Wednesday, March 25, 2009

It is done

Daily Stats:
Words: Shazbot!
Caffeine: morning cup + late afternoon cappuccino
Evil Calories: No! I lost another pound last week and am close to my goal of 120, so be gone you evil, sugary demons!
Reality TV: ANTM

Now, before you get your panties in a bunch (as if my measly adventures in writing would really have any effect on you panties anyway), allow me to clarify the above title. Yes, I am done with the book. But I am done with the book because I have to be, because if I spend one more second looking at it or thinking about it, I will jab fondu forks in my eyes. The final four chapters are clumsy, ill-paced and full of holes. But I must put it down before I flip out and write in an alien invasion or zombie attack to wipe out all of my characters. So, I shall lend it a muu-muu, give it a mojito and send it on vacation until the end of May. Two months should be enough time for me to be able to look at with clear eyes. Or at least slightly less "going postal" eyes.

In the meantime, I will start work on my next idea, which is pure, unadulterated fluff. AC has been a huge challenge for me. Trying to be witty w/out being flippant, trying to be poignant and melancholy without making myself dry heave. I hate sap, but it's hard to write about a girl's father dying without letting a little drivel in. It's been tricky, to say the least. But my new endeavor has none of that. I mean, my MC is being trained for a job in the afterlife by her loony dead uncle. It's pillows of marshmallow all the way. Woo-freakin'-hoo! All hail brain candy!

9 comments:

Ray Veen said...

Maybe I'm the only one this happens to, but when I shelve a MS for future perspective, I always have this nervous, icky feeling. Like I'm forgetting to pick my kids up from school or something.

Anybody else?

Vikki said...

V - Oh, yes. I feel oogy, anxious, guilty and slightly clammy about putting it down for a spell. I may have to visit it from time to time and give it a reassuring head pat, just to make me feel better.

Jewel Allen said...

*But I am done with the book because I have to be, because if I spend one more second looking at it or thinking about it, I will jab fondu forks in my eyes*

That's my motivator for finishing my revisions. I am so done already!

Brain candy sounds great!! Have fun!

Eileen said...

YAY! So glad to hear you were able to avoid sticking a fork in your eye. I think you should get a mohito too!

Amy said...

I think you should send it to your sister, thereby assuring yourself that it's being hugged and cared for while you take sabbatical from it.

Is the loony dead uncle story the one you started before that you sent a few chapters on? Okay, that sentence was REALLY bad. But you know what I mean.

Carrie Harris said...

You deserve a little brain candy after dying daddy. But then again, I'm partial to brain candy.

Word verification: riumping. It's fun to say.

Debra Lynn Shelton said...

Only you know what your psyche needs - rest, distance, etc. Pay attention, trust yourself, and have tons of fun on your new WIP!!

And please, whatever you do, don't kill off all your characters! Step away from the computer and no one will get hurt...

Amber Lough said...

Thanks for the comments...the wonderbra story is just pure funny.

My goal is 120, too, but I'm a little far off. I should be there by summer. Until then, no one can tempt me with boring, un-nutritious foods.

I hope.

Congrats on finishing the draft. Stepping away for a few months is the best idea you can have at this point. Trust me. Don't do a quick revision and then send it off to an editor. You'll regret it later.

Sarah J Clark said...

Would love to read it sometime. Offer a few critiques? Lemme know.

And, congrats. It's a good, bittersweet feeling isn't it? :)