I’m going to finish this story. Really I am. I’m on draft four and I suspect the next rewrite will do it. It will start to come together and really shine. And after that, once that’s on submission, I’m going to finish the screenplay I shelved last month. With ten pages and an outline done it would be criminal to abandon it. And my motto is finish! So that’s exactly what I’m going to do. First this story, then that screenplay. No matter how long it takes.
Too many writers give up what they’re doing for the new shiny thing. Well that’s not me. I’m dogged. I know that you have to work through the hard saggy bit in the middle of a project, when it stops being fun and exciting and new, and the plot begins to fall apart, and the characters start to flake out.
So that’s what I’ll do. I’ll persevere… with the story first, and then the screenplay. Though actually I’m thinking of turning the story into a radio play, while the concept is fresh. I should probably do that before I get back to the screenplay. So I’ll do the story, then the radio play, then the screenplay.
Then, of course I’ll get back to the novel. After all, I’ve lavished two NaNoWriMo months on the thing, and about five years worth of rewrites, so I’m not giving up on that. Did I mention I’m a finisher?
But to do that, to get to that, I really must stay focused and finish this story, complete the radio play, get on with the screenplay. Every journey starts with a single determined, weary step after all. It’s important to remain professional, and focused on deadline, even if you have to invent your deadline.
Speaking of deadlines, I’m supposed to submit something to an anthology in December. At the rate I work that’s not far away is it? It would be nice to start something new, anyway. I’ve got lots of ideas. And a commitment is a commitment. Maybe I’ll temporarily shelve this story, just for a week or so, and do some preliminary idea work on the anthology.
So that’s the anthology, then the story, then the radio play, then the screenplay, then the novel. Seems reasonable. I’m glad I’m clear about that now. I’ll start tomorrow.
