I could tell you...

[akabins]

I could tell you I've been too busy getting used to my new job. I could tell you I've been busy getting used to new drowsy-making medication, I could tell you I've been busy horse training, or reading books to review, or  preparing a post comparing the writing process to painting.

And all of these would be true. However, they do not excuse my

Comments

[bogwitch64]

You're making the mistake we ALL make--you're looking at it as a whole. If you start a novel trying to get the whole thing out at once, you'll end up pulling your teeth out with a pair of dirty pliers just so you don't have to think about it.

Just start, lovey. Page one. Read. Edit. Don't think about chapter two, or ten, or page 261. Things will fall into place as they neaten up, and they will do so in an order that seems logical--start to finish rather than bouncing about in between.

[bogwitch64]

If you start a novel trying to get the whole thing out at once, you'll end up pulling your teeth out with a pair of dirty pliers just so you don't have to think about it.

After that was supposed to be: And you can't do it with all the drafts that come after.

D'oh...

[akabins]

This is very true, and how close I am to pulling out my own teeth... it's scary ;).

I (shh) printed out the entire beastie at work yesterday, bought some paper seperater things, and got out a big red marker and some new inspiration. I think I'm on the right track, and should hopefully have teeth/hair/sanity when I'm done!

Thanks, dearie:)

[bogwitch64]

Woohooo! That's great! I hope you'll post your progress.

[reneesweet]

Like bogwitch said, it's too scary to think about the whole thing at once. I'm a list maker. On my last book, I made a list of the revisions I needed and then attacked them one by one. If I only felt up to a small thing, I found a small thing on the list. If I felt up to a challenge, I tackled some of the harder things. At the end of the day, hard things remained and there were no other things to procrastinate with. I got them done because I really wanted to finish that list. :)

[akabins]

I have a bulletin board with cue cards of different colours per chapter. Each colour repped how good I felt about each chapter. This seemed to work until my cat decided his favourite playtoy is thumbtacks, and most of my cue cards ended up missing by the end of the day as he jumped and pawed to knock them down...

My cat is the ultimate of dumb, usually that's why I love him, but sometimes...

[schnidlier]

Don't rush yourself, if you do, it'll probably sound more fake and forced, if you get an idea, shove it in. Work when inspiration hits you, but, in the case you prefer a more methodical approach, than just feel free to take it little by little.

[akabins]

I'm working at taking it little by little. It's hard, being an admin worker and having the methodology of "I need to finish this by x hour or my boss might hit me with a club", so when I get home I have to reinforce the zen.

Thanks :)

[sboman]

Personally, the only thing that helps me in those situations (and I feel the exact same way) is finding a place with absolute solitude to delve in. Not easy to do, but I've used a neighbors backyard apartment, a cheap hotel, and I'm fortunate to have a cabin to get away to occasionally. My mind needs to be completely focused and free of distractions.

I hope you find what works for you!