Denise D. Young

It has been an interesting week writing-wise. This week I’ve challenged myself to write 2,000 words per day. It worked yesterday and Monday—2,921 words on Monday and 2,325 words on Tuesday. But today a headache derailed me, so I doubt I’ll reach 2K today. But there’s always tomorrow.

The novella I started, tentatively called “At Rainbow’s End,” is turning into a novelette. I reached the 10K mark and realized I was way past the halfway point in the story. So it’s probably going to be more like 15K instead of 20. But that’s just the nature of stories and how they evolve. I tend to be more of a put-in than take-out kind of person when it comes to revising, so the final draft might be longer.

This is also my first attempt at writing in first person instead of third. I’m considering this manuscript to be an experiment, one I’m just having fun with and seeing where the road leads. Since it’s such a short work, it gives me time to really dig in and play with character development, theme, tension, imagery, and so on, since the structure is fairly straightforward.

Since I’m writing full time, I’m tempted to look at my work and ask, “How close is this to polished and publishable?” With this story, I’m trying to learn patience. I still have a way to go, and the process can’t be rushed.

Have you ever written something just for fun? How have you learned to develop patience in your life?

ROW80 check-in

Writing:

• Finish a second draft of my novella “Good Old-Fashioned Magic.” Wrote a new scene that came in at 876 words.
• Write a first draft of another novella. Okay, at this point, it’s more in the novelette territory. Wrote 4,370 words so far, including a synopsis.
• Read a minimum of four books on the business or craft of writing. Three of four books read. Finished reading “How I Write” by Janet Evanovich.

Social media:

• Check in on Twitter or Facebook daily. On track to meet this goal.
• Blog two times per week. On track to meet this goal.
• Comment on three to five blogs per day, Monday-Thursday. On track to meet this goal.

A Round of Words in 80 Days is the writing challenge that knows you have a life. Click here to cheer on fellow participants.