"I Knew Her When ..."
Updated: Feb 6, 2022
These days my mind is thoroughly occupied by this challenge where I am attempting to complete a novel, 50,000 words, in 30 days. That's math, I know, so I got out my calculator and broke it down to 1,666 words a day. I have never in my life written that many words consistently. Even back in my University days when all I did was read and write essays - my writing process was to sit down at my desk, type like mad all night and hand the damn thing in the next day, when it was due. I never really appreciated the lead time to completing an assignment; all it did was sit there in the back of my mind, worrying me to death, until the day before the deadline.
I like to think I've grown up since then, maturing into the kind of person who paces herself. Turns out, not so much. On Monday November 1, the start of the challenge, I dug in like a dog with a bone. Words poured out of me. Tuesday, same (although the head cold I woke up with hampered my output). Wednesday, a bit of a lag. Thursday and Friday I took as days off, already out of steam. I have often described myself as more of a sprinter than a long-distance runner. The problem with sprinting in a long-distance race, though, is you burn out faster and risk not even making it to the finish line.
I plan to catch up this weekend. I have two whole days ahead of me with nary a chore on the list. The thing is, I love to write once I am in the zone. It's getting there that's so painful. Pulling ideas out of thin air, creating characters that feel real and putting them into any number of life situations is taxing. One needs faith that the creative gods will shine upon one. Some days, it's full on sunshine and rushing waters; other days, it's dark and gloomy and you can't see your way forward at all.
Did you know I added a new page to my website? It's called I Wrote This. I am adding original fiction pieces to it as I go. Currently, you can read three of my submissions to the NYC Midnight Flash Fiction contest. They're short, bite-sized pieces of prose.
Honeymoon for One - a ghost story
The Hat of Ages - a fairy tale
Two Is Better Than One? - a cautionary tale
I hope you will check them out. And I hope you will share them.
You can say you knew me when.