The things we do for the sake of our craft · 5:39am Mar 16th, 2013
Wow
First Blog I've ever written.
How quickly I've adapted to this ever-changing new world we live in....
Okay, so for the past two weeks I've pretty much been on the biggest writing benders I've ever experienced while coming up with the rough draft for the next few chapters of my story, This City by the Bay. Almost 140 pages worth, all written, BY HAND and still going even as I type this blog.
So for all you lovely folks who've been watching for the next installment of This City by the Bay, don't think for one moment that I've abandoned the project, because things couldn't be more further from the truth.
No, my lack of activity this past month has mainly been due to the simple fact that I've more or less found the right groove for the story and figured, why mess up a good thing? At the rate I've been going I've already written the first two thirds and well on my way to being done with the whole thing altogether.
It's strange really. Even though it comes with its disadvantages, I find I actually prefer writing my rough drafts straight to paper to writing on a word processor. I don't know why, but I think it just has something to do with the fact that when I write by hand I have a more direct link from my brain to the paper. It also eliminates most of my desire to go back and reedit, something that I used to do constantly. Only problem is it's a major strain on your wrist and fingers. In fact, I now have a callous half the size of a skittle on my thumb, no joke.
I've no idea when I'll be finished and ready to start posting, but in the mean time, have a sampling of Chapter Two, probably at its most raw and unrefined stage.
Enjoy!
That's awesome to hear that you've got the creative drive going for you right now, aside from the fact that I'm glad to hear that you're working on the story.
I do the same thing working from the PC, and it occurred to me that a few of the writers who's works I like the most have a lot of editing errors. I realized that above all they don't bother with going back to correct mistakes mid-stream. I see why, now. When you're in the zone, hopping over two paragraphs to get rid of that squiggly red line takes you out of the zone. I'm really considering just turning off the spell-check and auto-fix so I don't even see them, then go back and make corrections later.
My hat's really off to you on the hand-writing, though. Not only is that brave (I make backups every night when I close my files out), doing that is exhausting and fun and painful callous-filled endeavor.
Keep writing, of course. For my part, I'm looking forward to where you take the story next.
Nice.
140 plus pages writen by hand?
That is pretty dedicated, man. And rather impressive.