Major Encouragement, Minor Meltdown

Okay, I’d like to start by saying that I am thrilled, delighted and a little amazed at the response to my excerpt in my last post. I mean, wow.  Thank you to everyone who took the time to comment or even like the post. You gave this writer the heart to write until very late into the night last night, fuelled by compliments and a renewed belief that maybe I’ve got at least some of what it takes to really do this. WP really does have an awesome community.

In other news, I’ve hit another milestone with the first draft of The Nine, which is great. What milestone? 40k.  Yup, after writing 2,609 words on Friday, and 5,327 yesterday (personal best for this draft thus far), I found myself at a very satisfactory 40,442 words total.  Not bad for 12 days, but still quite a way to go.

I’m still not quite halfway through the outline, but the action is picking up nicely.  I love a good scene where a main character gets attacked.  Always useful for getting this writer’s blood pumping.  I’m not sure the characters agree that it’s a good thing, but they rarely get a choice in the matter. From here on, things start moving toward warp speed.  Things are going to get complicated for Fay and Tavis, and for me at times, but I’m feeling good about it, so it doesn’t worry me.  I’m trying to let go of the length thing and this morning at least, I’m mostly succeeding.

I’ve gotten the rest of the feedback in for Bound, and it was something interesting that requires thinking about and pushes me to want to go back and reread a couple of sections so I can think more clearly about them.  Aw, hell, I’ll just admit it, this makes me really want to sit down and do another editing pass with Bound.  I’m going to restrain myself or I’ll lose the thread of where I am with The Nine and what I need to do in that book.  Probably. Almost certainly, knowing me, despite the relatively detailed outline I’m working with.  What can I say, I am:

I discovered though that there can be a downside to writing until sometime after midnight.  When something drops in my email box, I’m not always at my best for dealing with it at that hour.  Case in point last night.  The deadline for the quarter on that contest I entered my short story in was midnight last night (March 31st after all), and their system auto-emailed me an invitation to the achievement awards ceremony they’re having in LA in April.  As I have no car and don’t live anywhere near there, I won’t be going, but it was a pretty invite.  So, where’s the problem, I hear you asking?  The problem was near the top of the invitation.  They had a list of all the judges for this contest.  There’s a lot of them, and I won’t be replicating that list here, but needless to say, there are a lot of writers on that list I respect the hell out of and I felt a wee bit intimidated.  Um, okay, I swore a long time ago that I’d always be honest with myself here, so let’s try that again.  I flipping panicked.  Flashing in neon, the thought ran through my mind, “But these are really good writers, they won’t pick my story, they won’t see it as awesome, omg what have I done.”  Repeat.  For about ten minutes.  Solid.  I had already started writing this entry before that email arrived, so this nearly got taken over by that.  Instead, I did the smart thing.  I went to bed.  I woke up.  It doesn’t seem so bad, and while the list is still a little intimidating, no panicking was done when I looked at it this morning, and I still haven’t drunk my coffee yet (it’s next to me, don’t worry).

The experience made me think though that it’s probably best for everyone, including my heart and brain, that I’m planning the self-published ebook route.  If I get this worked up over waiting for the contest to close and a simple automatic email, I am, perhaps, not mentally suited for the rigours of submitting to agents and editors, begging for their attention.  😮 At least I’m being honest with myself here.

So, as it’s still raining here (In Vancouver? In Spring? Such a shock!), I’m going to stay home and write all day again.  Don’t anyone choke laughing at that statement of the blindingly obvious. Still lots to do and it keeps me focused and moving forward. I will resist the urge to edit, at least for now.

And, last but not least, today’s picture.  As usual, I have no idea what kind of flower this is and only the vaguest recollection of shooting this one, but that never seems to bother me. I like the shapes and colours.