subscribeThis weekend, while gallivanting around Brooklyn with a mattress in the unseasonably warm, sunny weather, my friend told me that Staten Island Chuck had predicted an early spring on Groundhog’s Day in direct contradiction to Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction of an extended winter. Being a New Yorker, I think I might have to put more faith (and hope) in Chuck’s prediction. Also, given the deliciously warm temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit this last Sunday and the sunshine — the air itself smelled like happiness — I think I’m going to believe Chuck. I hope for a reasonably warm March 7, at least. Shopping for a wrap to go over the wedding dress on Friday and seeing the lack of, uh, warmth they offer… I’m hoping I won’t have to resort to a cardigan/full-on coat, or at least not for long. I wish the wedding wasn’t consuming my thoughts as much as it is increasingly doing. It is a wedding; I suppose this is what it is supposed to be doing.
I can’t help but wonder if avoiding obsessing over the wedding is contributing to my ridiculous pace in this draft. I’ve been writing so much since early January — since serious wedding planning really began. 70,000 words in 30 days (and yeah, it’s just about 30 days now) is nothing to sneeze at. And they are good words. And yet I wonder… could I be so focused upon writing without having something else (like the wedding) to avoid focusing upon? Having — theoretically — all day, every day to work solely on this draft has really amped up the productivity potential, of course. Bryan has been encouraging me to keep chugging throughout the evening, as well, and it being winter — and therefore leaving the house to gallivant around in the cold is undesirable — I’ve had even more reason to simply stay in front of the computer. Maybe that’s a contributing factor?
Regardless of the reason behind this productivity, I am so pleased with this first draft. Each one I’ve written has shown a marked improvement in my own sophistication as a writer and I’m so proud of this one. I am so anxious to finish and polish it but my perfectionist nature is going to fight me on it and make sure it’s perfect. (Thank goodness for that, though.) I hope it can hit the high standard I set for myself and my work. Already it’s doing that in draft form. Throughout all of this, though, I keep thinking I’ll never write a draft this fast ever again. I’m not sure I believe it’s happening but I see the words, I read them, and I just think, Wow. This is crazy. Über crazy. I mean… 70,000 words in 30 days?! I’m telling you it’s because of the miracle outline, That Which Is Showing Me Where to Go. Without that I’d be as lost and rambling as I was during NaNoWriMo, but there is no room for rambling when I have so much stuff happening.
Each week that approaches, though, will get busier and busier. Some part of me hopes to finish the draft soon so I can focus more on the wedding but the procrastinator in me really wants to keep not thinking about the wedding for as long as I can. The more focus and energy I put in thinking about it, the higher my emotions, worries, and anxieties will run, and the more likely I am to start fretting over the details. So far I’ve been confident everything will work out. I have to find a way to maintain that attitude… by distracting myself. Yes. I’ll just keep distracting myself.
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Annalisa
/ 9 February 2009When my mom was supposed to be writing her doctoral thesis, she taught herself to make gourmet soups, homemade bread, etc. My dad has never eaten as well since. You’re right, I think it’s no coincidence that writing is such a profitable distraction for you right now while the wedding is looming large. Still, it’s great that you’re writing such high quality stuff as well as such a large volume!
Do you suppose the way the story came to you (I still think the dream thing was your subconscious talking) has anything to do with how this has differed from the way previous stories have developed? I think you’ve definitely learned a lot with every project you’ve undertaken (I still haven’t read all the older stories yet… yet), but is there something extra about this one?
Kristan
/ 9 February 2009As I told you, I definitely don’t think this is a fluke. It may not always be this fluid, but you’ve found something that works. You won’t just suddenly lose it again!
(Unless I steal it from you, which I confess, I would be VERY happy to do… :P)
Plus, there will always be some nagging real life issue you want to avoid, lol. That’s the beauty of real life.
E. F. Danehy
/ 9 February 2009@Kristan
I love how writing isn’t apparently real life. *giggles* Well. I suppose it isn’t. :P
@Annalisa
Something extra? Possibly the newness of the world. It’s not comfortable for me yet and there’s something about stretching out in the new space that makes me eager to discover more about it. With my other world(s) of the stories, I know them so well — i.e. they’re so rigidly real in my mind — going into them is a very different experience.