Unfortunately, I'm not in the last throes of writing the book. I'm not quite in the middle either. I'm still in that EXTREMELY PAINFUL part where I'm hoping the whole thing comes together like a giant wedding cake. I'm still laying the foundation layers right now.
My writing goal is 1250 words five days a week, or 6,250 words a week. Here we are at the 15th of the month (eeek! The Ides of March) and I've only been getting about 295 words a day. S-L-O-W-L-Y the story is coming together, but it's taken me three months to get here, and I have less than three months to go. I can see me rushing when it comes to deadline time -- and then I have another book to deliver three months after that. (Luckily, that book is in better shape than the one I'm working on now--at least I have a complete draft of that done.)
I didn't have a breakthrough yesterday, but I did eek forward more than I have for a full week (despite the fact I had a lot of great ideas on Thursday). So I have pages and pages of scene fragments just sitting there, rather like a giant jigsaw puzzle. Now to figure out where the pieces go, and how they all connect. (This puzzle is beginning to feel like all one color.)
I guess I'm a little discouraged right now. But I have a feeling when I'm done, this book is going to be one of my favorites. At least, I'm crossing my fingers that it happens.
Lorna, it's interesting to hear you describe the process I have been going through for the past year. Except for me it was my first book (finished, anyway), and I didn't realize that experienced, published authors still go through the same stuff. Judging from your past books, I have every confidence that you'll get that puzzle put together as a well-told, compelling story!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Edith. At this point I always wonder how I'll make it to the end...but somehow, it always happens.
ReplyDeleteIt will work out for you. The words will come and your story will be worth the wait.
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