I have a terrible confession to make

Well, goddamn. Thank you for that correction. It was needed!

 

Overheard just now at the coffee shop:

"Well, he's carrying a lot. He's worried the entire global economy is going to collapse."

"Oh, me too. I got over it."

Will reach 22,500 words today. NOT THE QUARTER POLE.

 

I'm working at the library today because Mediacom is the worst fucking internet provider in the history of internet providers.

Earlier, it sounded like a daycare center right before lunch, kids screaming and running around and acting all toddler/kid like. Since I've had kids, that stuff doesn't faze me a bit (although I could use a phase gun on some of the parents).

 

I recently finished Act 1 of a three-act novel and am now at 27,000 words since January 17. Just a first draft, but I've got the type of momentum that has me writing on weekends, at sunrise, in between meetings, in lieu of drinking. Goal is to have the first draft completed by May 15. Was never much of one to count words, but I'm gonna be 45 and numbers are starting to mean more to me as an impetus to do more things before I die. Remind me, are you writing nonfiction?

 

That's great, dude. Yes, non-fiction for me. I have no idea how you're writing fiction. I just can't do it. I have about four pages of 27 novels on various laptops. I have no invention in me.

I think "time" is probably a better quota than words when it comes to this kind of thing: I will devote these certain hours each day or this many hours a week to my book. I have a deadline, and the publisher has given me a word count, which means that words make for a more concrete math. And I will say it's worked when I've been a little behind to get me writing. I have met that quota hard, and it will be a big factor, I think, in my delivering this book on deadline. But I think if you're producing art, time is the more relevant measurement.

 

I probably would have abandoned fiction except I’ve had some success, albeit limited, and so it exhorts me to extend myself and keep at it. Imagine that’s the way with many (all?) endeavors. Plenty of shit I’ve failed at and abandoned altogether. Like playing a musical instrument.

 

I think most proper writers know at an almost spiritual level when they're writing either good or bad stuff. Not sure what you mean by success, but I would guess that if you feel like you're doing work, it's probably good work, and you should keep doing it.

 

I can play several musical instruments but I cannot write fiction to save my life.

 

I can't do either of those, but I can rip some Krakatoan farts at times.

 

Chess.

Absolutely can't get it.

 

Of course you can, it's simple.