Do you get that same rush I get when I’m wrapping a book up? I can usually tell when I’m going to finish a story just because of that rush. It doesn’t matter if I’ve only got 2k to go, or 10k still to pound out. The word count isn’t really on my mind, it’s the fact that all those little loose threads aren’t loose anymore and I can actually see the whole picture.

There have been books when I had just a little bit left to go, a few pages, maybe a chapter, but I keep plodding along, plodding along and then BAM! It’s like the smoke clears and I can see where I need to be and the book is done almost like that, the ending practically wrote itself.

Then there are books where I can feel that rush coming on even from 2/3 way through and it’s smooth sailing from there on out.

I had a little bit of both with the books I did this challenge. One was like pulling teeth. One was the opposite. But both got finished. Now I’m wrestling with another one. This one is going to be one of the ones where I muddle along almost every step of the way, I can already tell. But the trick is to just keep plodding along. Even when the challenge is done, there are plenty of stories still to tell.

And I banged my head (for a few seconds at least) trying to figure out something uber-motivating and thought-provoking, something that would make that story burn inside you and the only way to put the fire out was to get the words out.

However my brain is bled dry from all the words I’ve pounded out, from edits, from too many late nights, so I’ll let somebody else do the inspiring. I found this quote over at Hearttouchers.com and damn, I’ve got to say, it did the trick for me.

“Forget all the rules. Forget about being published. Write for yourself and celebrate writing.”-by Melinda Haynes

So with time starting to wind down us, keep at it. Write for yourself. Write for the sake of the story. Just write.

What do you think about when you write? Is it the story? Does it unfold in your mind like a movie? A series of still images? Little fragments of something that doesn’t make any sense you’ve put it down on paper (or the screen)? Something else entirely?

I think mine is a little bit of of each. When it’s really moving, it’s series of still, flashing through my mind or a movie. When it’s slow, it’s bits of nonsense that eventually form something resembling logic or sometimes the images are in slow motion, like I’m taking a leisurely tour of a photo album.

But then there are the awful times when my mind is on anything but the story. Worrying about future projects, pain in the butt issues, bills, shopping. My mind does won’t shut down.

Today I’m going to focus on the images of the story and I hope you can do the same!

*headdesk*

So I’ve got 10k to go on Hunter’s Need. It’s a book for Berkley. Has a 1/1/09 deadline. Normally I hit the downhill slide and it flows like water.

Not so much this time. I know the ending is working, but it’s not the normal freefall I’m used to, which I don’t like. Of course, I’ve got time. But I’ve also got one set of edits waiting, two book….no, three books waiting, and then there’s Christmas coming and I’d like to enjoy some of that without my butt glued to the chair.

So I’m trying to have to back up a little, see if I can figure out what’s hanging me up. Wish me luck…

How is it going with you all? Anybody hitting little snags or snafus? Did you blow them out of the water? If so…wanna do mine?

That’s me.

Right now, I’m in chaos… or rather, everything around me is.

Had to take the cat to the vet today because the evil thing keeps peeing on the carpet-we’re looking at possible diabetes, a bladder infection or maybe it’s old age and arthritis.

Also getting the carpets cleaned today…because of said cat.

Also got some interesting, possibly very interesting things going on, but I can’t really talk about it yet, but it’s frying my brain cells.

Then there’s the fact that for some stupid reason, I agreed to go help out at the MD’s office tomorrow while the regular staff does some sort of group employee type of thing-not sure what, don’t wanna know, just glad I don’t have to go. However, I’m wondering why I agreed to work.

Then there’s the book.

Yes, this is a blog for a writing challenge so of course there is a book. Or rather…several books. Right now, I’m working on Hunter’s Need, a book that will be out late next year and I’m working on a fantasy romance for Samhain, then there are a couple of other projects.

And of course, there is chaos. It’s very hard to write in complete and utter chaos.

So what I need to do, is get out the iPod, crank it up and focus on the book(s). Tune out everything else and get as much work done as possible…because really, if you think about it, there’s always some kind of chaos.

The trick is learning to block it out and get the job done.

For those who don’t always (or never) plot out in advance, this is probably going to seem especially fitting.

Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way. -E. L. Doctorow

-Shiloh

So have you finished? Are you close? Even if you’re not, don’t give up. Sven isn’t a win/lose thing. As long as you keep writing, you win.

But for those that have already finished, if this is your first-or possibly your tenth ;)-some of you are probably wondering what next?

Well, there’s no easy answer to that. The thing with being a writer is that it doesn’t stop with the last word of the book. It doesn’t stop after you’ve finally finished that final, final draft. It doesn’t stop after you’ve had a friend read it for type-o’s, grammar, misspellings, etc.

Writing the book is really only the first step if you want to try to get it published. But every single one of us take a different route to getting published. Every one of us took a different route while trying to get published.

From here, you’ve got a few options. Do you think the book is ready for publication? Is it one you’d buy and read if somebody else wrote it? If so, then do your homework, start shopping around. Are you going to try for traditional publishing or maybe give e-publishing a start? Have you looked for an agents? Do you WANT an agent?

The internet is a vast resource for writers-maybe even a guidebook. You need to pick your route, but you’ve got options on which path to take.

Here are a few places to maybe help get you started-because beyond saying do your homework, I’m lousy at telling people what to do next. But others are great at it.

Sven III is close to wrapping up.

I’ve wrapped up one book. Getting close to wrapping up another. Even though I don’t know exactly what’s going to happen in the next few chapters, I can tell I’m close to done.

There have been times when people ask me, how do you know when you’re done?

Well, if you’re a writer, I think when you get there, you just know

If you’re not a writer, it’s not something I could explain.

But those keeping up with the challenge are writers. So you know. Are you in that downhill slide yet? Got that mad rush going to get those last words out on paper–or screen? If not, keep going. You’ll get there. If you are close, excellent. Finish it up and maybe we can all go out for margaritas.

Yikes! Forgot to blog! RT totally fried my brain and when I realized I had today–as in I should have posted this uh…16 hours ago? I figured a nice, quick quote would work.

Found this one

To write something, you have to risk making a fool of yourself.

by Anne Rice, found here.

And how very apt. Because right now, I’m writing something I’m not sure makes sense to anybody but me, something I’m not sure anybody will like, characters I think some people might hate…or at least dislike. And I’m wondering–why

Anne Rice has the answer. Writing sometimes meet taking chances that cool make you look…well, weird.

Take the chance!

Ever wondered why you write? From time to time, I do. Especially when things are really crazy and no matter what I do, I can’t seem to focus, or I can’t seem to get enough done. But then a story finally starts flowing as it should, or I get a really, really cool idea and then I remember.

I write because I have to. I write because I love it.