Wednesday, April 19, 2006

It's Getting There

Okay, first thing, I want to say that I like Laurell K. Hamilton. I like her books [like 'em all, but am particularly hooked on Merry Gentry and the earlier Anitas], and I think that she is a really cool person. This is judging by the few times I have met her, the things she does for charity and for other writers, things I've heard of about her and... well, much as I hate to admit it... her blog.

Today her blog dealt with something that I have happen all the time and didn't quite know if it was common or normal. (Apparently it's at least 'normal' for writers. Good to know.) It is the emotional crap of either going ugly and thinking it's all awful and you might as well pitch it all and start over, or that it is too perfect and reads like a dream. In the end, it's probably somewhere in the middle and will need edits when you've taken the time to calm down.

This is a good thing to know.

Yesterday I actually (GASP) got some writing done. Re-read the synopsis (there is going to be some 'drift' away from the synopsis, BUT it gives me a good starting point.) Sadly, I NEEDED to. I had gotten so deeply into the edits of Howling Moon (Cat), and the next Sazi novel with Cathy (a stand-alone in Texas) right after having been deeply into Roxanne (the ghost story which is being put on the back burner until we finish all three books on this contract) that I lost the entire thing -- plot, characters, voice, everything.

Given a choice I would think of one book at a time. Unfortunately, that SO doesn't work in the real world. I work with a partner, we are always running at least two books (the one I am primary on and the one she is). I can run two books in my head. I can SOMETIMES push it to three with edits. I can't do four. I particularly can't do four paranormals at once. My brain simply will not hold that much info. Each world has so many different rules, such different people. Something has to give. The one that 'gave' was Kate/TOM.

Fortunately, re-reading TOE and going over the synopsis has gotten me back in the groove. I am getting a feel for it again. Still tentative, but I remember some of the subplots, etc. This means that, if I am careful and good, I can bang out some real pages over the next few days. SO, if you don't hear from me here (you probably will, but just in case), picture me in the new chair, in front of the keyboard with my glasses perched on the end of my nose, typing like a wild woman -- my eyes ever-so-slightly glazed, a huge can of Pepsi on my left, cats perched on the other desk, recliner, and the back of my chair.

Later.

Cie

5 comments:

Shawn said...

:D Type, type, type away Cie! Your readers appreciate it.

Thanks for mentioning LKH's post. My cp is having a similar issue.

Yolanda Sfetsos said...

I know exactly what you mean Cie! I've come to terms with the fact that it's just part of the writing process.

And good luck with the writing!

Zinnia said...

Okay, call me weird, but I haven't been able to get into a Laurel Hamilton book. I've tried. They bore me to tears. (ducking and running!)

C. T. Adams said...

Hi Zinnia!

It's okay. You like (and don't) what you like. It's why there are so many books out there to choose from. There are also significant differences between series by the same author sometimes. (Our "Touch of" series is VERY different from the Sazi series.)

Welcome, glad to hear from you. Have a virtual drink of your choice. :)

Anonymous said...

I liked how you described the cats, chair, Pepsi and glasses, I get a mental image of it, very cool.
Jim