19 April 2009--The Story's in the Telling

I've been at my desk, at my computer, for roughly 6 hours now. I've typed out a character analysis for the protagonist, and kept getting distracted with some details, but thankfully, I was able to rein in the research bug that may get me off the novel-writing altogether. For the majority of the time, I was typing out one of the first ever scenes that I've envisioned for this story, and let me tell you, what I thought was a scene actually has three or maybe even four distinct parts, and I barely finished two of them. And really, that's what writing a novel is all about. Writing it scene by scene.
*Sigh*
Writing may be what I love doing, but it's still work. I physically want to write, but right now for example, I am really burned out. My eyes are wigging out, my shoulders are tense (massage please!) and no matter how much I snack, I'm still hungry. Hopefully Mark will be home soon with some Wendy's chili and plain baked potato.
I just still can't believe that on this first run through, where I've already scribbled down the basic idea of the scene and I just needed to flesh it out as I transcribe it onto computer form, I barely am halfway through. I'm not even at the "meat" of what this scene is about. I had a little flash of my future, and in it I see my novel becoming an unwieldy 400-page beast. And not because I have a lot to say. Well, I do, but it's more like I am too long-winded and ramble on unnecessarily. Even now, when I'm too burnt out and Mark actually did just come home, and I really should stop typing, I'm typing and being wordy.
I'm heartened that I will be able to finish this novel of mine. Not specifically soon, of course, but that I will finish it. I had a revelation this afternoon that when my addiction to writing exceeded that of my reading, I knew that this was already a done deal for me. It's already written. I just don't know how long I will need to write it.
Here's to the official day one of breathing flesh onto the bones of the story.