Friday, July 13, 2012

Who Needs Time Off

I did finish Yarn2Go on Sunday. I completed making the scarf pattern that is included in the book and I made a batch of the chocolate muffins with the recipe I put in the book. And then at around 1 a.m. Sunday night/Monday morning, I hit send and off it went. I hope it makes sense, that I didn’t give away who the murderer is in the first chapter, and that my editor likes it. I’ll know when I get my revision letter.

My plan was to take the week off from writing. I would clear away the table I have set up next to my computer with the hard copy of Yarn2Go. The table makes it so I can’t get to the window, which meant that I was forced to leave it open which was fine at night when it cools off, but not during the day when it was over 100.

I thought I would catch up on all the laundry, clean the house, shred all that mail that has been piling up, read a bunch of books, watch some television and go back to my regular classes at the gym. And there was a part of me that thought me write another book, are you kidding?

It went okay for a day or so. I started to read the second Hunger Games book, I did some laundry, and I vacuumed the dust off a lampshade. But then Molly began to talk to me, reminding me that I have only four months to write her next book and she doesn’t want to be short changed. I started seeing the first scene in the book. Characters started showing up and introducing myself. Crochet ideas popped into my head.

I always have these plans of clearing everything up and being so organized, but it never works out. So, the table with the hard copy of Yarn2Go on it is still up. I still can’t get to the window to close it during the heat. But then a little fresh air is always nice. And suddenly writing another book doesn’t seem so daunting. It feels like an adventure.

8 comments:

Planner said...

I'm glad I'm not the only one who can only dream of being organized. Life is too interesting.

Congrats on meeting your deadline. That's a real accomplishment.

Betty Hechtman said...

You are absoutely right, Planner. Life is too interesting to worry about keeping things in order.

Julie said...

Of course you can't stop writing. The characters will just keep pestering you until you work with them. That said, keep reading "Catching Fire," and have "Mockingjay" ready for when you finish. The last line of "Catching Fire" is one of the best I've read.

Linda O. Johnston said...

A week off from writing, Betty? I can't even imagine it! Even if I did things to stay far from the computer, my mind would be pushing me with ideas. Good thing Molly started talking to you. I'm not surprised!

Betty Hechtman said...

Julie, I find it hard to read when I'm really into writing. But I'm going to read Catching Fire and Mockingjay now. They have been sitting on my kitchen table for months.

Betty Hechtman said...

Linda, I was very happy when all the stuff for the new book just sort of showwed up.

Julie said...

Betty, I just don't read romance when I'm writing romance. I don't ever want to inadvertently use someone else's material. While I'm writing, I read everything else, mystery, needlework books, history, magazines, etc. But if you can put Catching Fire down and not reach immediately for Mockingjay, you're stronger than I am. I sat in the jury pool on Thursday, though, and instead of reading, I worked out a plot issue I'd been wrestling with. Something good came of a jury summons.

Betty Hechtman said...

Julie, your reason for not reading romance when you're writing romance is exactly my reason for not reading mysteries when I'm working on a book.

It's great that you could use your jury pool time so profitably.