Then in late July the real world came back to intrude in a big way and my production dropped way off. Week-long plumbing problems, the AC going out, Lana's surgery, blood tests for me, more AC issues, taking back chairship of the research IRB committee at work, and then getting ready for the fall return to school, brought my writing to a near standstill. I've managed only a few thousand words since that all started.
Nevertheless, the book is still moving forward and I'm at 58,000 words on it now. I can largely see my way through to the end, although exact details are still a bit hazy. I had originally hoped to have a strong rough draft done by the time school started, but now I'm pushing my schedule back and plan to have the final work done by Christmas. We'll see.
A lot will depend on how heavy the school year is. When I was younger I could work an 8 or 9 hour day at school and then come home and still write another couple of hours. That's really not happening for me much these days. Much of that is physical. By the end of a day my legs often ache and throb so badly that I can hardly sit in a chair. Plus, my emotional state is not as responsive as it once was. It takes me longer to recover from emotional shocks and I'm not as able to lose myself in writing in response to emotional upset as I once was.
The secret, of course, is to find workarounds for those things that throw me off. I've always been able to do so before and probably will now as well. The main thing it takes is will.
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Take "Dr. Scholl's Little Liver Pills." They are supposed to cure everything. Just joking, Charles. You amaze me that you can still write a couple of hours after a hard day's work, at least you could before. Emotions weigh heavy on a writer.
ReplyDeleteOscar, it was the only way to do it, but man it was tiring and wearing.
ReplyDeleteSome of these issues are very familiar, Charles. Hope for a good autumn for you both.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the progress you've made, and best of luck on continuing forward, even if it isn't as fast as you'd like to go. Writing something is better than writing nothing. I'm back to trying to write at least 250 words every day, and although I'm not putting up any wordcount records, I'm creeping forward. Forward is forward, and progress gets stories written, whether fast or slow.
ReplyDeleteAngie
Charles, I think you are doing well on the writing front in spite of your recent problems and a full day's teaching job, which can be draining. I get the feeling that you enjoy writing and not being able to write as much as you want to must be frustrating. Maybe, you could devise a new timetable for writing, one that is flexible and convenient for you.
ReplyDeleteYou had a lot of stuff pile on you, but 58k words is still an accomplishment. May life ease up a little as you enter the school year.
ReplyDeletePatti, sure do need a break
ReplyDeleteAngie, that's what I'm trying to focus on now, just make progress
Prashant, part of the issue is that teaching already requires a flexible schedule to deal with. Its feast or famine. During the famine part is when I get the most time to write.
Sage, thanks, man. Hopefully it will.
I have enjoyed visiting and browsing through your fine blog; I occasionally read in what seems to be your favorite genre, and I hope to read your writing soon. Now, though, may I be bold enough to change the subject and invite you to visit my blog? I am a retired federal government court reporter and paralegal, and I am an avid reader and reviewer of crime, detective, mystery, espionage, and historical fiction; the new edition of my blog, "Crimes in the Library," is where you will able to find regularly posted book reviews and commentary. Here is the address: http://crimesinthelibrary.blogspot.com/ I hope you will stop by and comment often. Thanks, Harper
ReplyDeleteI think you have deduced by now that I am of little emotion, that was all spent in my younger days. I don't think you need blood tests Charles but a low back MRI to see if any discs have moved or are bulging.
ReplyDeleteYou may think that 25,000 words was not quite to your goal but then tell me how many people you know who have a hard time writing even 10,000?
You at least had a summer, here it lasted for two weeks. But on the other hand i did buy my first Glock and get to target shoot to get the brain moving again when needs be.
Harper, thanks for visiting and the link. I will stop by
ReplyDeleteMark, I find shooting to be a pretty relaxing thing. I wish I had a place where I could go and shoot cans with my 22 but even though we live in the country there is still too many folks around for that.
Better late than never, I'm on my way to your Amazon page. Perhaps Talera will be a pleasant diversion along my journey.
ReplyDeleteThere is will, but then there is also self-care. Doing nice stuff for yourself. That can include writing, methinks.
ReplyDeleteR.T., hope you enjoy!
ReplyDeleteRiot Kitty, the older I get the more I realize I do have to do some self care.
Good progress, my friend. I look forward to it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for blogging about your progress. Don’t fret about obstacles and obligations. Life intrudes (it sure does). I think we all read too much about Hemingway toiling away in Paris, and Graham Greene doing his 500 words a day, and Stephen King writing every day, winter and summer, birthdays and holidays. Don’t let those tales get to you. Just keep at it. You’re doing fine.
ReplyDeleteBernard, thanks, man.
ReplyDeleteElgin, I appreciate it. It's definitely a long haul.