Thud…

That was the sound of me hitting the wall. I’m stuck.

I have actually been stuck for well over a week. I haven’t figured out why I’m stuck, but I know the answer will reveal itself. There must be something stylistically or technically wrong with my story that I am aware of at subconscious level, but have yet to recognize it consciously.

I’m only blocked when it comes to the story, however. At a non-fiction level, I have been making entries in other blog’s and answering e-mails exhaustively, participating in several ongoing debates.

Between family members going through life-threatening illnesses and procedures, being involved with an indie film, prepping for a couple of upcoming trips and personal development articles – non-fiction writing subjects has been taking center stage. And I have had a lot to write about.

It comes down to gathering information and then using that information to get to where you want to be. Using what you know and your self-talk is important in completing any writing task.

Just when I thought I was done…

…It pulled me back in.

Having reached the 85,000 word mark, I thought I’d be done with my pirate story by now, but as it turns out – I’m not. I added some plot twists, reversals of fortune and more conflict and before I knew it the story just grew and continues to do so. I know I’m going to have to put the brakes on and end the story at some point, I even know how I want to end it but not before I tie up these new story lines first.

I’m pretty sure I’ll pass the 100,000 word mark. Back on November 1st, I never thought I could or would write a 100,000 word novel, but now It looks as though I’ll end up making a pretty good sized dent on the other side of 100K.

There have been family and friends and other readers that want me to post some or all of my novel on a blog. However, I’m a writer that writes the first draft with the door shut. Once I’m done with the novel, I’m going to let it sit and ripen for a couple of weeks before I dive in to do the first revision – just one of many to follow I’m sure. Once I’ve revised and polished it a couple of times – then and only then will I be ready to present my story to the world.

Whoa! It’s Been that Long?

The holidays went well. New Years was a real blast – literally. It was filled with family and friends, great conversation and lots of laughs. There was plenty of champagne and even fireworks. Since it was so late and everyone had more than just a little to drink, I had them all stay at the house instead of letting them take their chances on the road.

Getting down to writing has been very tough since my last post. I’ve only added about 2,000 words since then. Besides the holidays, work has been very busy. I work in the financial information industry, and things have shifted around in a way that makes it is necessary for me to start work at 6am and work until 5pm, in order to get done all the critical things that need to get done day-to-day. By the time I go to the gym, get home, have dinner and spend some time with the family – it’s time to hit the sack. Not much time for writing in there.

I’m hoping this pace of work only lasts until March, when I can then get my writing life back on track. For someone who lives largely inside his head, it doesn’t mean that I’m not going to write at all until then. I just need to beg, borrow or steal a few small time gaps I can claim for myself to continue the story.

2006 was a tough year for my family and friends. It brought death (4), life threatening illnesses (3), accidents and injuries, and obstacles and serious challenges of all sort.

Even to the very end – 2006 dogged us. On my birthday I found out my father was diagnosed with prostate cancer – after having beaten leukemia into remission. Then I found out a favorite writing teacher of mine, passed away on the December 30th, from a heart attack. Donald Murray was a Pulitzer Prize winning columnist for the Boston Globe and taught writing and journalism at the University of New Hampshire. http://www.unh.edu/journalism/donmurray.htm

I don’t consider myself a superstitious person, but must say that I am very glad to be shut of 2006. Not everything in 2006 was bad though. I got a great new job closer to home, I began writing more than I had in a long time, and I made several great friends in the writing community. Other than that, I look forward to the promise of 2007.