Tonight I reread the first five chapters of my novel after a two-month sabbatical. During my vacation I had convinced myself that I needed to scrap the whole thing and start over, so I was pleased to find that it wasn’t QUITE as bad as I remembered. However it still needs loads of work, mainly in the character development, plot, narrative, point of view, and literary spheres. But I think it’s a decent draft. All the crucial elements are there – lesbian lovers, shark attacks, fast food. But really it’s an old-fashioned coming of age story, with some mock existentialism thrown in for good measure. I hear that most novels don’t get finished. I think I’m at the stage now where I could say goodbye and just take an incomplete. But I don’t want to do that. Things get done when you force them a little bit more every day. I will get over this hump. I was supposed to be a published novelist by tomorrow, my 27th birthday, but I have never done things on time. Just ask any of my college professors. Wish me luck and happy birthday. Usually I ask for neither because then I can go about feeling sorry for myself, but not this time. This time I will fill up the paper and blow out the candles and by the 25th of September next year, I will be at least 100 more motivational blog speeches into my first great novel.
I’m not planning on hoding my breath for much longer, so you better get your act together and give me at least another chapter, damnit!
I blame you for my continuous poor eating habits. I was THIS close to quitting food, since I was so inspired by the character and then you go and cut me off. I dialed Papa John’s an hour later.
Thanks a lot and happy Birth Day.
Happy Birthday!
My eight year old told me the other day – “Mommy, lots of artists never actually finish their work and we don’t even know it”. This comment had something to do with Mona Lisa and her eyebrows. I didn’t want to ask too many questions for fear that she would realize that I don’t actually know everything. She will figure that out soon enough.
I never feel finished when a website is “complete” and launched. There always something else to do to make it perfect for me. When I look at my own work, I always see the flaws. Luckily, the rest of the world doesn’t. Unless they are assholes.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!