Friday is for smiling

Me (on Twitter): Taking my multi vitamin with Pepsi seems… oxymoronic.
Friend: I feel the same way when taking my birth control pill with beer.

For all my big talk on Wednesday, I didn’t kick the funk. In fact, it got much worse that night, and I was still pretty “funky” yesterday morning. But last night I talked to Andy, cried a bit, and finally, finally felt better. The worst had passed.

(And no, I never figured out what the cause of it was. Weird.)

Sleeping 10 hours sealed the deal and now I’m good as gold again. Well, maybe not gold. But like, pyrite at least.

The funny thing is, because I was feeling so down, I gave myself the day off yesterday. I wasn’t going to do anything but the bare minimum I had to do to get through the day — not even write. However, by 1 p.m., I felt incomplete. Unsettled. Unsatisfied.

So I wrote, and I felt better.

I’m not gonna get all omg-it’s-destiny-can’t-you-see-I’m-totes-a-writer?! on y’all. But hey, it’s a good sign, right?

(By the way, I do not actually say “totes.”)

Also a good sign: after applying to be the “voice of the Unpublished” for Writer Unboxed, I did not win the position, but I was a finalist, and I was asked to be a Guest contributor a few times each year! The company I’m in over there is INCREDIBLE. Case in point: this week agent Donald Maass posted a great bit about inspiring awe. Since reading it, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the four questions he asked, and how they apply to my story (as well as my life).

Speaking of my story, the WIP is marching on. I’m at about 27,000 words, and my goal is to get to 30,000 by the end of this weekend. Truth be told, the quality of my writing in this first draft is waaaaay below my norm, and that’s hard for me. I’m used to reading my writing and thinking, “Hey, I like that!” Definitely not the case here…

But the flip side is that I’m 1/3 of the way through the first draft in just 8 weeks! Not as fast as I’d like, but waaaaay faster than my norm.

Thus I can already see where I want to push myself on my next WIP*. In other words, I can look behind me and see how I’ve improved as a writer, and I can look ahead of me to see how much more I will continue to improve. It’s a nice place to be, here in the middle of the road. Even if I sometimes get frustrated or impatient with the journey.

*Specifically: 1,000-2,000 daily word minimum, but also better quality writing.


18 responses to “Friday is for smiling”

  1. Todd Newton Avatar

    Looking behind you is a great way to keep up your motivation. Sounds like you’re doing well, as far as that’s concerned, so keep it up.

    Glad to read that you’re feeling better.

  2. Sonja Avatar

    I’m glad that you’re feeling better. Sometimes it just goes that way.

    What’s your re-writing process been like before? Do you think you’ll need to rewrite mostly for voice? Or are you thinking that you might need to do more serious overhauling, like actions, motivations, and/or plot?
    .-= • Recent post by Sonja: In which my feelings about the dentist speak volumes about my feelings about my life =-.

  3. sarahjayne Avatar

    Glad you’re feelint better and congrats on becoming a guest contributor.
    .-= • Recent post by sarahjayne: TGIF! =-.

  4. Lauren Avatar

    After reading three of your posts, I am SO ready to keep writing. You’re inspiring ;) The fact that you love writing so much, reminds me of how much I love it.

  5. Kristan Avatar

    Todd-
    Thanks. :)

    Sonja-
    That is a really good question. Maybe I’ll do a whole post on it… For now though, the short answer is that I think I will be revising mainly for voice & details. The outline keeps me on track in terms of plot/action and motivations, because I pre-planned it all out. It’s the little things that are subtly shifting — little unexpected moments, or an object that suddenly takes on meaning, that I have to go back and incorporate to the parts I wrote before.

    So far I haven’t done anything to stray from my outline in a serious way; I’ve only come up with new ideas or characters that enhance it.

    (Ask me again in a couple months though, haha.)

    sarahjayne-
    Thanks!

    Lauren-
    Wow, I’m so glad to hear that!! It’s a really tough thing to do, but if you love it, you love it. :)

  6. Les Avatar

    Attagirl ;) keep on truckin’
    .-= • Recent post by Les: Friday Flickr =-.

  7. Kimberly Franklin Avatar

    You’re doing so good on your WIP. Way better than me–I’m s-l-o-w. :)

    So keep at it and get back to work!! Good luck!!
    .-= • Recent post by Kimberly Franklin: Now this is FUNNY! =-.

  8. Heather Rae Avatar

    It’s great to hear about your progress. I’m in a similar situation with my current WIP, in that I feel my writing quality isn’t as good as usual – but I’m also getting it out faster. I’ll be interested to hear how your revision process goes. I’m a little afraid of revising this one. But excited too, as I’ve got lots of ideas to clean it up. :) Good luck with your weekend writing goal!

  9. Dara Avatar

    Yay!

    I’m doing something called Fast Draft in the next two weeks, starting Monday. I’m hoping it will help kick my butt into gear with writing, or at the very least, come close to the end of this WiP already.
    .-= • Recent post by Dara: Fast Draft: I Just May Lose My Sanity =-.

  10. Kristan Avatar

    Les and Kim-
    Thanks!

    Heather Rae-
    I’m a little afraid of revision, but mostly excited. Because I can see how good this book can be, and I want it to be even better!

    Dara-
    Fast Draft, huh? I’ll have to check that out. Good luck with it!

  11. Sarah Avatar

    I read that Donald Maas article too..and yeah, been trying to apply it to my story. This writing thing is such a ride. I’m having my own little funk too, and honestly, for me, it’s the changing seasons. They should do a study on this. I write the most (and the best) during autumn/winter. the first hint of spring and I’m throwing open the windows and stomping out the door. Late summer, I go back in because it’s hot. But I’m cranky so my writing is all angsty and sarcastic. So, I’m writing most of the year, but I do have a seasonal break.
    .-= • Recent post by Sarah: Where do you write? =-.

  12. Meghan Ward Avatar

    I’m glad you’re feeling somewhat better. If it’s any consolation, as least you’re not changing dirty diapers all day. I so want to run off to a tropical island for two weeks right now! I guess we all get into funks, especially as writers, because our futures are so uncertain and we get so little in return for all the hard work we do (wahh wahh!!) Congrats on being a finalist and on 27,000 words!
    .-= • Recent post by Meghan Ward: Link Love =-.

  13. Kristan Avatar

    Sarah-
    Aww. Well mine was partially seasonal, I think, because my allergies kept me from sleeping, which always messes me up. But I’m sorry to hear you’re a little “funky” now too. I’m sure you will shake it off and come up with more great stuff for Lydia and Iyan/Elan/whatever his name is now. :P

    Meghan-
    Thanks, I’m better for real this time, hehehe. And yes, no dirty diapers does make my life look good, in comparison. ;P

    “I guess we all get into funks, especially as writers, because our futures are so uncertain and we get so little in return for all the hard work we do…”

    {nods} Absolutely. It’s hard to be as patient as it takes to succeed in this biz. That said, I think it’s totally worth it. :)

  14. Amy --- Just A Titch Avatar

    Writing always makes me feel better, too. I totally understand that.

  15. Twenty Four At Heart Avatar

    Writing always makes me feel better too … even when I’m not writing about whatever is bringing me down. It’s an addiction …
    .-= • Recent post by Twenty Four At Heart: The Red Phone Booth =-.

  16. Kristan Avatar

    Haha, true, but fortunately a writing addiction doesn’t have quite the same effects as, say, a heroin addiction or alcoholism. :P

  17. meghan Avatar

    i also frequently take my birth control with a beer.

    …i cannot begin to tell you my relief that there is at least one other person out there in the world with my level of classlessness.

  18. Kristan Avatar

    Lol. I’m sure you’re at a very fine level of class.