Dammit.
I’m sitting at over 90k and the book is SO CLOSE. But as I was plugging away last Sunday (and I never write on Sundays – that’s how excited I was to be on the home stretch), my villain went and did something totally fabulous unexpected and the book took a detour.
Not a big detour, but big enough that I needed about three extra scenes I hadn’t anticipated. And now that those three scenes are written, I need about three more to wrap it all up. AND there’s a key “thing” (for lack of a better word) that I need to figure out before I can write those scenes and bring the story home.
Unfortunately, it’s just not going to happen by tomorrow. I’ve written 10k words in the past three days (which is a huge amount for me, I never write that much) and I am FRIED.
And guess what? Today is my anniversary. 18 years since I started dating Steve.
And guess what else? This Friday is also my anniversary. 10 years since we’ve been married.
So, even though I didn’t finish my book today (big fat bummer), I’m giving myself – and Steve! – an anniversary present and UNPLUGGING for the next FIVE days. That’s right. I’m gone till Monday. I’ve got my posts here and at Killer Chicks all written and scheduled and ready to go, and I may pop in for a comment or two, but otherwise I’m offline.
I need to be. So I can come back on Monday fresh and happy, and be able to give my book the strong ending it deserves.
In the meantime, today is my usual day to post at Killer Chicks, and guess what I’m talking about? Villain clichés! Meet me over there, and don’t forget to enter our CONTEST!
Happy Anniversary! And Happy Anniversary again! Please, enjoy your breath of Real Life (TM) and allow your villian to merely lurk in the dark recesses of your mind. I suspect that he will be busy on your break, and when you both meet again on the white spaces, he will point the way to the finish.
Hi, Jennifer! Thanks for following me; I'm happy to be in your corner.
I read just about anything but dearly love a good mystery. Presently reading Daniel Silva's The Defector. It's delicious!! Others might think differently, but I personally think writing a really good mystery is the most difficult genre of all. Why? There's no room for the smallest character or position mistake. Readers like me, who enjoy such books, know to lock in on the details and carry them in our heads.
So have fun with your villain. I look forward to buying your book one day soon.
AND Happy Anniversary!! Here's a virtual bouquet of flowers for you and Steve.
Happy Anniversary!
This break may be exactly what you need in order to figure out the end of the book.
Happy Anniversary, and Happy upcoming Anniversary!
Taking a break can do wonders for writing! Just letting the story stew can be a big help.
Great plan. Enjoy the break and your anniversary, Jennifer! There's plenty of time for the book, but only one tenth anniversary!
Happy Anniversaries! Enjoy your unplugging vacation.
Detours can be fun, but they can also be a pain in the buns. Either way, they usually make a story more enjoyable to read and to write. =o)
Happy anniversary!
And I just love when characters take the story away haha! Good luck with that!
Happy Anniversary and have a lovely break! I'll bet you'll knock out that ending fast when you're back and refreshed.
One of the things I love about writing is that you never know where the story is going to take you. You may think you know, but you don't really, really know until you are IN the thick of it. Surprises are the best part. Even when they add 3 chapters…and then another 3 chapters…Happy Aniversarys (both of them)! I think it's a perfect idea – to check out for five days! ENJOY!!!
Happy Anniversary! Enjoy your weekend, and let the story sit and wait for you!
Happy anniversary! Have an excellent time being unplugged. Your writing will be here when you get back. We must experience life to be able to write about it… 🙂
It can be a chore at times to wrangle a story so near to the end, but it sounds like you're appreciative of these "extra" scenes that cropped up — always cool when that happens. Happy Anniversary! Enjoy the time UNPLUGGED. Our brains need it sometimes. Otherwise, we're headed straight for our own version of The Matrix.
You deserve the break! The unexpected awesomeness is well worth the extra work – don't you love it when your characters do that?
Thanks for the anniversary wishes, everyone! Even taking just one day from writing has recharged me a little.
Happy Anniversary! The Anniversary of our first date is October 18th, 24 years ago. It must be a lucky time of the year to start dating. LOL We've been married 22 years.