The butt-in-chair worked.

1100 words.

Why is it that with things we love, we fight it.

My daughter is the same with the bath, always. If given the option she won’t get in. If I run it and then tell her to she is reluctant. But once she is in, and wet, and maybe a doll or two join her, I can’t get her out. I am the same with writing. I love it. I battle to start and if given the option I will opt for not. But once I am sitting and a few lines are started I can go for hours without thinking about it.

Good effort for an evening after far too long. Only 50 words the following day and that was with my daughter standing beside me trying very hard to get my attention, which in the end won out.

Just that little bit of writing has me thinking about the story again, which is great. My lunch time on the treadmill at the gym I was setting scenes, reforming problem characters and thinking of possible twists, or excitement for the plot. It may be the first draft but so far it isn’t very exciting. Yet. There is too much tea drinking and thinking time for the main character. I need to get a bit tougher with her.

Part of my little breakthrough the other night really helped with that. I put her into a very different situation and literally let her feel her way around. I am hoping that something good has, or will, come out of it.

So that is one story coming back to life. Now I need to get back to the hard work one. It is only hard work because I am at the stage where I really need to concentrate on what I have and what I want it to be and how to get there. There is a lot more freedom in a first draft. But the joy of finishing that initial first draft is still with me, I am hoping that the joy of finishing this (please God let it be the last) draft will be even better. Although if I manage to get it accepted by a publisher I’m sure there is even more work to do, but by then I will be focused on seeing it on the shelves and so will do anything required.

Some revised goal setting is needed I think. Once I have them set out, I then need to ensure I am following through with them. My main problem with goal setting is I set far more than I can do in the timeframe. I need to be a little more realistic.

Here are some of my 2011 goals set in December last year. Obviously I haven't quite got there, or close.  

I will start with my three main writing projects and go from there. And one of them has changed already from the list to the left.

In the meantime it is focus, focus, focus on final drafts.

Happy Scribbling