Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Write Despite

I just want to pop in today to scream out loud that my starting word count this morning is 48,191.  I'll be at 50,000 words by the end of the day or maybe tomorrow...definitely by Friday or Saturday.

At the beginning of the month, I started at 36,000 words.  On January 10th, I decided to participate in Write Despite, a challenge to write at least 20 minutes a day no matter once.  I had three days where I didn't write, but basically I've stayed the course.  It feels good and unforced.  When I woke up this morning, I couldn't wait to sit down to write more.

...Until I remembered I'm at that chapter, the one that puts the dark in my dark novel. 

I'm not sure I'm up for it today.  There have been lots of tears this week.  The little girl that died during the 86 car pile-up in Cincinnati is in my son's grade at his school.  My son said his teacher cried all morning at school yesterday, which made me cry again.  This is the fourth child my daughter has known in the last two years that's died. 

Not to give away my story, but I can't kill a child today. 

Instead, I'm going to focus on editing the beginning.


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Although I'm very chatty with the posts this week, I'm behind on reading other blog posts.  It's either sleep or read - and I was sleepy.

26 comments:

  1. I like the sound of this group, Tonja! Very motivational, and you SHOULD look forward to writing most days. Means you're doing it right. (But not looking forward to it doesn't mean you're doing it wrong--just means you're at the 'work' stage of things. :)

    Breaks my heart to hear about the little girl in the accident. It's hard enough for adults to process when such a young life is taken, much less for child to understand. Some things in the world are just out of our control, I guess.

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    1. What I like about the group is it's kind of a personal thing - not really a blogfest (unless I'm not getting the point, which is entirely possible). In just thirteen days, I've gotten myself into the habit of going to my desk with my cup of coffee as soon as the last kid leaves - instead of just getting a cup of coffee.

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  2. Sometimes reality does intrude into a writer's muse. Even writers are human, fortunately.

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  3. Oh, it's true. Some emotional scenes require the right mental attitude or mood to get through them honestly. Nothing wrong with letting it marinate until it's ready, just write around it if you can.

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    1. I had forgotten that I had one preceding chapter that needed to be typed - something I had handwritten a while ago. It turned out great (I think) - and I got to 49,100 words.

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  4. I'm so sorry! How sad. Yes, wait until you can handle it.

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  5. Sleep is better for you anyway. It's all good.

    Hugs and chocolate,
    Shelly

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    1. I think sleep needs to be more of a priority for me.

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  6. I was going to say the same thing as L.G., so I'll just refer you to her comment. It'll keep until you're ready.

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  7. Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry to hear that your son knew the little girl who died. I'm still stunned by that accident, simply horrifying. I can certainly understand why you're not up for a dark chapter at the moment.

    Take care and keep getting that sleep!

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    1. Thanks. I think I kind of mostly got caught up today somehow. That little bit of extra sleep must have done the trick. Or the third cup of coffee....

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  8. It's really hard when tragedy hits so close to home.

    Congratulations on all the progress you've made and if you take a day off to grieve that will be okay too.

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  9. Congratulations on your word count! And I agree, it's hard to kill any character, but children would be near impossible, especially on a teary day. Good luck getting through your hard chapter. :)

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  10. I've never met her, but the situation is so sad. I can't imagine what her parents and siblings are going through.

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  11. Kudos to you for still moving forward amidst all this tragedy. I believe that when you're sleepy, you should sleep. You wake up with energy and new ideas.

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  12. That's terribly sad - I definitely understand wanting to put something like that off for a little while. Good job on getting so much writing done, I think that scene can wait a few days. :)

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  13. 20 minutes per day of focused writing can accomplish a great deal. You are to be commended for your effort.

    Lee
    Wrote By Rote

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  14. Oh, that is so sad, and as a teacher, I feel for the one who had to put on a brave face and keep teaching. I have never had to announce the death of a student, but I did have to break the news that a classmate's house had burned down and his father was killed in the fire. We all cried -- me and the students.

    And yes, I can see how you couldn't face the next chapter, if that's what needed to happen. Perhaps another day.

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  15. My god. It's been a horrible time for many people whose live touches yours of late. My best to everyone. Great job on writing by the way.

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  16. That is so sad. My heart goes out to all those affected by this tragedy.
    On a better note, well done with your writing.

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  17. That's so sad. Good job on your progress, though.

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  18. ....keep going the way your mind takes you.

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  19. I think you just gave away something in your story...*sad face*

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