Karen GoatKeeper's Blog - Posts Tagged "novel-timing"
I Give Up!
Free writing a first draft is so exhilarating. The words spread across the computer screen as characters and events take form racing head long to the climax.
The third book in the Hazel Whitmore series was supposed to do that. The first partial draft even tried to do that until the plot fell apart.
I regrouped. I made some decisions about the plot and characters. I was ready to race into that new draft.
Except I wasn't ready.
The plot is about bullying. Hazel is accused of cheating on her tests. So far, so good.
The test schedule for five classes is complex as I know from experience. There must be enough class time for instruction between the tests. This can't be done by guesswork, at least not by me.
It's January and the school will have snow days. The English class is doing a book of short stories and has deadlines.
I powered my way through five chapters. Ideas flowed. Words amassed. The schedule fell apart.
I give up! I can't fight it any longer!
No, I'm not giving up on the book. It will get written.
First I will write out a day by day schedule calendar so those pesky test dates and deadlines and snow days are easy to keep track of. This costs me some writing freedom but may save my draft from anarchy.
The third book in the Hazel Whitmore series was supposed to do that. The first partial draft even tried to do that until the plot fell apart.
I regrouped. I made some decisions about the plot and characters. I was ready to race into that new draft.
Except I wasn't ready.
The plot is about bullying. Hazel is accused of cheating on her tests. So far, so good.
The test schedule for five classes is complex as I know from experience. There must be enough class time for instruction between the tests. This can't be done by guesswork, at least not by me.
It's January and the school will have snow days. The English class is doing a book of short stories and has deadlines.
I powered my way through five chapters. Ideas flowed. Words amassed. The schedule fell apart.
I give up! I can't fight it any longer!
No, I'm not giving up on the book. It will get written.
First I will write out a day by day schedule calendar so those pesky test dates and deadlines and snow days are easy to keep track of. This costs me some writing freedom but may save my draft from anarchy.
