First Chapter Completed
I did it! I actually finished my first chapter of my novel! I’m not so much stunned that I finished a chapter, so much as that I have been consistent in reaching my word count goals each day (on average that is). By this time I thought I would be complaining that I was 1,000 or more words behind and giving myself an ulcer. Instead I have found that at any given point I can sit down and crank out words. I’m flabbergasted that I can do this, for at no other time in my fiction writing attempts have I been able to just write. I usually had to sit there and agonize over what to write. I credit my success to my outline, for I know where I am and what I need to do next, so I always have something to write (until I run into one of those dreaded plot holes).
For example, last night I had to pay the bills before they got away from me. I hate paying bills (who actually likes it?) and when I was done I was none to happy. I didn’t know if I was even going to be able to write (I hate finding out that no matter how hard we work we still don’t have the money we want). Regardless I managed to get to 8,000 words by 11:30, and I started at 9:30! :)
Observations
First, I have noticed that inertia is at play in my writing as well as in the physical world. I have the hardest time writing when I start. Once I have a three or four sentences down I can usually work straight through to my goal without a problem, but those first few sentences can take me 5-10 minutes! I have had to force myself, each night, to start writing, and once I’m started I rarely want to stop (so far I’ve actually had fun watching the world develop).
Second, I have been sleeping better even though I have been sleeping less. This positively baffles me. I will got to bed, on average, 30 minutes later than usual (meaning I get 6.5 to 7.5 hours of sleep instead of my needed 8-10), and yet when the alarm rings I’m awake and rested. What gives? Thus far I have not noticed any ill effects, and on a few occasions I wake up wanting to write instead of going to work (we’ll see if this holds true tomorrow morning). A friend suggested I am probably getting better sleep. I’m guessing he might be right, because I go to be happy and satisfied (I finished writing a rather creepy villain section last night just before bed and half expected to give myself nightmares, thankfully I was safe). As long as I can continue to get restful sleep and get my writing done, I’ll be happy.