Friday, I blogged about how nebulous Pierce My Heart, my latest WIP, has been feeling. I can see the potential in this story. I know what it can be, and I know it will get there. So the reason I was stuck felt beyond elusive. And I received some good advice about getting my creativity mojo back.
I started out Saturday with a character Q&A. I didn’t exactly learn anything earth-shattering about the character in question, but I realized that there was a strong theme in this story—one of self-discovery and acceptance—that I’d been overlooking.
The floodgates opened. Saturday’s writing session turned out to be more along the lines of my usual ones. And it brought this week’s writing total way past the goal of 3K. In fact, my word-count this week is more in line with the 4-7K I usually write.
A few of you directed me to some great resources that I want to mention here. First, Matthew Wright, whose most recent blog post about Tolkien provides some insights into contrasting the quiet, pedestrian aspects of life with the more extraordinary, larger-than-life moments. And second, Holly Lisle’s “One-pass Manuscript Revision.” Holly deftly deconstructs the notion that we need to revise our manuscripts 20 times before they’re ready. She writes:
“Doing a seventeenth revision on a project does not make a writer an artist or move him above the writer hoi polloi any more than dressing entirely in black or wearing tweed jackets with leather elbow patches or big, black drover coats. These are all affectations, and smack of dilettantism. Real writers, and real artists, finish books and move on to the next project.”
And my weekly word-count, in summary:
- Monday: 958
- Tuesday: 0
- Wednesday: 615
- Thursday: 851
- Friday: 0
- Saturday: 2,055
- Sunday: 0
That’s a total of 4,479 words, well above my goal of 3,000. And I blogged Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, meeting my second goal.
How are your goals going? Are you gaining momentum for 2012?
Finally, here’s a quote to kick off a new week:
“Find out the reason that commands you to write; see whether it has spread its roots into the very depth of your heart; confess to yourself you would have to die if you were forbidden to write.” – Rainer Maria Rilke
Denise D. Young 
Good Job!! Give yourself a pat on the back, you’ve earned it.
Aww. Thanks, Prudence!
Great week, Janelle. Well done! how nice to work through the issues in your book.
Thanks, Louise. I hope your writing goals are coming along as well. 🙂
Love that quote Janelle. So glad to hear the gates opened up and your story is working its magic once again. Your word count is very impressive. Thanks for sharing the links. I’ll be checking those out in a little while.
Thanks, Debra. I found both Matthew and Holly to be great resources; I hope you get something out of their blogs/sites as well!
“Real writers, and real artists, finish books and move on to the next project.”
This is the kick in the butt I needed for this week–thanks Janelle!
Good luck on this week’s goals.
You’re welcome,Coleen. Good luck! 🙂