(no subject)

[pegkerr]

Words: 711
Reason for stopping: It's a half hour past my bedtime.
Mood: Um. Words. Actual words. That sort of follow one after the other. Wow. Who knew?
Notes: I still don't know what the hell I'm doing with this book. I mean, I have chunks of the plot, but am still suspicious that they will not add up to something that achieves its own activation energy. I think it's that this is the first book I've attempted to do with this write - all - over - the - book - and - piece - it - together - afterwards method, rather than going beginning to end. I don't yet trust the process. And it's been such a long time since I've written a book. And I've sort of kind of thought of an ending, but haven't yet decided whether it's too stupid for words. This makes me twitchy. So: glad that I got words out tonight, but even though Lois has told me it's a book, I still don't quite believe it yet.

Comments

[peacockharpy.livejournal.com]

YAY for wordcount! I'm so happy for you!

And just hang in there and trust the story. You've got some marvelous ideas, concepts and mythologies feeding this book, and as difficult as it is, just surrender to the story. It will lead you.

711 words!

[vass]

You don't have to believe. We'll all do that for you. You just have to write. Good on you.

they call it a draft because it is full of holes

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

Things you know already:

You don't have to get it right the first time, in any case. It just has to be done. It can be right later.

Writing a book isn't like framing a ship; if it's out of true, you can go back and cut a little bit back on, or change the lie of the whole thing easy as shaking out a sheet.

*g*

It's more like quilting or knitting: if you bitch it up totally, you can take it to pieces and start over and make it better. But the chances are you won't bitch it up as badly as you fear.

It's just a book, after all, and you're bigger than it is. It's just *one* book, and you are books without limit. It doesn't stand a chance.

Re: they call it a draft because it is full of holes

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the metaphor I always liked is that unlike sculpture (where if you slip, you break off an arm), writing's more like clay on a potter's wheel. You take a smidgen off, you put more clay on, you shape it and play with it.

But you don't get anywhere until you put clay on the wheel.

Re: they call it a draft because it is full of holes

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

I *like* that metaphor. An it's squishy, and slippery, and it can get away from you and do unexpected things (good or bad)...

ooo. shiny.

Re: they call it a draft because it is full of holes

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

*laughs* Yeah, it's a messy process. Don't be afraid to get your clothes covered with mud.

[papersky.livejournal.com]

It's a book.

I'm so glad it's moving again.

[kate_nepveu]

Hooray, words!

[mizkit.livejournal.com]

I have chunks of the plot, but am still suspicious that they will not add up to something that achieves its own activation energy.

That sounds exactly like a book in process, to me. In fact, it sounds so much like a book in process to me that if I read that sentence out loud to my husband he would laugh out loud, because that's just how I always sound when I'm dubious about what I'm writing. :)

Plus, 711 words! Yay! Go Peg!

[pameladean]

This made me laugh, because I too am writing books after a long hiatus, and I'm doing the opposite of what I usually do. It's just that what I usually do is to write all over the book, and this time I'm just going, at least so far, from beginning to what happens next.

As for believing that it's a book, well, that's much more comfortable, but it's not necessary to the writing, as you have just demonstrated!

Pamela

[oracne.livejournal.com]

Words are good.

Keep going.