The Newbie Speaks

[Angela Wilson]

I started a new job a few weeks ago, so I cut myself some slack on writing. During my lunch break - typically at Wendy's since the 99 cent menu is all I can afford thanks to gas-gauging - I have some time to focus my thoughts on my characters and plot and where it's going.

Of course, those notes are great when I sit back down at the computer, but time away takes its toll - especially on a story like mine. I have a lot of twists I want to pack into the pages to give readers a punch to the gut that they don't see coming. I have to mentally kick into high gear when I sit down at the computer to get into it. Of course, about that time the story takes an unexpected twist - those darn characters going their own way again - or those wonderful Missouri thunderstorms suddenly appear and I have to hurry up and shut down and unplug before lightning takes away my precious, wonderful laptop, which has a battery that only lasts three seconds so I cannot work through the storm.

It's been a bit of a trial, but I must plug away. I must, I must, I must. I have a goal to have the final draft ready by December. I'm nearly half way finished right now, but it's first blush. You know what that means. Lots of editing in store.

But you know what? It's all good. The story is moving along. I'm surprised by some of the twists that are coming up. That is, twists that will come up if the story keeps moving in this direction. I'm excited about the project and I know it has potential. I can't wait to pitch.

Now, if I can just get it finished...