I know I've been kind of quiet lately, not publishing much and not updating here much either. This is because for the past several months I've had some kind of block, have only written in spurts and most of what I've written has been pretty crappy, nothing I'd send out. This usually happens to me after a few months of writing every day and publishing a lot. I reach a point where I've said all I need to say for awhile.
And then a little over a month ago, I was approached by a literary agency who'd come across my contribution to Dzanc's Best of the Web 2010. They wondered if I had a novel. I don't. And since this the third time an agency has been interested in me (but only if I have a novel), I figured it was about time I started writing one. My husband has been nagging me to do this for years now, and I've wanted to do this for years now but had no idea how.
I work full-time and commute 2-hours a day, and when I'm home most of my time is spent tending to my son. This leaves precious little time for writing. Over the past two years I've become a lunch-hour writer, writing in the library where I work and at home on the weekends, and that's exactly how I've been writing this novel. An hour a day doesn't produce much, one page or if I'm lucky two pages. But I figure by January of next year I should have a little over 200 pages and by February I could start editing and revising.
I still don't know what I'm writing about, and I still have no idea what I'm doing, but I'm committed to finishing the project, even if it's just to write a crappy novel that will never see the light of day. Hopefully, in the process I'll figure out what I'm doing and then the next novel won't seem so daunting.
I think you should take a tape recorder with you on that two-hour commute and talk it out--ideas, sentences, whole paragraphs...who knows what might come out of that pretty little head of yours in the car. Also, when you're done, I'll edit it for you if you like. I just finished editing the new Bringing the World to Mississippi coffee table book about the USM Symphony. It's on Amazon. You should check it out. Not a novel, but my first attempt at editing an entire book.
ReplyDeleteHeather Wood Graves
Hi, Lydia. I found your fiction through another site and I wanted to let you know that you're incredible. Reading this post makes me excited that soon(ish) there will be even more of your work in the world.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with the novel endeavor. I can't wait to read more of your words!
Heather--you know Mary Robison does that with her novels. Is she still at USM?
ReplyDeleteAinsley, Thanks so much for your kind words. I'm having a tough time with the novel. I've never done this before and it shows. If nothing else at least I'll have the experience of writing a crappy novel and will hopefully be able to write a better one later. Your comment is encouraging...thanks!