Finding Time

Lately I've been having a hard time finding time to myself to write.  I have, however, been reading a lot.  I recently read Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games, and Catching Fire.  I can't wait for the third book to come out later in August.  I also read SH*T My Dad Says, by Justin Halpern.  It made me laugh so much!  But, reader beware, it swears.  A LOT. So if you aren't into that, then I'd pass on it.  I just started reading G. Norman Lippert's James Potter series. So far so good.

The problem I seem to have is that I either am totally into reading, or writing, or doing nothing at all.  It was so much easier to write (and read) while I was on vacation.  Now that I'm home, life is hectic and crazy and all over the place, and I just don't seem to have the time.  I'm so behind in my "day job" I'm bringing my work home with me.

So, here's my question to all you guys.

How do you deal with life and family and school/work and writing and reading and everything else that seems to pop up?  How do you find a balance and take the time to get some good writing in?

Dilemma

I'm having some issues.  Mainly, now that I wrote one of my favorite characters back into the plot, I don't want to get rid of him again.  I am actually considering changing the rest of the story to include him somehow.  I'm thinking this might not be a good idea, since I've been working on this project for almost 4 years, and I'm finally to page 92 (I've never gotten that far in before re-writing)!  I'm at a loss.  So, let's take a poll, shall we? 

Change the plot?

Keep the plot the same?


Please leave your response in the comments.  Thanks :)

Oh dear, what have I done?

Remember Daniel Masters?  Well, I just wrote him back in.  Yes, I know it was crazy, but he's just one of those characters that you don't want to lose. 

I've been working on writing his side of the story simultaneously, and I have to say that it's provided a lot of insight to where he's coming from and what he's going through.  Is it weird for me, the author, to say that?  Well, weird or not, that's how I feel. 

So anyway, he's back and I couldn't be happier.  Except that I know how things end up for him, and I'm a little worried that my entire plot might change, just so I can keep him in a little longer.

Well, we'll see what happens, I guess.  But, for now, I'm really happy to welcome Dan back to the book.

I'm not going to jinx it

I'm not going to jinx myself by saying that everything is going well with this project so far.  Who knows?  Tonight might prove especially difficult, or tomorrow, or in three weeks. 

I do have to admit, though, that I'm glad that I've kept all of my previous versions of this project.  I've been able to cut and paste, if you will, pieces from each of them and add them into the one final (hopefully) version.  Last night was especially nice, as I was able to write an entire chapter by taking bits and pieces from a previous draft and add in a few more things to make it better.

I'm not even close to where I would like to be by now, but I'm going to just stick with the "slow and steady wins the race" philosophy.  It's not like I'm on a deadline or anything....yet....

So, here's to a trouble-free week of writing.  Wish me luck!

It's depressing to get rid of a friend

I'm currently working on a piece I started almost 4 years ago.  I know, it's crazy that it's taken me this long to get it done.  And actually, I haven't gotten very far.  Each time I rewrite it I get to about chapter 4 before setting it aside because all I can write is crap.

I hate those days.  The days when all I write is crap, and I end up erasing most of it the next day. 

This project I've written so many times, from so many different perspectives, that I thought it would be cake to get past the dreaded Chapter 4.  Well, I decided to combine a few of the previous versions and add a few elements and characters to the story.  They had always been there, just later in.  How did I know?  I have the whole book outlined, chapter by chapter.  Yes, I am so prepared with this one.  That's what 4 years can do to you.

So tonight I reached a crossroads.  Not only did I pass by Chapter 4 yesterday, but I obliterated it!  I flew through 3 more chapters!  I was on a roll.  And then the inevitable happened.  I knew it had to happen from the moment I started writing this version.  I had to write a character out.  We had a pretty good relationship, the character and I did.  It was heartbreaking to write the last chapter.  Now, I'm stuck.  I want him back.  I want to take it all back, erase those pages, and change the story so that he can stay.  Sadly, that isn't how this story is going to work.  It would change the whole plot, and I've rewritten it enough times to know that this is the best plot I've had in 4 years.  I'm not going to change it on a whim.  Or out of guilt.  Or because I'm sad tonight.

But what if changing the plot is the right thing to do? 

Yeah, I thought about that one.  See, the problem is that I've already written bits and pieces of other stories that intertwine with this one.  There will be no changing of the plot.  It's too late.  What's done is done.

So, I dedicate this post to the memory of Daniel Masters, may you love him as much as I did if this book ever gets published and you decide to read it.