After 16 years of seriously writing I may have figure out how to “fast” draft a book. Turns out my fastest way to draft is by hand writing.
In January I started a new project and my intuition told me do not type anything into the computer until this notebook is full. And as I have learned fighting with my intuitive guidance is futile, I have been doing what I was told.
My editor brain is too strong on the computer, and it is impossible for me to not edit on the screen. So the solution is take the project off line until I have 160 hand written pages & then I’m allowed to transcribe & revise. I’m 53% of the way through this draft, and it feels good to be on the downhill side of this project.
Since this isn’t the first book I’ve drafted I have learned a few things to make it easier on myself.
1) The inside front cover of the notebook is for idea notes about scenes I think I want to write.
2) The last page of the notebook is for a table of contents about what I wrote. I number the pages, and at the end of each writing session I make a quick note to remind me about what I wrote on that day’s page.
3) I’ve learned to surrender to whatever comes out. Some days I sit down with the intent to write one thing and something completely different comes out.
Thus far I’ve killed one pen–purple. I write each new scene in a different color. My friend kindly gifted me a rainbow pack of erasable pens. (Eraseable pens have come a long way since 1994–the last time I used them.)
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The new 7 cards is up this week. Thanks for your patience while I got it out. I did 10 back-to-back readings on Sunday and I needed some recovery time.
If you’re feeling like things are overwhelming , intense, & fast-paced right now you can blame the planets. 7 planets are in Aries (which you may remember is the god of war) so it’s all intense, act, fire energy right now. & NO planets are in retrograde–which is what helps things slow down.
So breathe. Take time for yourself. Act in alignment with what is authentic to you & if you can manage it, don’t react or add to the drama. You’re doing great.