The Habit of Writing

As promised, I have been working on my first YA novel, but I will admit, it’s going slower than I’d like. The good news is that I’ve been able to forge a real connection with the characters, and when I spend time working on it, I find myself getting submerged in the world I’m trying to create. The bad news is that I don’t often get as much time as I’d like to stay there.

What I didn’t tell you was that Mike was in India for two weeks for work, so Jude and I packed up and headed to Mom’s. It was good to have the support and great to have such an extended visit. And then, Jude came down with bronchitis, so I was extra glad that I had the help. Of course, this also meant that my writing time took a blow. Instead of using it as an excuse, I’m choosing to find a lesson inside of it. I can’t take my writing or my time for granted, and even though it might take double the time that I imagined, that’s okay.

It is going to be worth the hard work.

Two nights ago, I decided to restructure the first and second chapter. This is antithetical to every bit of advice I give my students. I tell them to write it all out first, then revise. But, I have terrible habits. I can’t keep going if I am unsettled by what is there on the page, and something about the first chapter was bothering me. It felt too bulky, and it didn’t have the pace or hook that I wanted. But after a couple of hours of work, I was pleased to have found a solution. I didn’t get much more writing accomplished, but I still felt satisfied with my progress.

So what if I stayed up way too late and was almost useless the next day?

Somehow, the universe rewarded me the next night because Jude decided to sleep the whole way through, giving me a full nine hours of rest. It was bliss.

So, that is where I am right now, on my way to the third chapter and feeling good about the direction in which I’m heading. Not bad for a slow poke.

What are your writing habits, quirky or productive?