Scraped up another 1,000 words on Escaping Canaan. Magic Meter is apparently out of order at the moment, but we’re up to 3673 words.
And this is where I have to stop for a bit.
Something is very wrong with this opening. It’s just not working for me. Less than 5K in four weeks? That’s paltry, even by my standards. I’ve been trying to just bull my way through, hoping for the words to come. But they ain’t coming. Which leaves me with two possibilities: either I’ve forgotten how to write, or the story’s not ready to be told yet.
Now, some might question whether I ever knew how to write, but ever the optimist, I have decided that the problem is with the novel.
See, at the time I started drafting, I was acutely conscious that the end of the year was nigh, and I was way behind on my 2012 word goal. Rather than lose even more days to getting a better feel for the story, I decided to wing it. I had a pretty good idea for the ending–which almost never happens–so I figured that I knew enough to get started.
Four weeks later, I realize that it’s more important to know your opening than your ending. Huh. Who knew?
Which means I have to step away from drafting for a bit, get back into Dream Time, and see if I can whip this first act into shape.
This realization was quite discouraging, naturally. It’s a setback. I’m going to fall far short of my word goal for the year. And the novel just might not work at all, at least not in its current incarnation. But after a month of slamming into this wall, I guess I can take a hint.
I dunno. It could be simple laziness talking. But you know, as much as I self-deprecate, even I can’t see myself being that lazy.
Back to the proverbial drawing board. And if this doesn’t work out, there’s still the rewrite of Apocalypse Pictures Presents waiting for me. It’s been sitting since February. Probably I have enough distance on it now.
So I’m covered, no matter what happens.
See? Told you I was an optimist.
Write Club update: 20 days to notice that a story of mine has been passed up to the next level at Penumbra. So that’s something.
I’m out.
