Sunday, January 13, 2013

Half Way There

So in a bold (insert any other appropriate word here: crazy, stupid, foolish) move I set a goal to write and submit a Halloween story to The Wild Rose Press for 2013. I know, what you're saying, "That doesn't sound so bad." Well, in theory, you'd be absolutely correct. In reality, with a deadline of January 26, I didn't give myself much time to accomplish this goal.

I had the idea for a story, but I'm not necessarily Speedy Gonzalas when it comes to going from an idea to a finished mss. When I headed back to work (and all that it entails...being busy, busy, busy) last Monday after a couple of weeks off, I had basically decided I needed to concede the story just wasn't going to happen for this year. No biggie. Halloween comes every year. I could take an entire year to write the story and submit it next year. Whew. One less thing to think about and get done.

Trouble is, the story wouldn't let me go. I was more than willing to let it go (at least until next year), but it had other ideas. I couldn't get it out of my head. Kind of like when you hear a song in the morning and have one line stuck in your brain all day long.

Up until now, I'd written about five or six pages, and those weren't even consecutive pages. I'd just type out a paragraph here and there as ideas came to me. Then Friday night I sat down to get some of the ideas on the screen (and out of my head) and the muse and drive struck. So after doing most of my chores (cleaning the bathrooms, kitchen, and grading English tests) I spent most of the day yesterday (in between running up and down the stairs to do loads of laundry) ensconsed at my keyboard, typing away.

The result? I'm now 27 pages in and at 5,402 words. Essentially, about halfway done. I'd only planned on writing a short 10,000 word novella in the first place.

Hmn? Might this bold, crazy, stupid, foolish idea come to fruition? If I can make the same progress today, it just might. So, who knows, come Halloween, maybe we'll all be reading "The Vampire and the Vixen". Crazier things have happened.

Until next time,

Happy Reading!

Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com

5 comments:

Margot Justes said...

Debra,
Love the title. I understand not being able to finish and not being a speedy writer. You're not alone. I had a novella due last Halloween, well it'll be out this Halloween.
Margot
www.mjustes.com

Debra St. John said...

That's the good thing about holidays, isn't it Margot? They come around every year...

Morgan Mandel said...

Marvelous idea! And when inspiration strikes, you must go with it!

Morgan Mandel
http://www.morganmandel.com

Debra St. John said...

You got that right!

Deb Larson said...

Baby steps, baby steps - it will get you to your goal! Good luck
DL Larson