Friday, May 30, 2008

I Love It When a Plan Comes Together

I probably shouldn’t say anything for fear of jinxing myself, but things are going well for me, at least in terms of my writing. My last book has been finished, edited and by a twist of good fortune, has hit the mail and vanished into editorial oblivion. What happens to it now is out of my control, so I've followed by own advice and moved onto a new project to keep my mind occupied.

My current book, although I haven’t written a single word, is chugging along nicely in terms of plotting and research. The synopsis is almost written and once that’s done, I’ll develop a chapter by chapter outline to help me stay on track. That proved invaluable during the last book, so I’m going with that again. Things seem to be grooving. The characters are talking to me and they're just oozing characterization. They have goals and motivation and conflict (oh my!). They have crazy, kinky sex. All is well and I hope once I do start writing, the process will be even smoother than last time.

I have to say that I struggled with a single title for over a year. At once point, I was pretty sure that the timing was wrong, but I was determined to keep on, no matter what. I had so much faith in the book (I still do, but I know now isn't the right time either.) When it was finished and agents weren't beating down my door, I decided I was sick of looking at it and needed to do something else. I did some short stories, then a short novella. Then I finished my last book. Now, writing a category length book seems far less complicated than it was when I first tried. I won’t say it's easy, it's not, but I’m more confident in what I’m writing, I think. I'm not swimming upstream, at least today. Don't ask me Monday.

Have you ever noticed that sometimes, when you stop fighting the current and go with the flow that things somehow seem easier? How a undesirable situation can sometimes manage to put you in a better position than you were before? (And I don't mean giving up your dream because its too much work. Anything worth having is worth working for.)

For example, my mom and I used to share a car in Las Vegas and carpooled to work. I'll admit it - it was a Chevy Metro. One day, we got rear-ended and the almost new car was destroyed. I was distraught. We could barely afford the one we had much less get a new one and pay off the difference between the value and what we owed after insurance totalled out the car. It was a mess, but in the end, we ended up with a way better car for not that much more money and I'm still driving it to this day. No way the Metro would still be kicking, even if I hadn't been in an accident. It was a rough few weeks, but everything turned out better in the end. When things like that happen it makes me wonder if I've finally found the path I was meant to take. I don't know if I believe 100% in fate, but I'm certain that some things are meant to happen for a reason.

Has something like this ever happened to you? Is life flowing for you right now, too?

SP

PS. Don't forget to join us next week. We have a blog-tastic guest schedule lined up. Monday is guest blogger Karen Rose Smith and Tuesday is Nicola Marsh. Be sure to drop by and say hi to them both!

11 comments:

Playground Monitor said...

I'm reminded of the song (Garth Brooks I think?) "Unanswered Prayers." There have been times I was glad I didn't get what I'd hoped for. And other times that what seemed like a disaster actually turned out for the best.

All things considered, life's pretty good now. I'm getting into this exercise routine and have added an aerobics class to the mix. I found it by accident at the local community center, which is a block away from Curves. Of course, I'm afraid I'm going to be sore today because I'm convinced that sweet little instructor was a drill instructor in a former life. I just try to stay focused on fitting back into the dress I wore at #1 son's wedding.

PM

Problem Child said...

My zen-mantra right now is "The Universe is unfolding as it should." It's hard to convince a control freak of that, but I'm trying....

Kira Sinclair - AKA Instigator said...

Yeah, I try to live by 'what happens is supposed to happen' but it's kinda difficult. I know it's going to come as a shock to everyone but I'm a bit of a control freak. Okay...more than a bit. I have a hard time leaving my life up to Fate but I must admit that sometimes things happen for a reason. There are so many times over our lives that DH and I could have (probably should have) met. But we wouldn't have been ready for each other. There's no doubt in my mind that we met when we were supposed to.

Instigator

M.V.Freeman said...

I'm with you about life happening for a reason sometimes. Still, I always try to tweak it...

I find I am in a position you were; I am writing this current story so I can get a feel to finish my other story.

No; its not going easy. I make it harder than it needs to be. Why? Well; that's the million dollar question; bottom line I constantly second guess myself.

Barbara Vey said...

Personally things are going down the toilet, the worst of which is a bil in the hospital dying of pancreatic cancer. Today may be the day.

My blog keeps me grounded and my faith keeps me going. But I did get to see Barbara Walters last night which reminds me that the world just keeps on going, no matter what.

Problem Child said...

Oh, Barbara, {{{{{hugs}}}}} to you and your family.

Kira Sinclair - AKA Instigator said...

I'm so sorry, Barbara. I'm keeping you, your BIL and your family in my prayers.

Instigator

Sherry Werth said...

Fate...meant to happen for a reason...hmmm. That's been on my mind alot lately. Especially since I am not working at this time due to a layoff from a job I did not like. Is this destiny's way of saying "You now have time..work on the (darn) book"? Probably. Am I? Sorta. But I am making steps in the right direction now by working on character charts and trying to figure out how to do an outline. I think maybe if I work om being a plotter instead of a pantser it will greatly help. Other than that..Life is good.

Angel said...

Yep, I'm a control freak too! Can't leave anything up to fate, if it helps me out, great, if not, I'll keep moving on. At least on the good days. :)

On the bad days, I've learned to let myself slide some, as long as I know that I'll have to get off my duff tomorrow and get back to work. No laying around bemoaning bad things forever... I have to work at it, but I'm getting there.

Right now, everything is going as well as I can make it. I'm writing, getting things out there, and enjoying being home with my children this summer (when I don't want to hand them off to anyone who will take them...).

Barbara, you're in our thoughts and prayers!

Angel

M.V.Freeman said...

Barbara,
my heart goes out to you....that is a very, very hard thing; and there are no easy words.

Anonymous said...

I too am trying to step back from my agenda and let things unfold as they should, not necessarily as I think they should.