My wrists staged a mutiny yesterday. I could barely move the fingers on my right hand. They just locked up. This has happened to me before. I have to watch how I sit when I type. I tend to let my wrists droop, sitting more for comfort than for function. And I MUST get wrist guards.
Well, because of the stiffness and pain in my hands, yesterday was a bit of a wash. I managed only a few hundred words – about four hundred, in fact. But… resting my wrists yesterday helped me today. It’s not even 10am and I’m nearly done with this chapter. Already 1425 words this morning and the day is still young. Another 1200 words or so, and this chapter is done, done, DONE!
I’m going to keep this momentum going. I’m not as afraid to make mistakes because I know I can fix them. In fact, I know when I’m done with this rough draft, I can let Nil play/revise/nitpick until she’s giggling with glee. I will confess, however, it’s been a struggle to avoid going back to fix every little thing… like having my heroine lift her car keys and give them a shake to make a point – TWICE IN ONE SCENE. Blah. But, I also know, I can eventually go back in to fix that. This is not meant to be perfect, it’s meant to be fun. Writing fast is supposed to help get the story down without distraction or second guessing. I second, third and fourth guess myself all the time when I write. Writing fast leaves little time for that bit of sabotage so writing fast is a precious and vital thing to master… and so is understanding that this is a first draft. Perfection has no place here.
Wow. I should repeat that until it doesn’t cause me to reach for my inhaler. Yikes. It doesn’t have to be perfect???
Okay. I’ll repeat that – Perfection has no place here in my first draft.
My first draft is for fun and creativity. My first draft is my time to play. When I’m done in this sandbox, my inner critic can have her chance and clean things up all she wants. After all, without me to make the ‘mess’, what would there be for her to do? She’ll just have to wait her turn. Meanwhile, I will play until my hero and heroine reach their happily ever after and I reach… The End.
What a great reminder–perfection doesn’t belong in the first draft. This is supposed to be fun. Intense too, of course. It’s wonderful to hear how this is working for you. I’m cheering you on.
Linda
Thank you, Linda!!
Guess what? Chapter 4 is DONE! Total word count for 4 1/2 days? 7,165. Yay, me! 🙂
~Debbie
Debora, what an accomplishment for just four and a half days. You were wise to rest your hands/wrists yesterday. I’m glad you are having fun writing your book. To me that means you have a great story to tell.
Wow Debbie! You’re my hero. This challenge is one I have been meaning to do since the beginning of the year. You are a great inspiration!
Kathleen,
I hope it’s a great story. 🙂 It feels like it. In fact, it feels like the first story I wrote. You know that excitement that comes along with a new interest? Well when I wrote my firt story (I have two 110K word completed RS)I didn’t want to do anything but write it so I could ‘visit’ with my characters. After those first two, the thrill slipped and I’ve been floudering since. Writing like this, every day, has made the characters come alive again. That first-love feeling for writing is back and it’s what’s making me WANT to write each day. It’s such a cool result. Love it.
~Debbie
Kathleen,
I hope it’s a great story. 🙂 It feels like it. In fact, it feels like the first story I wrote. You know that excitement that comes along with a new interest? Well when I wrote my firt story (I have two 110K word completed RS)I didn’t want to do anything but write it so I could ‘visit’ with my characters. After those first two, the thrill slipped and I’ve been floudering since. Writing like this, every day, has made the characters come alive again. That first-love feeling for writing is back and it’s what’s making me WANT to write each day. It’s such a cool result. Love it.
~Debbie
Kathleen,
I hope it’s a great story. 🙂 It feels like it. In fact, it feels like the first story I wrote. You know that excitement that comes along with a new interest? Well when I wrote my firt story (I have two 110K word completed RS)I didn’t want to do anything but write it so I could ‘visit’ with my characters. After those first two, the thrill slipped and I’ve been floudering since. Writing like this, every day, has made the characters come alive again. That first-love feeling for writing is back and it’s what’s making me WANT to write each day. It’s such a cool result. Love it.
~Debbie
Kathleen,
I hope it’s a great story. 🙂 It feels like it. In fact, it feels like the first story I wrote. You know that excitement that comes along with a new interest? Well when I wrote my firt story (I have two 110K word completed RS)I didn’t want to do anything but write it so I could ‘visit’ with my characters. After those first two, the thrill slipped and I’ve been floudering since. Writing like this, every day, has made the characters come alive again. That first-love feeling for writing is back and it’s what’s making me WANT to write each day. It’s such a cool result. Love it.
~Debbie
Kathleen,
I hope it’s a great story. 🙂 It feels like it. In fact, it feels like the first story I wrote. You know that excitement that comes along with a new interest? Well when I wrote my firt story (I have two 110K word completed RS)I didn’t want to do anything but write it so I could ‘visit’ with my characters. After those first two, the thrill slipped and I’ve been floudering since. Writing like this, every day, has made the characters come alive again. That first-love feeling for writing is back and it’s what’s making me WANT to write each day. It’s such a cool result. Love it.
~Debbie
Kathleen,
I hope it’s a great story. 🙂 It feels like it. In fact, it feels like the first story I wrote. You know that excitement that comes along with a new interest? Well when I wrote my firt story (I have two 110K word completed RS)I didn’t want to do anything but write it so I could ‘visit’ with my characters. After those first two, the thrill slipped and I’ve been floudering since. Writing like this, every day, has made the characters come alive again. That first-love feeling for writing is back and it’s what’s making me WANT to write each day. It’s such a cool result. Love it.
~Debbie
Kathleen,
I hope it’s a great story. 🙂 It feels like it. In fact, it feels like the first story I wrote. You know that excitement that comes along with a new interest? Well when I wrote my firt story (I have two 110K word completed RS)I didn’t want to do anything but write it so I could ‘visit’ with my characters. After those first two, the thrill slipped and I’ve been floudering since. Writing like this, every day, has made the characters come alive again. That first-love feeling for writing is back and it’s what’s making me WANT to write each day. It’s such a cool result. Love it.
~Debbie
Beth,
I’ve never been anyone’s hero before! LOL. If you do want to do this, then I have a little suggestion – do extra meal preps the week BEFORE you start to write. My workshop instructor, April Kihlstrom , strongly advised that but I didn’t do it. Now I wish I had because once the words start flowing the last thing I want to do is stop. Stopping means you have to start again and ‘starting’ is tough. Get the household stuff done before the writing week and warn your family you’ll need extra time. It’s just a week… the house will still be standing when you’re done. 😉
~Debbie
Debora,
When you are with your writing, as you are doing with this huge blast, you must be dreaming about your characters! Bet they are giving you some inner motivation. Keep up the good work (unless your fingers and wrists give you pain).
-Kathleen