Juiced On Writing

I have just done an about shift on my fiction writing plans, due to the environment I find myself in. I’m uncertain how often this might happen to other writers, but it’s an interesting experience.

My third novel – for many months, was calling to me to be written. It was based in large part about some events which happened in my life and I held onto the emotions to put into that novel. Whilst Novel 3 was simmering within me, the editing of Novel 2 took a necessary back-burner. I found I couldn’t deal with so much at the same time.

Recently I’ve obviously found a new virtual home in Second Life, and am slowly integrating into the writing worlds within this. And a funny thing happened along the way (as the joke goes)…Second Life as an environment, cleansed me of the anger and upset which I wanted to use within my third novel.

I created a home with several writing areas in Second Life, the latest being a kiwi inspired copse of woods with grungy sofa and laptop. And I joined in with some short story writing and other writing events. But I was still having difficulty putting down the skeleton of that third novel.

This Friday evening as I was crazily rave dancing at Dance Island, I got an emphathic call from several writers to join them in Milkwood for a Writer’s committed hour. They meet there every Monday and Friday – it was 10pm my time, and I arrived still stuck in my dance animation from the club and with problems teleporting, also in my rather skimpy dance club wear – transparent latex included.

Harriet and Lukos welcomed me, despite my appearance and I allowed them to push me into committing to a goal for the month, and to come back on Monday evenings.

And whilst pushed like that, my third novel shattered around me, and I committed to starting editing that second novel instead. Second Life is not the place, despite my best care, for writing that third novel. My days are filled with landscaping, dog training, and exploring. I rarely have rain, but do have a lot of sunsets at my house.

More appropriate to returning to my second novel, then. Just like that.

Milkwood Writers’ Meet in Second Life.

The Milkwood Writers’ Meet is set in a fantastic place. I noticed there are even seals splashing off the coast. Setup with typewriters to make it look like you’re working, the regular meet is looking for more writers, and offering a few prizes too.

So, come on over Mondays (to meet me) or on Fridays, and get yourself writing too. Ask me how I’m getting on with that second novel edit also. The SLUrl (second life URL) for those logged into Second Life, is below. You can also look up the new ‘Milk Wood Writers’ Meet under groups.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Scotland%20Inchcruin/209/124/26

My Actual Goals

Right, as I’m sitting here in real life, and bumming around on the ground in Milkwood, Second Life, I need to actually give myself some targets for this new goal of mine.

Let’s see. The first draft is approximately 120,000. And it’s nearly the end of April, so I was quite right in suggesting my goal was only to ‘start’ editing. However…what does that mean?

1. I need to re-read it, and first pass note-take on it.
2. I need to print the thing out – this was a showstopper for me earlier. So it has to be resolved. How to print it out, hmmmm…
3. I need a title.
4. I need to actually look up and remind myself what editing techniques I will be using.
5. I need to read my notes written at the time of writing for sections I already know I want to rework.
6. Read some of it out loud (probably at the TLE Writer’s Symposism I spoke about previously)
7. And probably a lot more that I’ve forgotten here…

Okay, the above was not ordered correctly. Call it stream of conciousness blogging. And it is eleven o’clock at night, so…

For the time being I’m going to suggest the following goals for me.

1. Choose my editing technique / method.
2. Start the big read and note-taking. Perhaps the first couple of chapters? (A pre-step – print it out!)

Now, it’s written in ink. No going back.

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