Writing It Out

Oh my god, I am tired of writing. I wrote an article for Xtra last week that was not my best work, then did the conference insanity, and then started on the novel. I'm up to just over 6000 words on that. Tonight I'm taking a break from the novel to hopefully get a draft of another article done.

Can you say it with me? OH-VER-SKED-YOU-ELLED.

But they say a change is as good as a rest, so here I am, writing to you, taking a change from the article writing which is taking a change from the novel writing. I wonder how many times I can do that before I've swallowed my own whole body and come out the other side.

Three things to say:

1) Even if I don't get 50,000 words, I consider NaNoWriMo to be a success. I've learned what I wanted to learn: what I lack as a writer is discipline. If I sit down and focus as much as I can, I can pound out 2000 words alright. And I can do that every day. But since I have a day job, it means that my social life is pretty much nil this month. I've scheduled a few things in, but have said no to about twice as many more.

So then, my guess, is that what I need to figure out is the balance. How much social fun stuff am I willing to give up to write?

Getting more info to answer that question will be the prize for me.

2) I have a fucking headache.

3) Thank christ I have Remembrance Day off. Would it be impolite at this point to thank the young men and women who have given up their lives so that I may enjoy the freedom to write a mediocre novel?

More soon, I'm sure.