Start with an idea you love.
Get stuck at Chapter 2.
Change the original idea because you believe you have an even better premise.
Remain focused. Stare at the Keyboard. Stumble and grumble through a first draft, keeping an eye on the calendar. Working regularly. Determined. Going at an injured snail's pace.
Start a different story but put it aside because there's no time.
Get another an idea for a different book but put it aside because...you have to finish that other book.
Write until your back hurts. Stare at the computer between writing moments.
Avoid making plans because you want to be ready if the muse strikes. The muse is only amused. Not visiting you. You're on your own.
Finish rough draft. Start revising.
Get to the end on schedule. Finish first final draft Sunday night before book is due on Monday morning.
Time passes. Forget everything you wrote.
Receive a revision request. Spend the first day thinking about it and mumbling to yourself.
Dig in. Revise. Quickly. Accidentally discover a new command on your computer than you didn't know existed and try to undo the command without having to go back to find the last version on the story you emailed yourself.
Check Facebook and see if you missed anything.
Get back to work. There's not enough time to even read the story twice after you've finished. Send on schedule.
Receive a second revision request... Plan on a few more late nights.
Sunday night before manuscript is done for the final time, decide to change the ending slightly. Discover what the story is really about. Fall in love with the characters. Wonder why you didn't write it that way the first time. Wish you could just spend a little more time involved in this book because you like it so much.
Get stuck at Chapter 2.
Change the original idea because you believe you have an even better premise.
Remain focused. Stare at the Keyboard. Stumble and grumble through a first draft, keeping an eye on the calendar. Working regularly. Determined. Going at an injured snail's pace.
Start a different story but put it aside because there's no time.
Get another an idea for a different book but put it aside because...you have to finish that other book.
Write until your back hurts. Stare at the computer between writing moments.
Avoid making plans because you want to be ready if the muse strikes. The muse is only amused. Not visiting you. You're on your own.
Finish rough draft. Start revising.
Get to the end on schedule. Finish first final draft Sunday night before book is due on Monday morning.
Time passes. Forget everything you wrote.
Receive a revision request. Spend the first day thinking about it and mumbling to yourself.
Dig in. Revise. Quickly. Accidentally discover a new command on your computer than you didn't know existed and try to undo the command without having to go back to find the last version on the story you emailed yourself.
Check Facebook and see if you missed anything.
Get back to work. There's not enough time to even read the story twice after you've finished. Send on schedule.
Receive a second revision request... Plan on a few more late nights.
Sunday night before manuscript is done for the final time, decide to change the ending slightly. Discover what the story is really about. Fall in love with the characters. Wonder why you didn't write it that way the first time. Wish you could just spend a little more time involved in this book because you like it so much.
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