In the past two weeks, I've started four stories, and I haven't finished one. I only when it's dark: early in the morning before class; late at night, if I can't sleep. It's no easy business when a writer is in the transition phase of her career. Between grading papers, reading and reviewing books, revising accepted works for publication, thinking (obsessing) about Absurd Hunger, and maintaining a happy home, my writing time is limited. So what do I do? I sign up for NaNoWriMo and begin a wholly new book based on my grandmother's life. This book has been a seed, planted deeply in the back of my mind for some time now, and on the advice of a student (an extremely talented writer whose work I will no doubt be promoting in the near future), I have begun to revisit the story that's been germinating for so long. So, here I am faced with another project, and I can only hope to get a good start, and eventually to do my grandmother's remarkable story justice.So, am I overdoing it? Yes. Yes, I am. But as long as I have it in me, I'll continue. Who knows, maybe the time will come when I begin finishing things again. In the meantime, I'm in that all-too-familiar place we writers find ourselves in. I'm in transit. And it's driving me crazy, in a pleasant way. To the writing life!!!
I say go for it! Why the hell not? I'll join you. I will write a play this month for NaPlWriMo. I will start four ten minute plays, but promise to not finish them until you finish yours. And, I will revise that darn scene from my latest full length that has me spinning in the mud. I have been waiting for your grandmother's story, so get to it. It's the fifth of Novemeber. Time is wasting and we have words to write!
ReplyDeleteOK, Jen, so your saying your really going to make me do this?
ReplyDelete