But first…I want to talk about a couple of things I’m always embarrassed about.
The first thing is this: I always feel bad when I haven’t posted on the blog between my monthly WIP Wednesday posts. But August was a heavy month for our book editing business, and our dog Pippin had scary health issues that required multiple vet visits (I think he’ll be fine after another surgery, though!) And I have a couple of great posts coming up this month!
The other thing is a little more vulnerable: my whole life, I’ve felt embarrassed that I don’t write faster, and that I haven’t had a consistent writing practice. Some periods are better than others, of course. But I haven’t felt good about my writing practice or my progress for over a year. I feel that I should have another book drafted by now, and I don’t.
I always wanted to be the kind of writer who writes a certain number of words every day. But I often don’t hit my daily goal, and then I get discouraged.
For the last several days, though, I’ve been getting up very early and writing from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. I’m writing by hand in spiral notebooks, which I really prefer for the first draft, so I have no idea what my daily word counts are. Maybe that’s for the best, because I don’t think they’re very high. But I’m learning about my characters, and I like how the story’s going.
So maybe I can be the kind of writer who sits down at her desk and writes for a few set hours every day. I would feel great about that, too!
Now, let’s get into WIP Wednesday, where I share an excerpt of a work in progress and invite you to do the same! Or if you just feel like chatting about your own writing habits, your pets, or what you’re looking forward to this fall, that’s great, too!
These are the rules:
•Limit your excerpt to 400 words or fewer. Otherwise, I might trim it.
•Don’t link to work for sale. However, you can link to your website or a social media account!
•No graphic sex or violence. Salty language is fine!
•Avoid making criticisms or suggestions on other people’s work, including mine, because we’re sharing work that’s still rough. But it’s good writer luck to leave some encouraging words!
This may be my last excerpt of my romcom novel that takes place on a movie set. Betty and Luke are eating pizza in his hotel room…and she’s talking about her own misgivings about writing.
“I thought movie stars were supposed to be self-involved,” I say.
He raises his eyebrows. “So I’m a movie star.”
“Obviously.”
“But I’m doing it wrong.” He looks genuinely amused, with that light in his eyes, and the dimple. And it’s terrifying, because oh my gosh, I would like to be the person who makes him laugh. The one who, if she sees him looking a little down, climbs in his lap and teases him…
And he’s going to read that on my face, too, if I’m not careful. I distract myself by giving him an honest answer.
“I used to want to be a screenwriter myself.” I wince and shake my head. “Ugh. I’ve never said that out loud before.”
He raises his eyebrows. “You never told anyone you wanted to write? Even at USC?”
“No, geez. When I was in film school I told people on the bus.” And that does make him laugh. “I’ve never told anyone I used to write. Like, in the past.”
“Why is it in the past?”
I shrug. “Because unlike you, I gave up years ago.”
He makes a face like I’ve said something idiotic. “So start again, if you want.”
I force a smile. “Pretty sure I’ve missed my window.”
“There is no window. The window is a lie.”
“You sure about that?”
He holds up a finger. “Okay, with a few things, there’s a window. Like professional baseball.” Or babies, I think, but I’m definitely not saying that out loud. “But most things?” He give a wave of his hand. “No window.”
“Just an open frame, no glass,” I say.
“That’s right. Jump on through there!” He takes another bite of pizza, chews, and swallows. “Mm. This is the last pizza I’ll have for a while.”
“Why?”
“Because in the next movie, I’ve got shirtless scenes.”
I’m pretty sure he’s got nothing to worry about, but okay.
“I’ve had better,” I admit. “Though I’m one of those people who thinks even bad pizza is good.”
“They used to say that about pizza and sex,” he says. And that’s exactly what I was thinking: the joke they made in college. My mama told me once they made the same joke when she was in college.
“You agree?” I ask.
He looks thoughtful. “I don’t know. I’ve never had bad sex.”
“Never?”
He spreads his hands. “How could I? I’m always involved.”
If you’re in the mood, share something of your own below…
OR, just tell us what’s on your mind! Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a great rest of your week!
Thanks for sharing your vulnerability. I think we all feel like that about writing progress sometimes. I’m rooting for your little Pippen and I hope his surgery is a success!
Here’s another part of Her Hidden Star. Julie is packing for a trip to New York. She’s having dinner with her neighbor Paul. Marinda is her nosy neighbor who is obsessed with Harrison Scott and rude to Marinda not knowing that Julie is married to Harrison.
Paul was a frequent guest in her apartment and therefore knew where she kept her dishes. He plated their pizza while Julie sat on the end of her Murphy bed and quickly sent her username and password. A small violation of privacy in exchange for a night of peace and quiet.
“What time is your flight?” Paul asked.
”Midnight. I have to be at the airport by ten.”
”Need me to drive you?”
Julie shook her head. “I have a car picking me up. This way you can borrow the Land Rover.”
Paul shook his head. “I”m not driving the Land Rover. It’s nice but the navigator and all those fancy features? I’m fine with my bus pass.”
Julie set her suitcase on the bed and unzipped it open. ”I’ll leave the keys if you change your mind.”
Paul set a plate of pizza next to her. “Eat.”
Julie crossed to her closet and took a stack of T-shirts from her dresser. “I need to keep packing.”
”You don’t have to leave for like three hours. Five minutes of sitting and eating Bello’s will be good for you.”
The smell of pepperoni, green peppers, and onion was tempting. Paul talked her into the Bello Combo. Pepperoni, green peppers, and onion along with olives, sausage, and mushrooms with tomatoes on the side. Julie glanced at her plate with two pieces and a small stack of fresh looking tomatoes.
Before she could decide on her own, Paul gave her another good reminder. “A baby spit up on you and Marinda is your neighbor.”
Packing could wait. “You make a good point.” Julie took a bite of her pizza as a text message flashed across her screen.
Julie responded with a thumbs up emoji and set her phone down. “I was going to ask you. How was your date the other night?”
Paul rolled his eyes. “Not great. He kept mentioning my age and said he couldn’t believe he was doing this.”
“How old was he?”
“Fifty-five. So, slightly younger but in the same situation as me. Married to a woman. Realized he’s gay. Freshly divorced.”
“You’re not freshly divorced,” Julie pointed out.
“No, but it’s taken me ten years to realize that it’s okay to date.”