Day 4: Settling In

Well, I didn’t end up doing more. I got lazy. Plus Jon and his mum came over. I told him what I was doing, and he told me he reckons 1600 words a day would be easy. That’s all he knows, I thought. And then I wondered if it were true.

What if today is the day that I finally setttle into a proper,working writing habit? What if today is the day I learn to knock it over in one big stretch?

Am not sure how realistic I’m being. Will stop grand dreams, and go and make a hot chocolate. Any hot drink will do in the place of coffee (and fake coffee at that!), right?

Got distracted looking up writing quotes on goodreads.com last night, until a massive 1:40 am. I am so stupid.

Later: it has just struck me that I’ve got no idea how I’m going to manage this once school goes back. I’d better either a) rack up a huge amount of wordcount now so that I don’t need to type as much when school goes back b) rack up an even huger amount of wordcount (not likely) so that I don’t need to type at ALL or c) get into a good rhythm so I can do this as fast as possible. Will try for combination of a) and c).

Okay. So my JulNo word count needs to be at least 1613 words today. My personal goal is for 1800. If I want to make up my personal goal for all the days I missed, I need to write a further 600 words in total. I will tackle this 200 words at a time, for a total of 7200 words. I hope I can do this.

10:21 Still haven’t started. Slight problem with converting documents from ODT to DOC format. Damn. I’ve lost those 39 all-important words. Meaning I am behind.

11:21 Still haven’t started. Decided long hot shower would have motivational powers. (Also realised that hair is Noticably Unwashed.) Instead, have emerged clean, tired, and completely unmotivated. Hot chocolate does not work. Will have coffee sachet tomorrow instead. Mum doesn’t appear to have noticed she’s missing one yet, so this should be all good.

11:30 Okay. For one hour I will sit and write. Have banned all noise from the loungeroom, much to consternation of my TV-obsessed siblings. I will try and do 800 words.

12:04 Am taking quick time to note that I’ve written 600 words in roughly half an hour. Will try for another 450 in the next 25 minutes. Mandates of peace and quiet are working. Am actually a little more motivated. It has taken me 2 minutes to write this. Must get back to work.

Just how many pages is 50 000 words, anyway?

12:23 200 words to go and 7 minutes. Hm.

12:27 100 words to go…

12:30 I can’t believe I’ve done it. 5850 words! I am in the ZONE, baby! And I didn’t even need coffee!

1:08 After triumph, intercepted by sick mother who begged me to make muffins for her. Felt sorry for her. Acquiesed. After all, she is sick. Am now covered in flour, but am not grumpy, so this won’t make for interesting reading.

3:05 Okay, after sitting at an ‘afternoon tea party’ with two of my mother’s friends, I am back. 2 reasons for this:

a) felt guilty for not writing for so long.

b) felt squeamish as we were sitting there discussing death and people who cut themselves. Charming. Very idiosyncratic. Hope that word means what I think it means.

Now am settling in for another hour of writing. Aiming for 900 words, against better judgement.

GO!

3:32 I just wrote the last words of the story (I’m jumping from event to event), and think I’ve just found the title: Finding Nick. I feel so buoyed up and hopeful after writing the end of it. Like a spiritual lightness or something. Sheesh, am I poetic or what?

3:39 Just went to tell mum I made 6400 words.Her friends (who are so close to the family that they’re really like my aunties—I even call them ‘aunty’) wanted to know what was going on. Explained. Aunty Francine said, “Good on you, Stephanie.” I said, “It’s going to be rubbish, because it’s my first.” Auntie Sue said, “If you’re going to do it, aim to do it well.” I said, “I just want to finish.” Auntie Francine said, “That’s a good goal, Stephanie.”

Did not agree with Auntie Sue (know she means well, and normally she’s got good advice, but not this time), but didn’t say anything as this would be rude. Will not let this bother me. Succeeding, because finishing the finish has left me on a high. Now all I’ve got to do is the middle. I know that’s a lot, but it seems more managable now. I’ve got a clear goal; it’s not so nebulous now. I guess the way to do something is to write the end first. I heard somewhere that JK Rowling did that.

Mum gave me a coffee sachet. Felt a little guilty.

3:45 Must go back and try and finish… I’ve forgotten how much I need to finish, now. Will call it 500 words.

4:06 Didn’t write. Instead, got distracted with looking up Australian Broadcasting Corporation podcasts. Now have 20 downloads waiting. Good news though: Ice Age short ‘Gone Nutty’ is free. Love that squirrel-rat-thing…Will take a break and come back to write at 4:30. Back is slightly sore. Just under 800 words to go and then I’m back on track for 1800 words per day: 7200 in total.

4:32 Spent about 3 minutes working out that 1800 x 4 = 7200. What shame.

5:36 Have not written anything. Lost concentration yet again. Back is sore. WHERE ARE MY 800 WORDS????

5:44 Have a sneaking suspicion that my 800 words will be distracted out of existence. Must go out and hang washing so that I have something to wear to church tomorrow.

6:00 Have just given up a movie night tonight (we’re going out for tea) and a movie afternoon tomorrow, because I know I won’t have time to go to church, walk home and still write 1800 words. First sacrifices. Writers’ glamour still hangs over these, and so I can bear it.

Suspect I will be heartily sick of sacrifices before long. Am making the most of this while I still can.

6:14 550 words before I hit 7200. Magic number. My back has been getting sorer and sorer throughout the day. Even cushions and throw rugs are not helping.

9:17 Am back from tea. Stuffed self full of cake and pizza. Have learned the Dangers of Greed. Tried to fall asleep on sister numerous times. Sore back plus wooden bench did not help. Am 32 words shy of 6800.

 I think writing the end before I finished was a good idea. I mean, I did want to save it for a sentimental final act, you know, so I could type the last word and then do the whole bowed-head one-minute’s silence for a finished work type of thing. (And then sit back in relief and sigh dramatically.) But I guess this way will actually help me craft—and finish!—a better novel.

Suspect that this will be more of an organic and practical process than I realised. This may not have a clear-cut ending, where I’m absolutely sure I’m finished. I think it’ll be more of a gradual process. Gradual is good.

Huh. And I was sure I was a linear writer. Obviously not. Then again, this way gives you more freedom, and freedom is always a good thing, right?

Can’t wait to see what’s going to happen in my story tomorrow. Like, I really can’t. I’m super, super excited. And I think I’ve made the first steps toward a writing ‘stride’. (Think I just made a pun there, but am not sure.)