Thursday, August 26, 2010

First draft in 30 days


I'm a disorganised writer.

There are piles of editing sitting on my desk, files scattered all over my computer and intrays full of "one day" projects. This is a complete contradiction to my day job, where all of my paperwork is filed according to the "rules" of the organisation, my desk is cleared at the end of the day and my time is scheduled down to the last second.

So why is it so hard to transfer those habits to my writing life?

I think its left brain-right brain confusion. My day job is 100% left brain, but when I write I want to turn on my right brain and create.

So when I saw "First Draft in 30 Days" by Karen S. Wiesner sitting at the RWA Conference bookshop, my left-brain saw the word "system" and insisted I had to have it. I'm gearing up to use this system on my new manuscript, the one I brainstormed at Boot-i-Con. Fingers crossed it will work.

6 comments:

Danielle Birch said...

Oops, I still have Marilyn's copy of this book sitting in a pile of "stuff" in my writing room. As you see, I can relate to your disorganisation.

AJ Blythe said...

Fi, you'll have to report back and let us know how it goes...

Eleni Konstantine said...

In my former life as a librarian, while I wasn't super tidy, I was tidier than I am now with my writing. So I totally understand. As Anita said, let us know how it goes.

Fiona G said...

Hi Everyone, This book has been staring at me all day. And you know what would really help - a disc with all the charts pre-loaded. That'll be the rate limiting step I reckon. (My left brain reckons) My favourite bit so far - it has a goal setting page - one year, then multi-year. I think that would be great.

Fi

AJ Blythe said...

Try this site, Fiona: http://www.angelfire.com/stars4/kswiesner/FD2.html

Got curious about the book and stumbled across it. Not sure how many charts etc are in the book but this might save some time?

Fiona G said...

Hi Anita

Thanks for that. Will go and have a look.

Fi

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