Manuscript Monday #9

Manuscript Monday is a series of blog posts which chronicle the life of my manuscript. It follows the journey I take to turn my week old baby story idea into a fully grown, polished novel. Take the journey with me. 🙂

My 9 week- old manuscript:

Electric ideas. They don’t hit often, but when they do, the feeling practically knocks you off your feet. It doesn’t care whether you’re wearing your favorite platform heels, sensible boots, or slippers. Electric Ideas don’t play favorites. And I’m not talking about the kind of idea that starts out as Hmm… and over time turns into Ah-ha! (Though, those are good too.) I’m talking about the kind that comes to you in a daydream while driving or running or folding the clothes, and within seconds jolts you out of your sub-conscience la-la land with a zing. A force so strong you know in an instant. This idea is really good.

I had an idea this week for my manuscript and I have to say, it was electric. Like nothing I’ve ever felt before about an idea. Most of my ideas take a while to take shape. This one hit me like a jolt from an exposed wire. And because of that moment, I can proudly say, I am back in the business of writing this story!

I had hoped it would be only a matter of time before the ideas began to flow again. My brain had been so overloaded with my work writing project that I was beginning to feel like I’d never have room for something new. But last week, I completed that rough draft (yay!) and it opened up a whole lot of creative space, I guess. (Yippee!)

So as this super-amazing, electric idea came to me (while folding laundry), I raced to my computer. (No time to jot it down on a napkin or old receipt. The details were pouring out too fast!) I opened up my previously neglected WIP and pounded my laptop keys. I wrote and wrote and wrote. I could see the scene play out like a movie. The images were so real, the new characters were so life-like, and the setting was breathtakingly beautiful. I was only sorry I was drafting because I couldn’t waste too much time on word choice for fear of missing an important detail.

I wrote until my ideas ran out. But not in a bad way. It was a huge start. And now the best part is, these two new characters are about to play a starring role in the life of my MC. I can feel an eerie, wonderful connection between them already and I haven’t even written then in a scene together yet. They may not even connect for a while! (It’s going to be that kind of story.) But I’m really looking forward to writing the build-up. It’s going to be epic. Middle Grade epic. 🙂

It feels great to be energized by a new story. I love having a story I just have to tell—one that I think kids will want to read. The worst part is, now it’s going to take forever for me to get it in their hands. I know. Patience. Patience. Write the story first!

So my nine week-old manuscript is taking shape. My word count is still pretty low, but it’s creeping up there. And I’ll keep at it. I proved to myself over the last few weeks that I can write a lot of words in a day if I put my mind to it (and if I have enough hours and snacks). My personal record is now 5500 words! So while that won’t be possible every day, I can at least be consistent. It’s so much easier to keep drafting when your head is firmly planted in the story every day. So, I’m planning to continue to write at least 500 words per day and even more if I’m able. Wish me luck!

How did you do working on your WIP this week? Even small victories are worth celebrating and I’m here to say, “Yay, you!!” So tell us. What was one of yours? Give us a chance to cheer you on!