I have fled in the shape of a raven of prophetic speech.” ~ Taliesin
It is Day 25 of NaNoWriMo and I must admit that I’ve fallen so far behind I’ll never catch up. But I am committing to sixteen hundred and sixty-seven words a day for the last six days of November (including today). That’s another 10K. I can do it. Yes I can.
Since I stopped to chart chapters and characters in an Excel worksheet for an overview, writing has been painfully slow. A nibble here, a peck there.
Such is my process, though. I could’ve kept typing, churning out words that I may or may not keep, all in the name of word count. But that just seemed silly. Instead I decided to step back to get the big picture. Now that I have it, I’m just floundering. Or so it seems.
A few days ago I went to the park to walk. As I’ve shared before, it’s one place I can get quiet enough to hear the story. I wasn’t disappointed. I got some great new threads and storylines. But it was slightly disconcerting to realize that they were for the next book, nothing for this one.
Which means: I’ve already been given everything I need for Book One. It’s sink or swim time with what I’ve been given.
Truth is, I am eighty-five percent done and methinks that scares the poopdiddlysquat out of me. Hence the hovering over, around and near my laptop and generally twisting in the wind. Doesn’t it sound like I need to take a walk? (my hip hurts) Or wash the car before the temperature drops and it gets cold again? (don’t wanna get wet or change clothes)
But I won’t do either. My little tail-end will be glued to this chair until I tap out another chapter. Please let it be easier to come by than the last one.
Because THE END is in sight. And I’d like to race across the finish line, not limp.
~ Olivia J. Herrell
Dr. Olivia J. Herrell is the author of Blessed Are The Peace Makers, the Blog, and is currently working on the first of a Southern Urban Fantasy (trilogy) of the same name.
