Into the Fire

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Back to “normal” . . .

   Pretend-To-Be-Normal-Cover1

Okay. Reluctantly I return to your regular programming and will desist from celebrating the Seahawks Super Bowl win.

"Normally", writing produces two things: either a desire to be alone or a desire to break out and socialize after being alone. There are media-savvy writers, marketing-mogul-type authors, and there are recluses who want nothing in life but the hours to devote to creating with words.

I can tell you firsthand I don't mind being in the solitary trenches creating characters and situations. I don't mind making blog posts most of the time. I love reading, although I don't think I've finished a novel in the entire months of December and January which must be a new record for me over the last several years.

The last few days I've restarted the editing process on what I have so far in my mystery titled Race. Of course I've reread it so many times, but I've waited long enough – far too long actually – for it to feel new all over again. And . . . I like it. Which is good. I'm catching up to where I need to be to re-engage the writing process and hopefully finish this book.

I wrote a blog post about the fear involved with this one: that nagging fear of making a serious mistake in procedural details that would lead to smart readers discovering how little I really know about how murder is investigated. I've had terrific assistance from a former detective who now works in SWAT. And another resource has recently been made available to me. I couldn't ask for better help.

Since I took a considerable amount of time off from writing novels after completing my seventh book, I started three stories but haven't finished one of them. It's time. Past time. Now time. It takes discipline, and the only discipline I've practiced has been posting on this blog. I made it a priority. Whether or not that was a good idea, I don't regret it. It seemed the right thing to do.

The normalcy of writing a book requires time specifically given – some would say "allotted" but I don't work like that - to the process. My normal doesn't often mesh with that of other writers. To each his own. But I know what I need to do, and I'm praying I'll dig in and accomplish the task. Because I know I'm supposed to, and that makes it compelling.

So . . . this is me being "normal". Sort of.

 

Father, you're the only one who can help me get this done. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.   

   

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4 responses to “Back to “normal” . . .”

  1. BK Jackson (@BKJacksonAZ) Avatar
    BK Jackson (@BKJacksonAZ)

    I’ve never come to terms with what being a “disciplined” writer really should mean. Oh sure, I can go to a million different websites and read someone’s opinion, but deciding what discipline means to me has to be the bottom line.
    I am not now nor will I ever be a “churn ’em out” writer. And the business side doesn’t appeal. I much more prefer the many hours of solitude that come with creating a novel. But that’s also the main reason I rarely get to write—because I have next to no solitude in life.
    However, my entry that won the Genesis contest back in 2010 has been sitting quietly on my hard drive for the last 3+ years growing cold (my intention). Recently, having received encouragement in a way you wouldn’t expect (from beta-ing someone else’s story) I decided to pull it out and re-read and see what I thought of the story 3 years later. It will take a lot of time to get through because of all the other things in life pulling at me.
    I don’t see this process changing for subsequent books either. Writing takes time. There’s always the possibility of falling into the trap of never putting your work out there, but I’m just not in a rush with this process. I can’t be. Time doesn’t allow it.
    A years-long process is my normal. Whether good or bad.

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  2. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    Brenda, even if someone else suggests you do it differently and are sincerely trying to help, they don’t live your life. If a suggestion makes sense, we try it. If not, we bag it. Only you can determine the process for you. I have four completed novels on my hard drive that have been sitting for more than three years. The task to go back and edit them is daunting, but I just might do it. E-publishing can be a blessing if I choose to get them “out there”. You do what you have to do.

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  3. Brenda Anderson Avatar
    Brenda Anderson

    One thing I love about writing is that there is no “normal.” I need quiet solitude to write, while another writer does his best work in a busy coffee shop. Some authors write in the morning, others in the evening. Some every day, others once a week.
    I think the key is finding what works best for you, and then, as you said discipline yourself to write. That’s the hard part.

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  4. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    Totally agree, Bren. And yes indeed it is. You know “it don’t come easy”. I’m with you as to the silence when writing. I’ve found the only music I can have on while writing is Chris Botti’s. Gives me the proper melancholy.

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