page 140
*UPDATE: I’ve worked all day. I’ve rewritten the scene. The good news: I’m on page 144. The bad news: I still have an entire chapter to cut. Oh - and it’s dusk here and the Darykn are starting to stir a little. Cece, there’s talk about the dancehall and Jake is busy mumbling about pencil pushers at the Pentagon and that PWB should have paid more attention to him instead of telling him to make her more tea.*
My WIP has been on page 140 for two days despite the fact that I’ve been actively working on it.
Okay, that’s not entirely true. At one point, it was up to page 144. I’ve been trying to work through one particular scene and somehow all that I’ve managed to accomplish is to lose ground. Hence, page 140.
This isn’t fair. After staring at it and thinking about it and scrawling things on the yellow letter-sized pads with all sorts of pens (mostly curses that start with the letter F) I’ve realized that, in order to move forward, I’ve got to cut one scene and rewrite it much differenly. In the scene I have, things are too smooth, too happy for everyone involved. My characters cannot be SO happy this early in the book. No how, no way. I need drama, angst, sexual tension.
What bothers me the most is that, even after I rewrite this scene, my WIP will most likely STILL be on page 140.
*walks away muttering about bastard characters*
Steph T.
June 10th, 2005 at 12:38 pm
I’m with ya, sister. I have a bastard plot.
Even with drama, great grief, and angst . . . I’m stuck. At page 280 or so. Tried to brainstorm with CP last night, made things worse. I think it’s just DOA.
We need a support group.
June 10th, 2005 at 12:51 pm
I’ll join that support group. Got big green donkey whompers going on here as well.
Must be some freaky writing virus on the net, hitting us all at the same time.
June 10th, 2005 at 12:53 pm
Sign me up for that support group please. I’ll bring the chocolate.
But just know I’ll be using the word clusterfuck an awful lot…and liking it too.:shoot:
June 10th, 2005 at 2:17 pm
That is sooo frustrating
I’ve been there. Don’t like it 
June 10th, 2005 at 3:26 pm
I’ve been there, too. I’d probably be there now except for not having written anything for what seems like an eternity in an effort to key in all the stuff in longhand. All I feel like I’ve accomplished is making my hands hurt.
I don’t suppose Jake and Saint are any good at hand massages? (she asks hopefully)
June 10th, 2005 at 4:55 pm
Hey, Steph . . . how about a virtual weekend support getaway? Brainstorming, bitching, etc.? Say the word, I’ll set something up, and we’ll drag in Jaye and E and anyone else in the same boat.
June 10th, 2005 at 5:05 pm
Im like SO in. You know I haven’t even checked to see if my two latest WIPs are on my memory key *gulp* cuz I know SS isn’t on there
June 10th, 2005 at 5:09 pm
Bonnie - Frustrating is another good word that starts with F
Tori - keying stuff in does count though - I keep finding stuff I wrote that never got transfered, so really, you’re saving yourself double work (do you see how easily I can justify ANYTHING?) Any yes, I think the hand massage can be arranged - but I haven’t seen Saint since yesterday - I think you’re hiding him.:LOL:
Linda - as Cece said, I’m SO in! Sign me up and tell me where to go…Cece - go find your WIP please, b/c you’re making me nervous…
June 10th, 2005 at 5:31 pm
Steph, we must be twins separated at birth! Or we, at least, both share that justification gene.
I think I’m just tired of keying all this stuff in. Every time I think I’m close to finishing, I find MORE. Sheesh.
June 10th, 2005 at 5:31 pm
Okay, we’re set up. Whoever wants in, send a blank message to poolhouse_support_station-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Cool water, gauzy curtains blowing in the breeze . . . and I kicked out all the characters, locked them all in the basement together. We can draw out our Muses.
June 10th, 2005 at 5:32 pm
OMG. I’m at the same point of revising an old book. Page 140. It must be cursed. It’s fine up to that point. But once we reach 140, that’s it. The book falls apart.
June 10th, 2005 at 5:35 pm
Oh, and about Saint…. um. Right. If you absolutely, positively need him back, I’ll send him home. (Probably to the relief of my own guys, but it serves them right for ignoring me.
)
June 10th, 2005 at 5:52 pm
Hugs, Steph. There’s nothing worse than the disappointment of disappearing pages when you have to delete a scene. But, the new better scene makes up for it. It’s a lot of work.
June 10th, 2005 at 6:41 pm
This sounds like me. I’ll look at my story for hours and only get a paragraph done. It’s depressing me.
June 10th, 2005 at 7:04 pm
I’m in the same boat. I’ve written at least twenty pages in the last week. How many of them made to keeper status in the wip? Zip.
June 10th, 2005 at 8:11 pm
GOOD NEWS!!!! I found a backup dated 12/10/04 so at least I have some stuff plus I did have the most current version of NO and my YA on my little memory stick thingy–so technical. LOL
I don’t have the current verison of the novella but LSB does!
Thank God!
June 10th, 2005 at 10:34 pm
I hate it when I’m stuck on some page. Usually in the low 100’s…and I just can’t figure it out. The I finally figure it out, and know I have to cut stuff, so I end up with less pages. I mean, does that sound fair???
June 10th, 2005 at 11:00 pm
Tori - I’m scared to look at the stacks by my computer…
Thanks for the hugs, Suzanne. I’m always struggling for page count so that makes it hard to slash, but you’re right - the scene is going to be better for it.
Michelle - we need to word some voodoo magic on that 140 number.
Teresa - staring counts, doesn’t it? (see justification technique above*
Ouch Jaq - I feel that pain.:sad:
Kacey - It’s SO. NOT. FAIR.
Cece - I’m glad you found everything!
June 10th, 2005 at 11:41 pm
Writing the most miserable and toughest job you’ll ever love.
Good cheer and persistence!
June 11th, 2005 at 1:13 am
Good for you on working all day. Days like that I just wanna say screw it, I’ll go flip burgers for a living.
You could always delete that chapter later. You know, once you’re out of the 140s.
June 11th, 2005 at 5:55 am
SIgn me up for that group! I have two ms NOT going anywhere but in circles.
June 11th, 2005 at 9:20 am
I think I have more of my YA on my Alphie…now all I have to do is dig it out LOL
I think Lena commented over at PBW blog about Jake and the guys coming to visit.
June 11th, 2005 at 9:59 am
This is so weird but I’m stuck at pages 140 in PM….maybe it’s a curse or something.
June 11th, 2005 at 10:18 am
Yeah. Been there. Here’s what I do when I need the mental headgame of being further along than I am. I mess with the margins. Even adding a half inch on all sides will garner you a ton of pages. Just don’t forget to turn it back once you feel better.
June 11th, 2005 at 11:11 pm
At least you’ve made som progress, Steph. That’s something!
And how kind of you to forewarn Cece.
June 12th, 2005 at 12:56 pm
Monica - I agree wholeheartedly - I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Thanks for the good thoughts:biggrin:
LOL Amy - I’ll take fries with that, please.
Sasha - the poolhouse is open.
Cece - good luck with Lena & Jake.
Jerri - there’s something about that number - hope you’ve managed to get past it by now (I, of course, haven’t)
Jill - I’m seriously thinking about trying the margin trick, but then I’ll cry when I have to change it all back.:sad:
Lynn - I try, but really, there’s no warning sufficient for Jake.:wink: