What I Always Say

Every year, without fail, I have ideas for novels. Why? Because I aspire to be an author and my imagination sometimes runs wild. Especially at night.
And every time I sit down to write a novel, I say to myself, "I'm finishing this one, no matter what."
Obviously, I still have yet to finish a novel.

Not surprisingly, I've had an idea recently. And so I sat down and wrote three pages this morning, and that little voice in my head started nagging at me again. "You aren't really going to finish this novel. It'll just end up being thirty pages of crap that you never look at again and just sits there taking up more space on your computer."
And more than likely, that's probably true.

But after reading countless articles on how to stay interested in writing a novel and how to actually FINISH, I think I've come to a conclusion.

My first novel is going to suck.

In fact, it's going to suck so bad that when it's over, I'll probably revise it thirty or so times. And still hate it.

But my goal is this: Finish the damn novel. No matter how bad it might be at the end.

Every writer improves on their writing skills with the more they write.
If I can finish one, then the next one will be easier. I just have to find my system.

Last year when NaNoWriMo came around, I was filled with the idea that I would be finally finishing a novel.
Boy, was I wrong.
I did all the steps. My entire chalkboard wall was filled with my cramped writing and post-it notes. I had the entire outline staring at me for weeks. And it sucked. And I hated it. And I tossed it aside.

So, for the current wanna-be novel that I'm writing, I vow to have a routine.
From now on, Monday through Thursday, I'm writing. FOR  AT LEAST two hours a day.
I just have to grit my teeth, crack my knuckles and fight my way through my first novel.
I've got to realize that it's going to suck horribly.

Peace, Love, and Junk Food,
Sara

Current Song I'm In Love With: 2 Atoms In a Molecule- Noah and the Whale