Failure, Story, Choices, Choices, Action

A thought built one sentence at a time with the goal of around five sentences in a week and the desperate attempt at a sensible overall idea tied together by the end.  The post title will be one word from each sentence.

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Failure to act is a result in itself.

An inactive character wouldn't lead a good story.

Characters must make choices and follow through on decisions.

But if the choices are too easy, even action isn't enough.

Story action in itself is pointless without meaning and motivation.

"The End" I wrote.

Except, well, I didn't actually write the end.  That part was already written.  (See my previous post on writing the end before getting there.)  I was missing a chunk in the middle, or late middle perhaps.  I had been whittling it down for some time.  Never a large piece in one sit down, and much time between sit downs, so I got kind of discouraged.  I also, like most folks, had a lot of responsibilities to take care of (many of which were new and not entirely expected, so it was difficult to adjust).

Anyway, that's enough sob to the story. ;)  Now that I have, as a friend said earlier today "a beginning, middle, and end" (and I added, "And they're connected!"), it's as if a weight has lifted off of my shoulders and I'm more ready for the next adventure now that the very first step of this one is completed.  In many ways, though I'm happy and excited, I'm not quite as much as I thought I would be.  Instead, I'm content and satisfied.  Not quite as ecstatic, but a comfortable and pleasant place to be all the same.  Although, it is very nice to be told "good job" by friends and family and to get excited with them, especially those who have been with me through this process. 

And it's been a long process.  It took me about a year from start to finish (of the actual writing part, not the pre-planning and all the jazz that I figured out before I even started the first sentence) to get "Makani's Serenity," the rough draft all the way through.  Now I know, writing the end before I get there is not the best way for me to tell a story if I hope to finish it.  So, I should just write faster. ;)

But, even though I spread writing the story out over a year, all in all, it really was just what I needed when I needed.  Writing my book and where I was at every stage helped me write the right emotions, moods, and pace, since I was quite frequently alongside my characters with their struggles, hopes, and efforts.  But that it perhaps, beside the point...for now.

For now, I am glad that I have finished something.  And not just any thing, but a full length novel manuscript.  I am a writer.  Maybe I can do this after all.

My thanks go to many people in many places, but Rebekah Roberts, Hadassah Fey, Jaimie Krycho, Ami Hendrickson, and the Write2TheEnd crew get special shout outs right now for encouraging me, challenging me, and persisting with me (and Jaimie keeps asking if Makani is all right, bless her.  I'm not gonna spoil the ending!).

...Now on to the next story and the next adventure, and mixed in, the wonderful world of editing!

Sometimes, a kick in the rear is what you need. Sometimes.

Okay, I haven't been very accountable about my goal to finish my book by (gulp) Saturday.  Yes, August 14 is already nigh upon me.

I got a little motivation from this guy who's writing a blog post on whatever that's awesome every single day.  I thought it was good to have deadlines and stuff like that.  Something to make you (okay, okay, me) accomplish the task and work toward the goal.  Especially since it is (yikes) visible to the world at large whether or not success is (I've run out of good words - I've used task and goal...next goal, improve vocabulary - without being obnoxious, of course), anyway, finish the race as it were.

But here was my real kick (that's for you Inception fans).  I joined a group on Twitter, #Write2TheEnd, of several writers who have set goals to finish their novels.  It's a support group.  And a challenge group.  I got a "teeny butt kick" from Ami Hendrickson.  It was true, I suppose, that I needed someone to say, Hey, I've noticed that you haven't done what you set out to do.  Of course, I knew I hadn't (not yet), but having some one else involved, someone who cares enough to say, Get back on track, and, You can do it, is a nice thing.  Even if it sometimes involves a teeny butt kick.

So, I finished typing up the 12 handwritten pages I had, and I checked the word count.  In the past nearly-a-month, I wrote 1,638 words in my notebook (well, okay maybe not quite that exact, because the typing was, after all, a chance for a little second drafting).  Anyway, typed up it was 1,638 words.  I'm actually pleased with this number, though it's not anywhere near enough, and (again, a gulp) I'm not changing my deadline marker.

Sooo, Saturday, or by the end of it, I have to cram in some probably, mmm, let's say 7,000 words (in the hopes that that's all it will take to bridge the gap that's left in the story).

7,000 I can do.  I hope.

I'd rather not need another kick in the rear.

So, win, lose, or draw (how one would draw a challenge such as this, I don't know), by Monday I will have an update on this blog to let the world know if I reached my goal or not.

Let's kick this pig!