Once more, I am plagued by another story idea. Dare I say it haunts me? Creeping from the cavities of my mind, residing in my orbital sockets, and nowhere in my writing schedule. This story is one that I might have to squeeze in amidst my already busy schedule simply because it might otherwise never leave me alone. I am holding steady with Project C; however, I might work on the new project over my Thanksgiving break. It all depends on how fast I can blaze through Project C.
Progress
I’ve drafted 23.5k words this month, or 785 daily on average. While not ridiculous numbers, it’s pretty good when you take into account that I went to another country and didn’t take my laptop. So, there were quite a few zero-word days. That being said, I’m a little bit behind where I wanted to be. I am hopeful that I can pick up the pace and that everything will even out in the end. I’m always a bit ahead of when things truly need to be done, so we aren’t in the panic zone just yet, but the sooner I can finish Project C, the sooner I can get back into Surrealist, which is once again calling my name.
Liesure
I went to Mexico this month for my sister’s wedding. It was my first time at an all-inclusive resort, which was interesting. I made a choice not to bring my laptop, though I did bring my notebook. However, I didn’t once crack it open. I am proud of myself for this. There were probably moments I could have gone and written something, but I stayed present in the moment with my family and my sister’s friends.
We went to the beach, swam in cenotes and pools, ate good food, had good drinks, and were in good company. I particularly enjoyed swimming through the caves in the cenotes and could have stayed there all day, but alas, we had to go represent at the bride vs. groom volleyball game. Don’t worry, the bride’s side won.
As for reading, I’ve been working my way through the second Bridgerton book, The Viscount Who Loved Me and I am greatly enjoying it. I read about a third of it on the various planes we were on, and now I’m reading a chapter or two before bed, which is a nice way to wind down. I picked up the book in an effort to expand my horizons and read outside of my normal fantasy and science fiction, and I’m glad I did.
I also watched a movie by the director Luis Buñuel Portolés called That Obscure Object of Desire, on someone’s recommendation. It is a French film, as I am working on learning French, I found it helpful as well as an intriguing surrealist depiction of the way in which males and females misinterpret each other in romantic entanglements. There is an added layer of nostalgia as my mom (who is culturally rather French) would watch French films with us. That Obscure Object of Desire was a difficult one to find. I tried at the library first and there was only one copy, and I could not pull it from the library where it resided. Fortunately, I found it online.
What I’m Learning
Moving from Surrealist to another more commercial project is like training with a weighted vest and then doing the same exercises without one. When I started Project C, I was flying. Literary and commercial fiction are such vastly different worlds, and even though I knew Surrealist was a tough one to draft, I didn’t realize how tough it was until it was put into stark contrast with Project C.
It seems as though working on some more commercial projects along with my more literary ones is probably the correct move, which is fortunate, as that is exactly what I am doing. The shift in pace between the two types of projects helps me build momentum without getting bored.
Looking Forward
I plan to finish Project C in November. I would love to finish it before my Thanksgiving break trip; however, that means writing about 3,500 words a day, and I just don’t see that happening. It is far more likely that I will finish during the trip and then start my reread of Surrealist.
I am at the same time extraordinarily excited to get back into Surrealist and daunted by the task of revising it. I have to do two separate rounds of revision before sending it to my writing group again for a quick pass, which is atypical. Right now I am balancing the desire for it to be the best manuscript I’ve ever written and getting it out to agents and editors as soon as possible. I am not the most patient person. Maybe that is why my patience is tested again and again.
TTFN Naomi
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