I'm starting a new draft after character building and plot point work.  It feels like it's been forever since I worked on a first draft. January is easy. It's new and exciting and everything feels so possible. I'm going to work on a real schedule while Downton Abbey's on tonight. Instead of doing the schedule and posting it, I'm going to actually collaborate with DH. At the top of every page I'm going to write Don't Freak Out in November and December.
Those months are crazy day job months. The crazy usually starts toward the end of September, ramps up in October and takes over in November and December. Instead of embracing the crazy, I fight against it and cause myself untold hours of grief.
That's so dumb. It's like playing in the ocean and getting swamped by a giant wave. If you fight the wave, the wave will win. End of story. But if you go with the wave, relax and let it do its thing, it's fun. A little salty for sure. And sunglasses and hats might be lost. But it's fun. It's one of my favorite things.
I can't fix the crazy of the day job. It's the nature of the beast and it's a beast I love. So I'm going to remind myself the beast is there, waiting for me at the end of the year.
Right now though, on January 3, a Sunday, a peaceful day, a day before the day job starts again, I'll embrace the calm, the excitement, the fun in finding new characters, developing their story in that crazy fast first draft.
My outline work excites me. I love everything that's happened so far.
Now the challenge to make it real.
<3
Happy writing, happy reading and above all, Happy New Year.

Check out my new website if you have time: lizleebooks.com
I'm going to figure out how to redirect this page to there before Valentine's Day, I hope. If you know how to do so, feel free to leave me a comment! I used Muse to build the site.