Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Somebody, please, shoot me now

I say that, somewhat tongue in cheek.

I have 2 chapters to go to finish my WIP. I've been working on it since February, and I set a self-imposed deadline to write The End by June 20.

SO close. And yes, I'll probably hit my deadline. Everything else has slid while I finish this. Conference plans, plane tickets, medical appointments: on hold. I. Must. Finish. This. Book.

This was a tough one to write (don't I say that with every book?) It's a Punt Book -- this will punt my characters into the next round of conflict for the remaining volume of this 3 volume series. I had to come up with character (for 6 major characters) arcs, political arcs, and town arcs. Oh, and for the country and (soon to come) the world.

You see, that's the problem with world-building. It's easy to tear it apart. Now I'm trying to put it back together.

This is a note I have on my computer: "It's not what you want the story to be. It's what the story is." I've had to pull my fingers away from writing the story I want to happen to focus on what the story really is. The story really is about angst and loss and worry and fear. Yes, they'll have good times. But that's in the future. This is now.

And it's been hard to write it. I've killed off characters I really loved, I've set tasks for my h/h that are soul-trying, and I've pushed everyone to their limits.

Nine more days and I *will* write "The End".

She said hopefully ...

J L
(jayellwilson.com)

8 comments:

Diane Burton said...

Good luck, JL, with finishing the book on time. With your dedication, I'm sure you'll do it. How can you bear to kill off a character you love? I hate when that happens. You gotta do what you gotta do, I guess.

Andrea Downing said...

Good luck, JL. But I want to know if you cry when you kill off characters you love?

Jannine Gallant said...

You'll get there, JL. I remember killing off a character in a book I never finished. A child in a cholera epidemic (it was a wagon train story). I cried so hard I couldn't see to write. These things are traumatic. LOL

Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Author said...

You've got this. I've got faith in you.

I hate the feeling and yet I suffer it with every book. I've never killed off a character I love. I don't think I could do it. I'm such a weepy soul.

Margo Hoornstra said...

You know you're going to...Get. This. Book. Done. I do too. ;-) It's true. When a story takes off to become what it is, all you can do is roll with it and follow! Good luck.

Rolynn Anderson said...

JL, you are the master of suspense, even in your own world. This too, shall pass. A smashing ending, I'm predicting.

Alicia Dean said...

I'm sure you'll make it...and I bet it will be awesome, Love that saying!

Leah St. James said...

Sounds like a great series! I'm hooked without even knowing the plot! Congratulations for sticking with it and meeting your goals...I know you will.