It has been noted — by folks far wiser than yours truly — that a good operating definition of "insanity" is "doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results". By that measure, at least, one could, I suppose, question my sanity.
I certainly am.
Really, I should know better by now, shouldn't I?
Certainly after the great "type out the monster" marathon of 2008, you would think that I would have recognized that typing out the manuscript as I go is the ideal, right? You would think that I would settle into a comfortable routine of "write in the morning, type in the evening", wouldn't you? Especially considering this very wise passage from that monstrous manuscript:
It took me another hour, sipping at my second coffee of the day, to type in the day’s pages, making a few changes as I went. When I printed out the pages, I wrote the date in the bottom margin and set the sheets face-down on the top of the stack on the second shelf of the bookcase.
Wise words, no? A perfectly reasonable approach, yes?
So how is it, exactly, that I've ended up doing it again: writing a full story, and now having to input it all at once?
(sigh)
The good news, I suppose, is that the story is done, as of yesterday morning. And it's not that long — another morning of typing will have it done, and ready for revision.
Still, though, it's a good lesson, and a timely one: build a routine wherein I write in the morning, and type later in the day. DO NOT let the manuscript build up. DO NOT fall into the trap of "it's important to the flow that I not go back and type what I've already written; I'll wait and type it all at once".
If only there were somewhere that I could write that down, so I don't forget when I start on the new novel…
Meanwhile, in another part of my psyche:
Yes, the story is done. No, I can't give you the details on where and when it will appear. Soon, though. Soon a press release will magically appear, and it will be copied here with much rubbing together of hands. And by "soon" I mean "within the next 24 hours or so", so not long now.
In the meantime, though, do please listen to this interview I recorded last week with Joseph Planta for thecommentary.ca. (Yes, listen — Mom, this is a podcast. Just click where it says to click, then sit back and wait for sound to come out of your speakers. Everyone else, you can listen on the site, or download the piece and listen to me while you work out. Heh.)
And for the record, I recorded this on a lunch-break last week, in the waning stages of "Omigod, I'm gonna die", which saw me feverish and a bit delusional. I'm not actually sure of what I said*, so if there's anything bizarre (or, you know, wise), I'm blaming the fever. Or the drugs.
(*caveat added upon reading the phrase "they also discuss growing up in Agassiz" and having NO recall of how I handled the question…)
All right, back to my typing…
