The Write Stuff

In case you're at all interested in my writing process (or progress, which there is very little of at the moment sadly), here's a look at what's been kicking around my brain lately.

Sources of Inspiration:

This article in the Guardian has been giving me serious inspiration lately. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/feb/20/ten-rules-for-writing-fiction-part-one

I also feel heavily inspired by Henry Darger at the moment. I wrote a post about him recently that you can find here.

Robert Louis Stevenson's little book "The Art of Writing". "My First Book", about writing "Treasure Island" has inspired me since the moment I read it, thanks to Monsieur Redacteur who recommended it to me.

Reading William S. Burroughs' "Naked Lunch". The style is just brilliant.

Believe it or not, watching the movie adaptation of L.M Montgomery's "Anne of Green Gables". I saw myself as Anne when I saw it when I was a little girl and it's nice to see I remember what made me feel that way. I am rather dramatic.

Going away to Amsterdam to give my "mad plan" a try.

The Mad Plan

I have concocted this mad plan to write 5,000 words a day during my stay in Amsterdam minus travel days, and three days when people will be coming to visit, though I still plan on getting up early to write as much as I can; which means 5,000 words  x 18 days [would hypothetically] = 90,000 words or, a novel. If I can stick to it.

I've decided I won't edit for the entire period. I'll print the entire document in one go when I get back from Amsterdam and just see what I have. I of course will be using several sources to make sure I don't lose copies of this document such as email to send it myself, Google Docs, and a Darth Vader USB key.



Darth keeps my files safe.



In fact I'm going to plan my days like I'm on a retreat. Early morning walks after feeding and cuddling the cat I'm babysitting during my stay, lots of shopping in the markets for fresh vegetables and other healthy goodies, massages and floats at Koan Float, and an evening constitutional will be part of helping me achieve my mad plan.

Now don't think 5,000 words are by any means normal. The only writer I can think of off the top of my head who writes a healthy dose of "words per day" might be Stephen King. Joyce Carol Oates is also extremely prolithic, but I've never found anything on the details of her writing habits. But I think it's important to aim high. I will literally have nothing to do in Amsterdam except take care of a cat, myself, and write.

I'll be armed with my outline, the one that's been haunting me since my first trip to Amsterdam, which I am becoming more and more convinced is the story I most want to tell and am the most capable of telling.

Last September I told myself I was going to write a novel by September 2011. It reminds me a bit of college and being under the wire. It's exciting if nothing else to challenge myself. As long as I'm writing, that's what really matters in the end anyways.

One day I will type the two words I most long to type. "The End". I'm counting on Amsterdam to inspire me.