I’m just sitting here on a Sunday morning before church, drinking a cup of coffee, and reflecting on yesterday. I got so much accomplished…house cleaning, laundry, using my new steamer on the floor…and writing. I’m now ahead of my goal by 640 words. I like being ahead so that when something happens that I don’t get to write one day, I don’t get behind. Being ahead is a great feeling. And I’m really getting into the story. Sometimes that takes awhile, and I think it has to do with getting to know my characters.
How is everyone else doing?
Glad that you’re getting into the story. I find that the story morphs as I learn more about the characters. I’m also finding that the morphing never stops. I’ll be posting in a couple of weeks about the latest morph. Wow – was I surprised. I’m in the rewrite stage – the story is supposed to be done.
Hi, Cathryn. My story unfolds as I write and sometimes my characters do unexpected things. They have a lift of their own, and the more I write, the more I get to know them.
It sounds like your characters surprise you, too! :0)
We’d better get to the convenient and play this number…I have only 640 words left to reach my goal by Wednesday’s check-in!
If your mention of a steamer happens to be the Shark vac -and – steam…..I absolutely love mine. My Pergo has never been easier to clean! (sorry to pick up on such an odd post part…but I’m a clean freak at heart).
Have a wonderful Resurrection Day with your family!
~Nadja
Wow, Nadja, 640 must be a lucky number! LOL
My steamer is actually the Oreck brand, and it’s a really nice one, not their cheaper model. This is one of the things I decided to use my book sales money on. I think it’s a lot like the Shark. I’m not a clean freak, but I do like things to be clean. This steam cleaner works well on my linoleum and my hardwood.
Wow, wanna come clean my house? I won’t show you pictures or you’ll say no. 😉
I’m the same about everything I write, I never really love it until I get close to the characters. That sounds a little creepy but you know what I mean. LOL.
Well done on getting ahead, I am comfortably behind. 😀
Claire, believe it or not, my husband is usually the main house cleaner in my family. But he’s been working 72 hours a week lately, so now I have to do more. LOL
I know exactly what you mean about your characters. So, not so creepy. :0)
I’m glad you’re not stressing about being behind, though. It happens. Not something to stress about.
Great that you’re ahead of the game! Keep up the good work. 😀
Thanks, S.J.!
Congrats on being ahead of the game. I hope you have a better ROW80 round this time with no outside surprises!
While you’ve been steaming your floors I’ve been stripping wallpaper and painting a bathroom…joy joy! 🙂
Keep up the good work!
Hi Anya. We’ve been busy little bees, haven’t we?
I hope there are no surprises this time, either. Unless they’re good surprises. :0)
Now that’s what I need – a steamer for my floor. Hmm! Know what you mean – writing flows when we get to know our characters better. I cleaned off the patio today – used the shop vac to hose up all the leaves the gardeners have been blowing under by planters,etc. Managed to clean out my potting bench and the big raised planter. Now I just have to figure out how to keep my cats from pooping in the planter. They’ve taken to sleeping in it while it’s empty. Hope you had a wonderful Easter day. Have a great week!
Robin, writing does flow better when you have that feel for the characters. Then things start taking off.
It seems like several of us are doing some housework this weekend. LOL. Oh, and about cats? They pretty much do what they want.
I never knew the ‘joy’ of steamers until my dog made me spill an entire cup of iced coffee on the the office carpet recently. That’s one machine I need to get at home… especially if that spring cleaning bug ever hits me!
Robin…cats don’t like the scent of citrus peels. You might try adding them to the top of the soil in your planter. I also use physical deterrents outside like a little chicken wire or a piece of metal fencing on its side in bare areas of soil.
I wrote over 1200 words on Friday night…but it was on a new project–not the one I’m supposed to be working on. Gotta write while the inspiration strikes!
Happy Easter! (The tired ‘Easter Bunny’ wasn’t too happy when one of the cats kept rolling the candy-filled eggs down the stairs around midnight last night.
It was funny, but kind of messed up the whole trail plan…)
That steamer is great, Michelle! :0)
I’m glad you had advice for Robin. I find cats to be very defiant. But I love them.
A new project, huh? I’m interested….
And there are those cats again. They don’t care if you’re trying to sleep. LOL
Citrus peels. Thanks, will give it a try. Also got some wire to put over the top. Will see how it goes.
Congrats on being ahead. It’s good feeling close to the characters that’s when the story leads
Thanks, Katy. I got ahead just a little bit more last night. My characters took a couple of little surprising twists again. :0)
being ahead makes me think of a time when i turned in a college paper ahead of time so that i could go on vacation to disney with my best friend.
Hmmm. Wonder who that was? LOL
Man, I sure do miss those times.
Extra word count is like money in the bank. And I’m glad I’m not the only one who seems to be character driven. I used to hear ‘big name’ writers talk about how their characters would have conversations, and they’d build scenes from there. It sounded vaguely schizophrenic until I started getting a feel for my own characters.
I know, Vicki! It’s like when you get way ahead, you don’t feel guilty about taking a day off. Sort of like not feeling guilty about buying something because you have enough money in the bank. LOL
I have to love my characters before I can really get into the story. Because, well, it’s about them. :0)
Awesome! Good for you, getting ahead of your goal. I’m at the same spot where I’m really starting to get into the story. Such a great feeling of it just being “right.”
Thanks, Belinda! It does feel good, doesn’t it?
I get to know the characters well before i write their story, I find it flows better that way – however they often take off and do it their own way throwing many surprises at me!!!
Alberta, I love those surprises!
What a lovely feeling it is when you begin to be pulled into your story! Right now I’m in the very beginning stages of creating a new book. As usual, it started with a crazy dream I had. I’m in love with the concept, but am hesitating because I really want to do it justice. I’m thinking of finishing reading my latest “how to” book, “The Writer’s Portable Mentor” by Priscilla Long, which came highly recommended, before I make my first attempt at this new journey. At any rate, I’m very excited about the concept and am letting it “cook” and “simmer” in my subconscious mind at the moment.
Julie, sometimes I get an idea and I want to rush to put it on paper. But then I can’t seem to get into it. Usually, though, I plod on and it suddenly will make sense.
I would suggest that you at least put down on paper everything that you’ve thought of so far so you don’t forget. When it’s “simmering” in your mind, don’t forget to write down the ingredients. LOL