THE SECRET DIARY OF FRUSTRATED WRITER #77

Day 1:

Started a short story today. Jotted down the major plot points. Two characters, tops. Two main scenes. Should end up being 5k words, or thereabouts. It's a fantasy, so it should be just right for Peachy Keen Adventure Tales!

Day 2:

Wrote 1,200 words. v. good! Spouse and child are not impressed.

Day 3:

Wrote 1,000 words. Was almost past the first scene, when I realized I needed a secondary character to balance things out. Child wants me to name the protagonist after him. Spouse insists I never name a character after him. Secretly go back and change some names.

Day 5:

Story up to 5k. Secondary character likes to talk a lot. Considered axing him, but he's rather cute, so will keep him for now. Hmmm. Original estimate was clearly off. Now guessing story might end up being 10k. A novelette then.

Day 10:

Wrote 700 words. Not happy with plot. Secondary character pouting. Plot sagging badly. Revisited the plot outline and added a few more scenes.

Day 12:

Erk. Still no good. Spend entire day staring at plot outline. Spouse and child want to know why short stories take so long to write. Both laughed themselves silly. Comedians.

Day 15:

Breakthrough! Added a subplot that fixes all my problems! I'm a genius!

Day 16:

I'm an idiot. Subplot is too long for a novelette, but I don't have enough plot for a novella. Besides, found out that Peachy Keen Adventure Tales doesn't take fantasy stories. Might send it to them anyway. Let them share my bad mood.

Day 20:

Spent day dodging chores. Explained to spouse and child that I am not just staring at the screen. Am working hard. They look unconvinced.

Day 21:

Breakthrough! Decided to make the secondary character the main character. Added three new subplots. Revised the outline completely and tossed the first draft. (Except for that darling intro paragraph that I can't bear to delete.) Go me!!

Day 22:

Story is finally cooking. Length just passed 18k, but I think I can make this a novella. Promised spouse and child the world if they would just leave me alone.

Day 32:

5k today. 25k so far. Nearly to halfway point. Looks like a short novel.

Day 62:

12k today. Heard noises outside the office. Ignored them.

Day 75:

*sounds of typing*

Day 92:

It's done! done! done! Final length is 105k. A few plot holes, but those should be easy to fix. Ran out of my office, shouting with glee! Spouse and child both picked up baseball bats, until they remembered who I was. They smiled and nodded when I told them about my characters. No matter. I know it's good.

Day 97:

Spent last five days showering, sleeping, and eating. Discovered child is three inches taller and in a different grade. When did that happen?

Day 98:

Printed out my novel and read it through. Wept in frustration. Is worst piece of dreck I have ever seen. Will never write again. Spouse and child seem strangely indifferent to my distress, and cheer at my decision.

Day 103:

Figure out how to fix the novel. Story just needs more room. Jotted down a few ideas for the next three novels in the series...