the first novel, I had the sense that I was planting seeds. The last third of the first novel was more difficult to write because I was no longer planting, but was harvesting those seeds. I didn’t have to go back and plant many more, which surprised me. They were all there, all ready for me to just pick up and carry to market.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been gonzo balls-to-the-walls writing like I am now. I’m relearning to trust my process, trust my voice. Trust that the seeds are there, I just have to remember them, as well as trust that voice inside my head that says, “Here. Now. Drop something good. Don’t care what it is — it will be right in the fullness of time.” Because honestly — I don’t know what it is that I’m doing when I’m planting these things. It’s a throw-away line here or the description of an unusual habit there or something that looks odd. But they’ve been the right thing at the right time and when it’s time to harvest, the crop is fruitful.

Comments (4)

  1. I go away from LJ for 6 weeks, and you’ve gone and finished the other book and started this book. Go you!

    I googled “balls to the wall”, and discovered it has nothing to do with testicles. The things ya learn on the internet . . .

    • Thank you! I’m really pleased. I actually ended up staying up late last night because the book, she was calling, and so I wrote the start of the next scene. . . Feels so good to be constantly creating again.

  2. I go away from LJ for 6 weeks, and you’ve gone and finished the other book and started this book. Go you!

    I googled “balls to the wall”, and discovered it has nothing to do with testicles. The things ya learn on the internet . . .

    • Thank you! I’m really pleased. I actually ended up staying up late last night because the book, she was calling, and so I wrote the start of the next scene. . . Feels so good to be constantly creating again.

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