I've managed to discipline myself to get at least some writing done each night starting last Friday. It seems holding myself accountable to all of you is real incentive not to be lazy!
I get about 60-90 minutes each night to do my writing, a little bit more on the weekends. Most nights, I'll get anywhere from 500 to 1000 words done. There were nights when I was writing my first book where I maybe only got 100 words written. I struggled, at times, with what words to use or checking to make sure I followed a very rigid plot structure. As time went on, I got faster, especially as I internalized the rules of writing, but there still nights I just didn't feel it.
That part hasn't changed so much now that I'm working on the sequel. There are nights I just can't get any inspiration and my writing is slow. Other nights, I know exactly what I want to do, and I can bang out half a chapter in no time. Last night was one of those nights.
I was winding down my day. The sun had set, and I was just doing some cleaning up around the house. All of a sudden, images of a particular scene started flooding my mind. I saw the characters from my book in vivid color, fighting. It was an intense moment, something that the overall plot of the series had been building towards.
Then the characters started talking. The words were perfect for the moment. All the history and animosity and fear between them came spilling out in my mind. I dropped what I was doing, sat at my computer, and began to write. I didn't move for an hour and twenty minutes. Just tap-tap-tap on the keyboard.
When I finished the scene and looked at the time, I was like, "Wow!" I had lost all sense of reality other than the one I was creating for my book. The scene is rough, I didn't bother with correct grammar or spelling. I'll fix those problems later. I just poured forth what I was seeing onto the page. And I love it. It's perfect.
There is, though, just one problem. It's not for Book 2. Or even for Book 3. It's a moment in Book 4 (as I have it planned for right now) that will be a momentous shift for the whole series. It's shocking and unexpected.
I don't normally write my books out of order. That seems risky since so much could change between now and when those words actually get published. But the words were too good, too strong to lose to forgotteness. I had to put them down. The way my mind works, I never would have remembered them when the time comes.
So, I got over 1600 words typed in 80 minutes depicting something you won't see for years. I know that's quite a tease, but I believe the wait will be worth it. When that chapter finally sees the light of day, it will be a special moment for me, for you, for the characters. I can't wait.
Peace,
-Troy
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