How They Scored

I did manage to do 1200 words yesterday -- mostly between about 4 pm and 6:30. That was after taking S. to the airport and then distracting myself with several other things. Now it's 2:00 pm -- I've squandered the last three hours or so and it's really time to think about working. I haven't wanted to push myself too hard because I know from experience it's difficult to get things done on the fourth day working in a row. So my plan will be to make notes until I'm really clear on what I need to do. Yesterday I covered points 1 and 2 in the list I made yesterday. (Not to be confused with the list of scenes from 10 November, which I referred to right up to the point where I made the new list.) I think my challenge today is to think through the decisions that Hap makes and break down 4 and 5. I'm a little worried about the homecoming business too, but I'll deal with that when I get there. So let's see. The first problem with (4) is that I'm not quite ...

Thanksgiving weekend. Working Thursday and Friday, I got in 2800 words, going over the 75,000 mark. That means it's officially a novel-length manuscript. That took four months from the time I wrote the first words; almost five months from the time I began making notes. Not too bad for something I hadn't the slightest inkling of before receiving the call from Felice in April. I finally completed the 4th point from the above list, which means I have 1-5 done. 6 and 7 are somewhat trivial, so with some additional work today and tomorrow, I absolutely should finish the first draft by next weekend. I should say that the work this week has taken place in the context of Thanksgiving, a visit by S., who stayed overnight at our place for three nights (I just got back from taking her to the airport), and the cast on Cris's leg. So I did all this work at home in the office. For somebody with a cast on their leg, Cris was great about letting me work. Letting me sleep is another matter,...

Okay, continuing with that brainstorming about Denny. I'm going to copy it over here so I can continue. Q: What is the important thing to think about w.r.t. Denny, in addition to the main plot points? A: His subplot. Q: Which is? A: His wife Marianne has just left him, he's started using junk again, and he has to decide what to do next. Because he is indomitably wealthy, it's not a matter of how to survive financially, only emotionally and physically. Q: How will going back on heroin affect him? A: It won't, in the short run -- i.e. for the purposes of the book. Q: So do we have to talk about it? A: Only in passing, perhaps as we take leave of Denny for the last time. Q: So the main thing to think about is what? A: His emotional state with his wife leaving him. Q: But that's affected by...? A: His emotional state is affected, i.e. muted, by going back on junk. So we'll have to acknowledge that. Q: Then what's the main thing? A: As...

Last working session I arrived at one of the turning points in the book. Don has revealed his idea for the business, and now he reveals to Hap why he's up there and what Don wants from him: to use his influence to recruit Bart for Don's business, Dreedle. In return, Don will promise to solve Hap's problem with the apartment. As I see it, there are only a few important plot points that remain: Shaun finds out that Hap has been asked to recruit Bart, and tries to dissuade him, warning of the political implications of Dreedle. When this doesn't work, Shaun attempts to sabotage the business somehow. But he ends up getting turned around by Don, who convinces him to invest all of his nest egg, about $4 million, in the company. Seth is telling Hap to go for it. But Seth is also disgruntled that he wasn't thought to be as important as Bart to the new enterprise. Denny again speaks to Hap, holding out the possibility of an alternative that isn't so morally objectionable....

A bit at a loss, my attention fragmented. I've squandered the morning time when Cris is still asleep, and now she's up. I'm working at home all week, but there's not much virtue in that, as most of my attention is taken by Cris, the house, the cats, etc. -- which is why I have an office. But as I'm here, I really ought to try to pay attention. Q: What is the important thing to think about w.r.t. Denny, in addition to the main plot points? A: His subplot. Q: Which is? A: His wife Marianne has just left him, he's started using junk again, and he has to decide what to do next. Because he is indomitably wealthy, it's not a matter of how to survive financially, only emotionally and physically. Q: How will going back on heroin affect him? A: It won't, in the short run -- i.e. for the purposes of the book. Q: So do we have to talk about it? A: Only in passing, perhaps as we take leave of Denny for the last time. Q: So the main thing to think a...

Since writing the above list of scenes, I've felt both constrained and energized by it, to the point that I do little thinking about how to go forward except to work out how to get those scenes on paper. By now, at the beginning of chapter 11, I've covered 1 through 3 and also 5. I guess I need to do 4 next. Of course, I also have to work in the sex... This is also a period when I'm stuck at home. Cris got ankle surgery two days ago and I'm home taking care of her. It's just as well, in a way, since B. has family at his house; he warned me last weekend that it would be noisy and difficult to work there. Yesterday was Saturday and I only did a few hundred words. I told myself that it was all right, that things would work out so I would be able to get things done. Even more important than sheer progress is not to get too anxious at this point.   I wrote, basically, one scene all weekend: 11a, in which I covered point 3 above. The next thing I have to do is point 4, or...

Went to bed early! Woke up early! -- it's 7:24 a.m. and I'm getting at least a three hour head start. Of course I'll probably have to stop three hours early too, but at least I'll get something done. I went to C_____ last night for a reception for F 1 , who is relocating to London while continuing to work for the press. I chatted with F 2 about the book, and I was relieved to find her still very enthusiastic about it. In fact, she gave me leave to include at least one bdsm scene, and when I told her that one of the characters was a network nerd at chain.com, she said that sounded perfect. So that gives me an opportunity to open things up a little. I also talked to the women who is doing promotions for them about promoting the book when it is released. I got a chance to tell her I wanted to be very involved, share costs, and generally do everything I could to promote it, and she was receptive. Now if I can only remember her name. I need to look at my outline to see where...