Juggling

 Juggling

Perhaps I have too many balls in the air? I have my finished WIP that I am on round three (feels like three hundred) of edits. A new idea that is approaching the second act. A third idea that is near the third act. A blog I should be writing every week. Work. My dog. My cat. My family. Friends. 

I am lucky if I have an hour to write each day. And sometimes, all I can write is a paragraph. But my personal rule is: You must write every day. Every day. 

I enjoy editing. Line edits. Continuity. When I am in editing mode, I am going through each line, each paragraph, each page. I check for grammar, punctuation, and repetitive words, to name a few. Is there a better way to say? Does it flow? Is it true to the era? The character? Then I go through it again, checking for continuity. If I struggle with a sentence, I try to fix it. If the sentence does nothing for the story, I take it out. 

I have gone through the current chapter twice and now realize the only way to fix it is to rewrite the entire chapter. Sigh.

This is okay. It's part of the writing process. And when I'm done, it will be a hundred times better. Right? Hopefully.

Continuity is one of my favorite things. To me its like catching an issue in a movie. If you have ever seen Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982), there is a scene in which a bloodstain on Captain Kirk's uniform moves. This is something the movie's editors should have caught. Hell, this is something the crew should have caught while filming it. But they didn't. It is also one of the reasons why I check for continuity mistakes. The last thing I want is to describe my main character as wearing a red dress, only to have it be blue in the next line. If my character has a scar on her forehead, I don't want it to move. 

My two new projects take place in different eras. The first is set in the present and features a character with a split personality. I need to be able to write from both of their perspectives. What are their character traits? The one is sweet, lovable, and friendly. Her alter is hard-driven, successful, and a bitch. This involves research. (Personal thank you to Kari from my writing group, who loaned me her book on identity issues.) What do each of the characters want? What is the conflict? This one has been on the back burner for a couple of months.

The second one is set in the 1950's and features two stuffed-animal detectives. The challenge with this one is keeping the "stuffed" animal part on the down low. It is written in a noir style. Huge rabbit hole with this one. I can get lost in descriptions, like how a character walks in. I can't just say: The door opened and a woman stood outlined against the sun. No, it has to have an edge to it like: The door opened, and a woman stood there, lingering long enough to let me know she was trouble. Fun. Different style.

I have to remember when I switch between them how the characters talk. I want my readers to be in the character's head. It would not do to have my present-day character looking at herself in the mirror and seeing her alter in a noir way. It also wouldn't do any good to have my character in the finished WIP be listening to current music and driving a current car.

This is all part of the magical journey of writing. It's not just words on paper. It's more. Characters, issues, setting, tension--all of it needs to flow, and make sense. All of it needs to make the reader turn the page to find out what happens next.

But I am not just juggling projects. I am also juggling quality time with my pets, chores, and work. This is why — even on my days off — I generally find myself with one hour to write. Maybe two if I am lucky. I envy people who can sit and write for hours. 

Right now, I am waiting for the dryer to finish, so I can fold my clothes before I start the chapter over. My dog is curled up on his bed next to me. The dishes still need to be done, and coffee needs to be prepped for the morning. But those can wait a bit, because right now ... it is writing time. :)