Tuesday, August 09, 2005

Second Act



Last week I didn't write a single word of the book. I don't know if it was finally reaching page one hundred that made me feel I deserved some sort of break, or if I was just too wrapped up in prepping for the wedding. I alternated both of these excuses in my mind all week.

Today I'm starting back in and realizing that the truth of it is that I'm just in a really difficult part of the story. I hate writing middles. I think I'm pretty good at beginnings and endings, but there's something so intimidating and complicated about writing the bulk of the story, the gut of it, that I'm nearly paralyzed by it. I wish I could rush on to page two hundredandwhatever and be done with the draft.

I tend to be this way about most things in my life. I'm always uncomfortable with the inbetween. I like to be going somewhere, or to have just arrived. The rest I'm often baffled by and anxious about. The only upside to this is that usually my unrest causes me to (eventually, often much later than I should) take action.

So on to one hundred and one.

4 comments:

Danielle said...

What are you writing? Just keep hammering away at it. One word at a time. Doesn't matter if it's good right now. Just get it down. Have you ever read "Bird by Bird" by Anne Lamott?

Zoanna said...

I loved your perspective. I, too, am curious what you're writing and what prompted you to write it?

Lindsey said...

I'm writing a novel. Up until now, I've only managed to write short stories, so this is a departure for me. It's been a goal of mine for as long as I can remember, and I'm just now finally doing it.

Zoanna said...

What's it about? What was the inspiration?