Writing, Emotions, and Other Stuff

Okay, so here's the thing, I have a novel to write in 10 weeks. The deadline is September 1 and I started June 20. (I started before that but it took me a couple tries to get on the right track). So what to do? Novels take time to write, to develop, to unfold. Storylines are complex, as are characters. How do I write a compelling story that keeps moving forward with interesting characters in 10 weeks?

Well, I think I've come up with a plan, a tactical strategy, if you will. Only thing is, I don't want to reveal it just yet. No putting the cart before the horse here. Once I'm finished and the manuscript is approved by my editor, then I'll reveal my technique.

Another thing, I've recently figured out why I had such a hard time getting back into writing and establishing my "writing legs" again. Cancer is emotionally taxing. Coming off my year-long battle I was emotionally spent and writing is an emotional process. I had nothing left over for writing. I'm discovering now that by writing, though, I'm able to work through some of those issues. But it's also emotionally tiring.

Case in point. Last night I wrote a particularly emotional scene and when I was finished I literally felt spent. Headache, fatigue, even my voice was hoarse. The whole nine yards. Weird. I think my emotional stores are low and it's easy to deplete them.

But I'm on course to complete the novel by deadline. As of last night I've completed 53,000 words.

How It's Going . . .

Well, I'm about 41,000 words into my novel, Darlington, with about 26 days to go for my self-appointed first draft deadline (Aug. 20). That's a little over 1,000 words a day. So far I've been able to keep that pace up by writing both late at night and in the early morning. I have to admit, though, the writing at night is tough. I write for about five minutes then doze off, write, doze, write, doze, and so on for a good hour. But somehow I've been able to keep my train of thought and put out some pretty intense scenes. In fact, I just got done writing a scene that is very intense and I'll have to deliberate with my editor on whether it fits neatly into place or not.

Also, I'm trying something new with this novel, a technique for speeding things up and keeping the story racing along. I'm . . . ha! you thought I was going to tell you, didn't you. You'll have to wait for the book to be published to find out what it is. I know, that's terrible, but suspense is what it's all about, right?

Oh, one more thing, I just got an idea this morning to add scenes from a certain character's point of view. This will help develop that character a little better and should up the ante when it comes time for the climax.

Insomnia and Jehoshaphat

Here's a few thoughts running through my mind today.

Last night we attended the viewing of a dear woman who I've known since I was a kid. She battled cancer more than a decade ago, beat it, and lived her life a free woman, doing everything the doctors told her to do. Several weeks ago she was diagnosed with cancer again. Days ago she died. Another hero fallen in this war against cancer. My heart aches for her husband who has been since an encouragement to me over the years and for her kids and grand kids. I know there's hope of a sweet reunion in Heaven some day but for now, I can only imagine how deep their pain must run.

Then, my wife's friend since childhood, just 32, was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and will be having surgery July 27. She is a wife and mother of two little boys. I know a little of what her and her husband the their families are going through. Being so young and vibrant and diagnosed with something like that is just devastating.

Cancer is no respecter of persons.

Last night I battled insomnia again. Haven't had that problem since finishing up chemotherapy over six months ago. I think all these reminders of how frail and unpredictable life is got to me.

Now, a Bible verse I found. Wow, this is awesome. 2 Chronicles 20:12 (huh?). Yes, that's right. King Jehoshaphat has just been notified that a bunch of his enemies have banded together and are on the war path. Like any of us would, he gets scared. But he does the right thing. He gathers the people and prays. At the end of the prayer is verse 12 which ends with Jehoshaphat saying, "We don't know what to do, but our eyes are on you, Lord."

How many times in life do we find ourselves in the same shoes as Jehoshaphat, facing an enemy that seems unbeatable? And all we can say is "Lord, I have no idea what to do, but I'm keeping my eyes on you."

In the writing world, I'm about 38,000 words into my novel and quickly approaching that September 1 deadline. I think I have a rough outline of the rest of the book in my head. We'll see how things change, though, as the story unfolds . . .

Writing Update and Other Stuff (this is a long one)

I have 49 days until my Sept. 1 deadline for Darlington. Now, here' s the thing, as I've mentioned before, I don't want to turn in a first draft. Maybe a second draft. I'd like to leave myself at least a week for a second draft. So really, I have 42 days to complete the book. To date,

I've written 25,000 words. My goal is 80,000. Pretty standard for a CBA supernatural suspense novel (code for horror . . . shhhh). I'm hoping this is going to be one creepy, scary story that packs quite a punch when it comes to the message behind the story.

And how is the story development going? Well, this is where things get tricky. You see, I have enough story in my head for the first third (which is done) and the last third (the build up to the climax and the climax). It's that middle third that's getting me a little knotted up. The middle third is so important because you don't want a saggy middle. If things get the bogged down in the midsection the whole story could go caput because I'll lose the reader. And the number one rule of suspense is: keep the reader turning pages.

So that's where I am, on the precipice of that middle third squeezing every last drop of creative juice out of my brain, trying to come up with a twist or something that'll propel the story to the last third.

Now, a question I often get that goes along with all this is if I outline my story ahead of time. Um, obviously not or I wouldn't be having this middle third anxiety. Here's what I do: I end each chapter with a cliffhanger then ask myself, Okay, what happens next? Writing this way is so much fun. And hey, if I don't know what's coming next, there's no way the reader will.

So here's my plan. In the publishing business, a typed page counts as 250 words. Period. It doesn't matter if it is a full page (more than 250) or three lines on a page (less than 250), it still counts as 250 words. If I write 5 pages a day for the next 42 days I'll be ahead of the game. Sounds easy, doesn't it? Sounds, yes. But it isn't. Not when you work full time, have a family to spend time with, church responsibilities, speaking engagements, vacations, a writing conference coming up, and, oh yeah, sleep. Free time is in limited supply these days. But I'm plugging ahead and will get there. I will. I will. I will.

Now, for some health stuff (I know this post is dragging on . . . forgive me). I've been feeling great. Recently, I had a sigmoidoscopy that turned into a colonoscopy (more on this below) that the surgeon was thrilled with and a contrast dye UGI X-ray that went well (that stuff you have to drink is like gulping liquid chalk).

In case you don't know, for a sigmoidoscopy (a partial colonoscopy) you're not put under any kind of anesthesia. You lie on your side and the surgeon (in my case) puts this flexible tube up your . . . ahem . . . and says, "Tell me when it gets uncomfortable and I'm out." Well, he kept putting it up and putting it up and it didn't feel that uncomfortable. Finally, he said, "You sure you're doing okay?" I said I was then heard the nurse say, "Well, you just gave him a colonoscopy" (which they put you to sleep for). To which the surgeon replied, "Yep, there's the appendix." So I got a colonoscopy for the price of a sigmoidoscopy. What a deal!

Squeezing in a Novel

I'm so sorry I haven't posted for what seems forever. You see, I have this little thing called a deadline staring me in the face like bug-eyed rodeo bull. Here's the bottom line, I have to finish an 80,000 word novel by September 1 and as of today, July 2 I have about 12,000 written. Now, the way I figure it, if my math is correct, that means I have to average1,133 words a day . . . every day.

That may not sound too bad but consider this, that's to finish the first draft. I don't want to turn in a first draft. As any serious writer knows--as any casual writer knows--first drafts are not that impressive. I'd like to leave myself at least a week to polish the first draft and turn in a second draft (still not desirable but it'll have to do). So my new numbers say I have to write 1,283 words a day . . . every day. Still doable but totally exhausting.

Now, how am I going to accomplish this? (Here's your peek inside the lifestyle of a writer working a full-time job, doing family stuff, church stuff, and meeting a deadline). I've bee writing every night between the hours of 10:00 and 11:00 (then fall asleep in less than 60 seconds) and every morning from 6:00 to 6:45. Problem is, I get up by 5:30 a.m. so that leaves me getting 6 1/2 hours of sleep a night. By the time 10:00 p.m. rolls around I'm dog tired and have trouble staying awake to write. But . . . this is the life I've chosen. I love writing and I'm into my story idea.

I plan to try really hard to keep you posted on my progress. If you're friends with me on Facebook I've also been keeping tabs there.

This should be interesting.