Brit Ward's Blog

I'm working on no less than 10 stories right now. Actually, a lot more. I know it's too much. But here I am. Writing too much.

I need to take a step back. Look what I'm working on. And start to prioritize. I'm torn between this inability to stop writing, and this need to work on directing. I miss directing. I really do. And I have projects lined up, but directing, for me, has always come with the problem that I can't keep a cast together. I don't know what happens. I just start to lose actors. It's been the curse of my existence. And every time it happens, it deflates my will.

I don't lose all of my actors. Just a number of them. It happens every time, and I ask myself, "What am I doing wrong?" I think my latest streak of non-stop writing is related to my frustrations as a director. I can control my writing. My characters don't abandon me.

I feel terrible because I know a number of actors who don't leave. They are always there, but I can't make these ideas with just them.

Alright. With all that negative stuff thrown out there, let's get some positives out there too. With the writing being what it is right now, I am making great progress (somehow) on all these stories. It is nice, and a problem pure writers would like to have, that I have so many ideas. It feels good in that regard. And when I feel like I'm drying up on one project, there's another that feels fresh. It's a nice cyclical process of moving easily from one story to another and seeing where they go.

I have a feeling that one of these stories is going to grab me at some point, and I'll have to focus on that story until it's finished, but that's fine. I'm ready for that to happen.

Current music: Hotline Miami Sountrack.
Current beverage: Dr. Generic.
Current mood: An odd mix of frustrated and triumphant.

I'm currently writing the sequel to "Piggy." Actually, it's not really a sequel. It's in the same universe. The story directly follows events in the previous book.

But the character, the main one, is brand new. He's referenced in "Piggy" but he's not actually in it.

It's going well. Except that I've been sitting at the same point for the last million years. (Two weeks actually.)

I'm just staring at these words. I go back, revise some of the earlier stuff. Try to find where I need to go. It's a little frustrating.

I like the story. I like where my brain is telling me the story will end up. But getting there is a little more challenging than I'd like.

I can't take the NaNoWriMo approach with this story. I don't want to throw caution to the wind. I largely did that with "Piggy" even though it wasn't actually my NaNoWriMo book. (That piece of garbage will NEVER see the light of day.)

I want this to feel a little sturdier than "Piggy."

I should really stop wasting word count over here. Time to get back to it.

Current music: None! (Which might be the problem.)
Current beverage: None, but I'm about to get a Dr. Generic from the fridge. (I should get water instead.)
Current mood: Tired. And wishing Inspiration would gift me one of her glorious ideas.

Brit W.

The answer is an obvious, "Yes." Listen, I'm not savvy to all this new technology and websites and social media. Twitter is a place I go to find jokes and things that make me laugh. Facebook is where I contact friends and get updates on my kids (I live 14 hours away from them.)

So, yeah, I shouldn't be surprised that there is this function on Goodreads.

But, I suppose I could start using it. I don't know what I'll talk about. As an author, I should probably talk about the process of writing and what I do when I write. As well, how I approach a new book or editing.

Most likely, however, I'll probably just use this to update everyone on what I had for lunch.

Today, it was a roast beef lettuce wrap.

Brit W.