4.394. On Writing and Rhythm

Over time a writer hits a rhythm that transcends the spectrum of multiple stories, poems, or books. It becomes a workflow with ideas and plots stacking up neatly in the queue allowing the writer to move from one story to the next pausing only to reload emotionally or to refresh themself on ideas and let the input of the world filter in through their senses.

Every successful writer I know talks about tackling multiple projects at once. When one becomes onerous they can step away for a moment and move to the next project and then back again, leaving each in various stages of completion or disrepair. I personally have been keeping a word tally, given the specific nature of the two novellas I am writing and the impending (read: past and quickly approaching in that order) deadlines for the books. I see these numbers and know I am falling behind, but I am reassured that the process works and the finished product will be worth the wait.

I am devoted to being a realist on this page. Writing is hard. Often the most difficult moments are the set pieces that push everything in your story forward. For me I find more excitement in the moments leading to and away from those crafted scenes. I can write those quickly and in that writing, unfortunately I tend to craft interactions that force the scripted set pieces to be rescripted and redesigned and often informed by outside research. This too is the difficult nature of my writing style and where I am now.

In the weeds. Trying to finish a book that ought to be done.

Back to work then.

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