It's 12:08 a.m. and I just looked at the clock. I've been busy working on my current novel, Enticing Julia Morgan, and I've lost all track of time. This isn't the first time it's happened...
I'm lucky because my husband gets up with the kids before school on most mornings, so I can indulge in some quiet, late-night writing. I'm currently at 89,662 words, with 100,000 as my goal. It's getting to the point where my fingers can't move fast enough as the story is pouring from my heart.
I was a bit nervous as I started out writing this story. The first story I wrote had been in my mind for over ten years, but this one I had only plotted for three weeks before I started working on it...and I was afraid I couldn't pull it off. Would I need to let this story incubate for ten years, as well?
The answer, I'm happy to say, is no. I discovered this story as I wrote it, which is a new adventure for me. But everything about writing this story has been new to me. It's been a learning experience, to be sure. A good one.
And, the best part is, my mom and my sister are loving this story already--they've had special VIP access to it... :)
As I come to the end of this story, I'm getting more and more excited. I'm convinced each time I write a story I will learn something new. Something about God, something about me, something about my writing, something about my dreams and something about life in general. Because there's no way you can pursue your passions without God using it to shape you.
It's late, and I'm rambling, but I didn't want a Monday to go by without a post. I'm so thankful I have all of you to share this journey.
What about you? Do you ever get lost in a good story (whether reading it or writing it) and lose all track of time? Do you learn something new in that story? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
**On a side-note, I'm protesting today. No Minnesota Monday until the weather starts to cooperate! It's the middle of April and we had a snow storm today! My birthday is in ten days and I can only recall one year (in 33) that there was snow on the ground. I'm not complaining...I'm just protesting. :)
**And--Happy Tax Day America!
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| Because I don't have a graphic to go with this strange post today, here are some pictures of my favorite super-heros, courtesy of my twins |
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| These were taken at my parents' house this weekend. When this little guy came up from the toy room and my dad told him to go back downstairs to play, he said: "I can't! I haft to save the world!" |
Can't wait to read your novels :) I love getting lost in stories! And I love little guys in costumes. My son has the Hulk with big muscles, its hilarious because he's quite small.
ReplyDeleteI know, aren't they so cute? I love how short they are, yet they think they're able to save the world! :)
DeleteGreat job, Gabe! I get lost in my stories all the time and am thankful for long stretches of writing time. I got 13K swept away in my current WIP on Saturday.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are too cute! I love your tentative title!!
Jessica, 13,000 is AMAZING! Good job. :) I love my working title, too. I hope I can keep it.
DeleteYay, I love that feeling of getting lost in a story...my own or someone else's. It hasn't happened for awhile with my own because I'm in rewrites...and I tend to get less carried away during rewrites. But in the first draft, yeah, it's fun when you just go and go and go... :)
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read your stories!
I agree, Melissa, it's easier to get swept away in the drafting stage where it's all about discovering the story. Rewrites are a lot trickier. I hope those galleys are going well!!!! I'm so excited for you.
DeleteI love getting lost in stories. It's hard with novels from other authors I read because I have to turn off the internal editor, but I love when it happens.
ReplyDeleteGabrielle, I look forward to reading your stories! When I'm fast drafting, the words don't flow fast enough onto the screen, but I love seeing where it's going to go, especially when I do something spontaneous, like add in a new character on the spur of the moment. So fun. :)
ReplyDeleteI recently read a story that gripped me, especially at the end. I had to keep reading instead of going to bed. :)
My oldest still likes to dress up, and he's ten. The youngest, well he's thinking it's not soo cool to "dress up." They grow too quickly. :)
Happy writing, my friend!
Getting lost in a story can be such fun. So glad you're enjoying writing yours. I look forward to the day readers are enjoying your stories, too.
ReplyDeleteI'm so impressed you can write late like that. I'm so the opposite. 8 or 9 pm hits and I'm wiped!! Maybe it'll change when I have kids, though. There is something amazing, I imagine, about being the only one awake in the house and knowing you have time between just you and the characters! Can't wait to join the VIP crowd and read this book. Hehe.
ReplyDeleteGabe,
ReplyDeleteI love that part of writing. The beginning goes so slow but towards the end, I can't type fast enough. Can't wait to read it!
Loved the pics! My boys were Larry and Bob one year -- hehe I still have the pic's and the costumes.