How to write under duress.
A Writing Tip
I have been trying to work on Doyle Mysteries – The Scent Of Something Fishy. This is the second novel in the Doyle Series and I have it all plotted out with three chapters done. Then I ran into a brick wall. Nothing to do with writer’s block, instead, my wife’s illness has kept me away from the computer. (Or am I using her illness as an excuse to not write?)
I plan to have this novel done for Christmas 2018 and need to write over 1200 words a day. I can write upto 5000 words a day, but it takes concentration and planning. I haven’t written anything in over three weeks. My wife was in the hospital two of those weeks. Oh, I’ve mentally worked on the novel, plotting scenes and considering my characters reactions. I know who the killer is, but I want to work on the cozy community I am building. Sometimes it’s difficult to create strong images of places I know so well. I live in the area where the action takes place, so to me it’s redundant to describe everything for the reader, yet how will you know what Caseville is like it I don’t create compelling images.
Today I’m working on the computer, upgrading from XP to Windows 7-Pro (on two identical Dell systems with Intel Quad Core CPUs). Why not go to windows 10? Because I have Adobe CS3 and I use InDesign to created all my novel pages and as an artist Photoshop is my main tool for working with images. I should have upgraded years ago, but when it works, why change. Well, Windows XP doesn’t work anymore. Everything is slow, buggy and vulnerable…
I need to get back to the Doyle today if I am going to reach my goal, and goals are important to me. Even my wife knows that. She keeps urging me to just MAKE and WRITE! I’ll see… “Yes dear I’ll bring your dinner in as soon as I get this chapter done.”
After re-reading this post I realize I’m making excuses again. I have to start writing. Once I get going, I’m good to go. It’s just the push to start. Perhaps later? Tomorrow I’ll get on it. Procrastination can be such a trap.