Updates

Finished the novel revision and formatted it. Now one final read-through and submit. Wanted to be done in early January, and looks like I’ll have made that self-imposed deadline. I really like the changes I made based on Sam’s suggestions and resources. Even if he doesn’t take me on, the novel is better for his input, and I’ve learned some good stuff.

There are tons of techniques for writer’s block, and the best strategy begins with an analysis of what is causing the block. However, I just used a technique (I’ve used it before to good effect) that worked like a charm.

I had made an alteration to my novel that involved a chain of changes, and I got about 3/4 of the way through and lost my mental thread: what is the point of this change? If I hadn’t made it, the story would be just as good, and the character who had been very active could easily be dropped and not affect the plot. Hmm. I didn’t want to go back and undo all that work, partly because it would be a huge job, but also because the character provided a good alternate perspective that illuminated my theme.

So, I looked at the issue and decided: these are the actions the character could take; some would give the thread a climax but be choices that character would not make; others would be things the character would do, and result in a failure to be in any way significant. So, at 8 PM last night, I switched to editing a different piece, folded laundry, worked on a jigsaw puzzle and watched an episode of Game of Thrones. And, just as I predicted, at 5:30 AM today, the answer came to me. I found something the character would do, that ties him into the novel climax in a significant way because he is instrumental in providing information critical to the antagonist. Hah!

Happily, I got several scenes drafted and/or revised this week, despite helping my daughter study for her exam and edit an essay, going to my sister’s for a holiday, and our Christmas tradition of baking and building a gingerbread house. Having a (self-imposed) deadline and a keen inspiration makes the novel something I can’t keep my itchy hands from!

Had several “accountability” days this week: Heather is working on her doctorate and will sometimes spend the day here. Our routine goes as follows: When she arrives, we each set a goal for the morning. We eat lunch together and compare how well we met our morning goal, and set afternoon goals. Before she leaves, we compare again. And every once and a while, she leaves her phone on my desk. Oddly, I don’t find the Internet to be a distraction.

Had a great evening this week at “A Taste of Local Authors” a twice-yearly event organized by Randy McCharles at Owl’s Nest Books. It is always a hugely popular event. Nine local authors whose books are all coming out this fall read for 5 mins each in 3 groups of 3, with wine and treats and lots of schmoozing in between–very party atmosphere. Then we all went out to the bar.

Tons of fun, and I bought a book by Axel Howerton whose work has been recommended (and I really enjoyed his reading), published by Tyche Books, a newer local publisher also with a good rep.