The Middle.

I've past the middle part. And, as Anne Shirley would say, I am in the depths of despair! The middle does that to you every time. It's like I've buried my adorable, capable, and funny characters into a pit so deep, I'm not sure that--even with a little C-4--they'll be able to dig themselves out.

I'm going to be honest with you, I have considered chucking the whole thing. But then I remember that with each word I write I'm learning something about this book, its characters and its plot. And I might not learn it until I write it all. So I'm going to soldier on.

I spent the morning taking notes on what's working and what doesn't work and drew a timeline map, which I think will help a lot. Just a note, I did have an outline jumping into this but am realizing that I am a true pantster and like any pantster, pre-determined plots and outlines don't work for me cause I stray. Or, rather, my characters tend to stray. (Bad characters!)

Also, time travel is a bitch.

How are you all doing? I hope better than me.

This post was brought to you by salty tears and diet coke.

S L O W

I've been slow lately. Real slow. Drafting is easier. I can measure drafting (i.e. "I just wrote 2500 words today!"). But I can't measure revising. It's just there. A chapter and then a page and then a paragraph and then a word at a time. No counting. No red-faced, breathless typing. Just reading, making faces, fixing, experimenting and reading some more.

I need some diet coke or chocolate or maybe both. Although, I don't think they go well together.

How do you get through revisions? I need a system. Does anyone have a system? If so, please share!

Also, hypothetically speaking, if I were to come up with a dessert that involved, let's say, chocolate and diet coke, what would it be?

It's just hypothetical.


In case you're wondering, the photo is a representation of the Slow Car Movement. I thought it relevant.