Stay on target
Stay on target:
Right now I'm doing a character edit, focusing on pushing this character's mind space and emotions further to the edges, out of balance, then back into harmony. The first couple of chapters I touched I added some of the world stuff I needed to add when I ran into a section where it needed to go. Then I ran into a section that requires a huge world edit. Basically, two cities need to change locations geographically. The events need to change. Before, I would have probably been derailed, gotten caught up in those revisions. Instead, I did, indeed, stay on target, ignored those areas, and continued to focus on the rewrite/character edit that I'm currently doing. As a result, I think the rewrite will end up being stronger, that this character's arc is going to be better. I know I feel better, less frazzled. In the old model, I would have gotten derailed, then had the original edit still nibbling at the back of my brain while I tried to do the world edit, and therefore ended up rushing it because I'd know I was supposed to get back to the first, etc.
100 day push:
On Fridays, I don't have to write in the mornings. I get to play and watch Tim Gunn's workroom videos and read Project Runway recaps instead. Which means if I'm going to write, I have to do so after work. I found myself lazing, as usual, not eating dinner, surfing the web. There was a clock ticking in my head though: I knew what time I had to stop and write. And because I'm so committed to working on the rewrite for 100 days, I did stop playing and I did get my writing in. Before this, I might not have. I didn't have as strong a goal. I wasn't pushing myself so hard. I know that in the short run, this is really good. I'm not convinced it's a lifestyle change -- I think there are times in my life when I need to be more relaxed, play more, goof off more. We'll see. I've certainly been like this before in terms of my writing, but generally it's been first draft excitement pushing me, not a deadline.
And now -- back to the rewrite!