J. Thorn - A Documentary Part III

Today we have a new article from author J. Thorn as he continues the journey to publication. If you would like to read the first two installments of the documentary you can find the first here and the second here. Now I pass the blog over to the writings of J. Thorn.

How do you roll? Seriously, how do you do it? When does the Muse visit you and how do you persuade her to stick around for a few thousand words?

I intended to blog about something completely different for this installment of the guest blog. However, I believe I am close to the finish line on my very first manuscript and began to reflect on the process. I started with a little research in the spring of 2008 and began the first draft in June of last year. After thirteen months, nine drafts, and a hundred and thirty thousand words, my next task is to polish up a query letter with my synopsis.

Most of that time, I am proud to say, was spent in my finished attic turned writing space. Every day I fought for my writer’s life against things like the “honey-do list”, the six year old son’s basketball obsession, the three year old daughter’s request for another reading of "Cows That Type", and my Gibson SG (that’s a guitar for all you non-music folk) pleading to be strummed. I find it truly amazing how many things I can find to distract myself when I am looking to be distracted.

Through it all, I managed to keep at least one sacred hour each day, locked in the attic, glued to my chair. However, here’s the rub. Just because I was ready, did not mean my Muse showed up. Some days, she waited for me next to the keyboard, reaching over and punching keys as ideas cascaded onto the page. Other days, she would not show and I struggled to get through anything, most of which I knew I would scrap at some point in the revision process.

From what I can gather, that dedicated space kept me sane and chugging along even when I thought I would never make it. Stephen King said that writing a novel is like crossing the Atlantic Ocean, by yourself, in a bathtub. Now I know what he means. If I had gone for the trendy option, sitting at Starbucks with papers scattered about and a pensive look on my face, I would not have finished a single chapter. People think it looks cool to whip out a laptop in a coffee shop, but you look like a dweeb. And really, how much work are you getting done?

But, I digress. I would not underestimate the power of the dedicated writing space. It can be your safe harbor, your own private Idaho (insert another cliche here). It does not have to be in a log cabin overlooking Lake Huron, miles from the nearest gas station. It just needs to insulate you and your Muse for a little bit of time each day.

It is very tempting to open that door, ask the wife or husband in, and hand them a chapter hot off the printer. This might work for others, but I never did it. I did not show a single word of the manuscript to anyone until I went through three revisions. The theory is that your ideas do not really come together right away, and showing them to someone while you are still in that mode may scare the Muse away as you chase what your first reader thinks would be best for the next scene.

I grabbed a digital camera and took a shot of my writing space. If you can do the same, and have the technical know-how, I invite you to do so in the comments for this post. I would

love to see the creative spaces of others.

Until next time,
J. Thorn