Inspiration

Today, the creative juices are flowing.  Imagine an avalanche, but with water instead of ice.  My mind's all over the place.  I've been using a notepad to jot down little scenes for different projects.  In the end, I know it'll be worth it.  Always is.  But right now I feel a little manic with the thought jumps.

I've finished all my word count goals, even wrapping up past ones, so now I'm devoting my time to polishing The Legacy.  Except Stars Collide wants to intrude.  The number of words I'm cutting is insane.  But I need to.  I hoped to wrap it up before the next Jambalaya Conference, which I might not be able to with all it needs.  After all, I have an agent willing to give me another try.  Have to make the deadline.

My biggest problem with writing is I don't have any beta readers.  I don't even have friends and family willing to read my writing and lie to me about its condition.  Well, I have one friend who's game, but I have to send it in a format he can put on his Nook.  Of course, as I write this, I realize I could search to see if the Nook opens .pdf.  And I might be able to ask my step-mom to take a look.  She liked some of my short stories.  Guess I have to ask if she's willing to read a novel – with the promise she can't just love it.

I always write for me first.  I've daydreamed about being a published author and living off that income.  When those two clash, I was left feeling okay if I'm never published in a large market.  I have so many completed novel and short story manuscripts.  As of May 2013, I'll have four short stories in print, plus a sample chapter.  I have accomplished something.  But now, after hitting 30, I'm driven more than ever to see a novel in print.  I'm trying to dissect how I feel.  All I'm left with is "Time is running out."  There's an urgency to publish I never experienced before.  Maybe, when I turn 45 or so, if I haven't made it into the traditional publishing arena, I'll just go with self-publishing.  Maybe.

I don't know what it all means, but I'll keep writing no matter what.  Ride the waves of inspiration until they break.  And love it the entire time.

Stars Collide

I'm really trying to think of a better name for the novel.  It's taken over my writing life.  The plot line is really working and I never spend more than 24 hours mulling over a way out of a situation I put my characters in.  I've written 75,000 words since May 17 just on this one.  The words have never been easier.

The real big help comes from, believe it or not, Hurricane Isaac.  My day job's picked up some contracts and to cover them, I'm working 12 hour shifts.  All the extra time at work is giving me uninterrupted, have to do something, writing time after the yard closes.  They're willing to put me at one of the new sites for more pay per hour, but I don't want to risk missing the opportunity to work on my writing.  And writing I am!

I finally heard from the editor and his tips were spectacular.  Just don't know if I can figure out how to apply them.  For instance: some of my explanations are relayed through awkward syntax.  Well, it makes since to me and without a beta reader to point as many of them out as they can, I can't tell if I'm fixing all of the issues.

At least I've met wonderful people in the publishing industry that are willing to read my work and give me comments on how to improve my writing.