How to know...

...when you've finally hit on The Book:

You contemplate leaving early from a night out with your co-workers because you're getting that itch to write, and you can't stop thinking about the work you could be doing at home. Heh.

The book is going well. I am very, very pleased with my progress so far. I'm not going to say much about it, since I suspect the second draft will differ a lot from the first, except that I've hit my stride on it and we're starting to run.

I'd forgotten that I decided I wanted to write because of times that felt like this. :)

Sub 01.1, Sub 02

The revised version of sub 01 (now called sub 01.1) and sub 02 have been released into the wild. I have reasonable hopes for the new version of 01; I think the rewrites did it more justice. Sub 02, however, I have my doubts about, but I think it's workable with perhaps another rewrite in the wings if a rejection comes back.

I'm currently working on a novel, along with a certain Real Life Thing (namely, my thesis, or my 'non-fiction writing project' as I now call it so as not to burst into tears every time I think about it). Sub 03 is in the rudimentary scratchings and 'hmm, will this idea work, I wonder?' stage. I also have two projects which need to be completed for fun; I foresee this month's wordcount to be obscenely high when it's finally over.

Sub 01: result

Another rejection to add to the folder. *rueful sigh*

However, there is another anthology I can submit it to, just in the nick of time. So another polish, and off we go again! And there is another sub to do the final polish on and submit, too, and I've had a few new ideas stick their heads in and demand to be fiddled with, so all is good.

One day... one day, I will look back at this and smile. I just have to keep reminding myself that this will shape me into the writer I want to be. It didn't even hurt that much to read the rejection, which shows how far I've grown in so little time.

The Waiting Process (Sub:01)

I'd forgotten how horrible the submitting-and-then-waiting-for-a-reply part of writing is. *jitters and bites fingernails*

I've grown very attached to the story I've just submitted (we'll call it sub: 01 for organisation's sake). Let's see how the baby does out in the big, bad world.

Back to normal

I'd forgotten how terrible it is to get the desperate urge to write while at work. Oh dear.

That said, at last, the longing to put words together and see what happens has returned, after a dreadfully long absence! I'd also forgotten how much I had missed this, as maddening as it may be.

Tonight, then. Tonight.

Is recluse still an occupation?

Have you ever had one of those days where you wish you could be a recluse and never see a single human being ever again?

...I am most definitely having one of those days. *RAGE*

When the rain falls...

It has been raining for the past few days, a heavy, straight rain which I can't help but stare at from my window. The sound of it is strangely soothing, and always has been. I feel safe whenever I'm inside from the rain, and warm, curled up in my room or on the couch while listening to it.

It always turns my writing dark and somber.

And, now, yes, it has started to rain again.

Time to start the morning for real.