Well, hello.
Friends, I'm starting to wonder if I should even be at this party. I say that i want to write every day, but day after day, I don't. I won't even say that I can't; most days I never get as far as trying. Back in January I thought it was exhaustion from the difficult deadline I had at work. Now, I just don't know what it is.
I'm concerned about it.
Last night, I did open up the story and pick at it for a little while, enough to realize that an element I'd put into it didn't make any sense at all and was going to have to be removed. This is a separate issue from the ending, which also doesn't make any sense once it's established that the characters are Jewish. So now I have a story with two elements that make no sense. With that, I closed the notebook and set it aside. And that was it for last night.
It's almost President's Day weekend. Last year, I took this weekend as a little retreat up on the shore with a friend of mine. She did more processing of a failing relationship than writing, but I wrote. I wrote a chapter and a half of my novel that actually aren't bad and will probably mostly survive the first revision, if I ever get there. I don't have a retreat planned this year but I'd like to figure out something I can do with the weekend to kick myself out of this place where I just .... don't write.
And for you:
D.L Shepherd: I am so, so sorry. My cats are such a joy and comfort for me - watching one of them suffer, and having to say goodbye, is just one of the worst things there is. Take care, and know that you cared for him well and he had a good happy life with you as his companion.
Magnus: Enjoy your epic success! If you don't mind scooting over and making a little room, I think some of us will enjoy basking vicariously in it.
Esmae: A friend of mine used to say, "The best time to have done something might be a year ago, but the second best time is now." We converted the latter half of the phrase into a little acronym: TSBTIN, which we pronounced "tis button." Then we we would say it to one another whenever we found ourselves lamenting having stalled on some action or other. So, when you talk about kicking last-February-Esmae, I will say: Tis button!
Taylor Harbin: Welcome to the thread. I'm really glad you're seeing quality in your draft. It's nice when perspective helps you see the strengths of something rather than just amplifying its warts.
Layla Nahar: Thanks for the encouragement, and the reminder that I'm not alone in falling short of 500 a day. I appreciate your recording the responsible things you do - I sometimes chafe against "adulting" and can get terribly avoidant about it. It's worth celebrating the times when one manages to accomplish it!
Melody: You're editing at a fair clip; wonderful. We'll all cheer you on for next 100 pages.
niknicnac: That sounds like a very good night, especially when you're very tired. Congratulations!
heykatydid: I love your productivity and envy it. I hope you're having fun with it! Good luck and good skill.