THE DAY
So we’re in the process of designing and getting bids for a new deck. Two estimates from guys who don’t do decks all the time are pretty high; one from a guy whose business is ONLY decks is much lower. Natch, we’ll go for the guy who a) does this all the time and b) is cheaper.
But one thing that no one can factor in just yet is the cost of erosion control. Seeing as how the deck is on the side of a mountain, that’s sort of important. But the reason no one can give me a breakdown is because they need to tear down the existing structure, do the clean-up, and then figure out what needs to be done.
Makes sense.
In a way…that also makes sense when you’re writing a book. Sometimes you don’t know what needs doing until you have a structure to tear down and see what, if anything, needs repair–or even can be repaired. I know that has happened to several of my books; I remember writing ASHES all the way through then coming back and gutting the whole thing and starting all over again because the book just didn’t work.
Think about the amount of time that meant: time to come up with the idea; time to write the original book; time to edit the original book; the month or two that the book marinated; then the total revamp/reimagining/reoutlining of the whole damn thing. And then rewrite, the re-edit…we’re talking months and months.
So I don’t know if my deciding today that the book, as it stands right now, isn’t going to work is a good thing, or bad.
You know when you’ve reached an impasse. You just feel it. I can’t describe it any better than that. But you know that you’re going down the wrong avenue; the book doesn’t feel right; you’re feeling a little ill as you write; and you feel as if you’re pulling words out with a fork rather than their just coming.
I’ve had this feeling for a couple days now and just tried to ignore it, muscle through. But I couldn’t sleep last night. Woke up at 2 a.m. and I just knew: the book wasn’t going to work the way it was laid out. (Mind you, this means, essentially, throwing over the story for the SECOND time since I revamped in November.)
With ASHES, I saved only the situation and setting and one scene. Everything else, including the names of the protags, changed.
This time, I’m keeping two principal characters but only one backstory and the situation. Everything else–everything–will be/is new.
In part, this kills me. It feels like failure. But I was feeling worse flogging a dead horse. SO maybe it’s good I recognized the problem now rather than months from now, I don’t know.
But I also think this tear-down makes sense. Doing so has let me see where all the problems are and what wasn’t working. So…I think this is the only thing that makes sense. You just can’t say every one of your babies.
I’m also going back to the original title for the time being: Dark Side of the Moon (but I do think that will change; too many words and it doesn’t exactly convey what I want).
So…back to the drawing board. What I did today was think and write notes. It counts; you have to think. But I’m thinking, okay, make this count for something.
WRITING OUT LOUD
Far Side of the Moon
Day 1: 4326 Day 11: 2500 Day 21: 1800 Day 31: 745
Day 2: 2085 Day 12: 500 Day 22: 0 Day 32: 0
Day 3: 3011 Day 13: 1000 Day 23: 2700 Day 33: 4000
Day 4: 2652. Day 14: 3700 Day 24: 3500 Day 34: 2800
Day 5: 3210 Day 15: 5630 Day 25: 1500 Day 35: 4500
Day 6: 3450 Day 16: 1060 Day 26: 0 Day 36: 4800
Day 7: 0 Day 17: 130 Day 27: 0 Day 37: 0
Day 8: 2756 Day 18: 0 Day 28: 380 Day 38: 450
Day 9: 4580 Day 19: 3000 Day 29: 390 Day 39: 1000
Day 10: 2670 Day 20: 2600 Day 30: 380 Day 40: 2500
Day 41: 2600
*Day 42: 830
Blog Post: 650
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What I’m Watching:
Not a blessed thing today.
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What I’m Reading:
Pet Sematary: starting to pick up.
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What I’m Listening to:
Nothing today; I needed the quiet to think.
