If you perused this blog, then you know I'm currently working on my first novel, Residual Effects. To that same point, you'd know that I've been working on it for the past five months. It wasn't until the last ten days of April when I decided to take a break from it all.
Having written a terrible first draft back in November, I realized my Manuscript needed hardcore editing. And, I mean hardcore. Therefore, I've pretty much put in about 15-20 hours a week just hammering away (editing/writing/rewriting); would've been more if I didn't have to work. Damn, adulthood! Having never had to complete such a longterm project, longest paper I ever had to do was 15 pages, I finally ran out of gas when April arrived. I tried to make it through, just keep on trucking, but I knew whatever I was writing was complete shit. Not being modest, that was the truth. So, I decided that I just needed a break from writing altogether and what a ten days it was.
For the first few days, it was good. I had more time like other things: to go to gym, spend more time with girlfriend, friends. I even got to read more, which is awesome since I'm on such a frantic Philip K. Dick kick! I was even to able visit my friend at college. What more could I ask for? We all need to reboot right?
It wasn't until about day 4 of non-writing when things went downhill, fast. I was limping (from playing basketball b/c I'm out of shape at age 22), I was deathly sick, I had killer headaches. So, suffice it to say, I was miserable. It was as if my laptop was punishing me from afar! It was god awful. What did I learn? Never take a day off writing? Of course not. But maybe next time ease myself into a break. It's sort of like smoking cigarettes then immediately going cold turkey.
One cool thing did come of the week off. I came up with better stuff to add into the novel as well as a more awesome ending, cause who doesn't love awesome endings?
Fast forward to today, a week back into writing and life is good. I'm not sick. Not limping (cause I don't have to time to), and no headaches. And, hey guess what? I'm producing better material than I was in April. Oh, and I'm nearly at the end which I have to say is fucking amazing!!
In the weeks to come: I hope to finish the novel. Look it over a few more times. Hire/pay an editor to take a look at it. Add edits. Look it over again. Then, hopefully, come June-ish, I'll be able to hand it over to a few Beta readers and then make any changes they suggest.
I'm crossing my fingers that by July (HOPEFULLY!), I'll have everything to go (Formatted, available in e-book form, and cover). For the first time in a long time, I cannot wait for what the next few months had to offer. Whoever has been checking in on this blog, first, I want to say thank you! And secondly, I will, I promise, keep this up to date. (I'm going to stop saying how bad I am at blogging and just do it and let the chips fall where they may)
Oh, and here's a quote I'm loving:
“It’s never too late to be who you might have been”- George Eliot
And, here's a blog I'm addicted to (Mr. Joe Konrath): A Newbie's Guide to Publishing
The book I'm currently reading.
And, lastly, the song I can't stop listening to. Bright Eyes-Shell Games
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