Friday, March 19, 2010
Writing a Novel Engenders Not Novel Writing - Jay Eckert
I haven't written a word on Mythos this week and I can't believe it. The last week has been an amalgam of blogging, tweeting, working, reading, researching agents for Midian, reviewing, getting going on YALITCHAT and fiddling with a new blog theme.
I've sent some queries out for critique, one to an agent intern, and another to Query Shark, with dreams of finding my query lovingly eviscerated. I also signed up for a query critique at YALitChat's Query Kick Around group. All of this with Tinkerbell gently snoring on my lap. That would be the little black pug, who is now staring at the keyboard as if it woke her.
On top of that, I'm house dad until Sunday night since my wife went off with her best friend for a short Disney trip. Rona is a Disney nut. Her friend Jodi is even more so. They needed a break from the kids so they can act like a pair of them in Florida. And here I sit, writing a blog entry to post tomorrow morning.
I suppose I'll make a cup of coffee in a moment and dream up some more Mythos. And once that's done, I'll tweet about how many words I wrote. And if I finish a chapter, I'll write a Birth of a Novel post in my blog. So in the end, and as the title says, writing a novel engenders not novel writing. Say that ten times fast!
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you wouldn't believe how much non-writing I do these days, Jay! Still , it's all part of getting published. You're doing the right thing!
ReplyDeleteYou've made me feel better. :-) Tamara, what in heck are you doing up at, what is it 4am where you are?
ReplyDeleteYep. There's a lot of not-writing that goes with writing. Strange, huh? Well, what I try to do is make sure it's "balanced." If I have a day like the one you just did, I try to follow it up with a writing-heavy day the next. Most days I try to make sure my focus is on the words, with the rest coming secondary -- instead I usually putz around all day doing the non-writing, and then at 11 pm I'm like, OH CRAP! Gotta write at least 500 words!
ReplyDeleteI'm tired and it sucks, but I still do it. To keep the balance. To make sure the writing part of writing gets in as much time as the non-writing parts.
Great post! I think a lot of people don't realize how much we juggle.
I do the same as Kristan - if I have a day where non-writing takes over, I try to make the next day all about writing.
ReplyDeleteNow, my son easily can turn one day into a non-writing week! Come Saturday I feel depressed and my characters are crying over the lack of attention.
I have discovered the art of multitasking! At any given moment I have three internet windows open at once with novel notes on my left and a book that I am reading or reviewing on my right! It sounds insane, but there is a system to it!
So with Kirstan's advice of finding the balance, I also say "streamline" HAHA
We have all cought the non-writing flue!
ReplyDeleteI try to do the same thing, too! And I'm happy to report that my zombie-like state today is a testament to the fact that I did get a bunch written last night.
ReplyDeleteWhy is re-facing a blog so time consuming? Yeesh!
Great post, Jay! I'm seriously trying to cut down on my non-writing tasks to make more writing time. I'm a bloke, multi-tasking is not an option...lol...The problem is the spaces of time left are quickly filled with a million other real life tasks :0
ReplyDeleteIt's easy to get lost in the non-writing stuff, since social networking and blogging are time-consuming. Sometimes I'm fiddling with themes when I should be writing.
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy I'm not alone with this craziness. :-)
ReplyDeleteI can't even say it one time fast. Cool blog.
ReplyDeleteJesse
http://jesseacohen.blogspot.com/
And why is it the query is SO much harder than writing the whole novel? I like the idea of sending a query off to Query Shark. Not my query. Yours. (I'm too chicken)
ReplyDeleteKeep us posted.