Hmmmm ….

Chinese Food or a Pot Pie?  Which is brain food for finishing a novel?

Or maybe homemade biscuits and gravy?

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WRITERS AND READERS

When I was younger, I was heavily influenced by Stephen King, Edgar Allen Poe, Lord Byron, Dean R. Koontz (“Watchers”), and Clive Barker.  “The Haunting of Hill House” was one of my favorite books, along with “A Separate Peace.”

Writers out there … what authors influenced you most?  What’s your favorite book by another author?

HAPPY FREAKIN’ THURSDAY

BAM! POW! KA-POW! KA-BLEWY!

Fellow writers, how do you write an action scene?  Any tricks?  Pit-falls? Hints?

HAD TO TAKE A STEP BACK

Ran into a problem with the ending fight sequence.  Instead of stewing on it, I looked at it and saw that something was missing earlier in the novel.

Fixed that this morning.

And now in the writing groove.

A POT PIE FOR BREAKFAST

Just ’cause.

I’ve had  a rough week.  Yeah, there are grits in my cupboard, but sometimes you need some gravy and a flaky crust to get you through the morning.

And sweet tea?  Oh yeah, sweet tea, too.

TIME FOR WRITING!

Dogs are asleep.  Kids are off to school.

Oh yeah.  It’s time.

END OF THE BOOK BLUES

Progress always seems to go down to a snail’s pace when I’m in the homestretch of writing a novel.  Some of it is so much work and emotion wears on me.  Some of it is the realization of the work that will have to be done formatting and getting it out.  I set small goes for myself to see the novel through, sometimes even editing just a chapter a day.

What do you do to keep going?  Is the homestretch the hardest for you?

A PLAYLIST FOR A TUESDAY

What music says, “stick with it, you actually can finish this novel”?

Hmmmm.  Maybe I want a little country or some fiddle to set the tone or something that’s a bit of both …

For today:

1. Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show

2. I will wait for you by Mumford and Sons

3. Seminole Wind by John Anderson

A LITTLE SPIT AND POLISH

Now for the painful part, digging through mounds of grammar and images to try to make sure the last few chapters  are the best I can make them.

I’ve already edited the first three parts of the book and most of the last part.  Now, to fine tune these last chapters to make sure they’re as well polished as the rest.