I’ve been working on my second novel, The Adventures of Infinity and Negativa for going on four years now. When I finished my first novel, Tribe of One, I optimistically thought that this second novel would take less than seven years to complete. Perhaps seven is my magic number. Or, I could have too much on my plate to dedicate the amount of time truly needed to craft a novel.
Although I began painting a series of storyboards to go along with the opening of each chapter last year, that endeavor has slowed down due to the weather and of course, having a full-time day job. Yet, most warm days on the weekend finds me on the balcony, adding the next layer of oil paint to the latest canvas.
Like most artists, I’m tempted to quit my day job and pursue art full-time. The true dilemma is what else can I do that would bring me joy, along with money and flexible time? The most financially feasible answer for me is technical writing from home.
I’ve been dabbling on a paid writing position since the last week in January. I’ve enjoyed the collaboration process and have managed to stay on track, eking out a couple of modules a week. The unusual frequency of “snow” days have worked in my favor. I have taken advantage of the additional ten hours. Of course that’s not all writing time, but with the sacred resource of time, I invest it as wisely as I can.
Sometimes, an extra hour or two of sleep is what my creativity needs…along with a revamping of my efforts. For two weeks, I went through my WIP and outlined it. Finally! After three years and over 200 pages, I’ve outlined the story, saw the blatant gaps and now I have the painful task of cutting all those cute little lines that truly don’t work in the story. The real stopper is that I don’t know what replaces the cut parts.
What a maddening thing the writing process is. And yet I’m drawn to it mainly because of the creative intellectual challenge. At some point, in a burst of inspiration, I’ll grasp the thread again. Then, I’ll fearlessly slash and type away.
I also feel once I get other things in my life in order, I can stop dividing my attention in so many directions and focus on the matter at hand. I’m still determined to finish this novel in fewer than seven years!