Survival of the Fattest
Well, I survived Thanksgiving. And if you’re reading this, you survived it too. I didn’t gain too much weight, but I’ll be happy to get back to my regular workout schedule next week.
Unfortunately—that’s getting to be a constant refrain, isn’t it?—I didn’t get any writing done over the long weekend. Or the past week… or the week before that. I never seem to have two minutes to spare these days, much less two hours.
Things should get better for a while, though. Also, I want to change my habits a little and get back into the swing of writing on a regular basis. I guess I got out of the habit a bit, so to speak. I need to have the story in front of me, so I can come back to it when I have a half-hour here or an hour there.
Part of the problem is also that I’ve hit a roadblock (sort of). I know what happens later in Ch11, but I don’t have a clear vision of the middle of the chapter. The beginning is finished, and I’m mostly happy with it, but I’m a linear writer, so I’m stuck in the middle. I think I’ll just muddle through and then come back and tune things once I can look back and see where I’ve been.
On another note, I’ve made the decision to publish my next two chapters, whether it depletes my buffer or not. Hopefully, I’ll get in gear and write to catch up, but we’ll see. So, look for Ch9 in the next few weeks, and Ch10 before the end of the year. I hope. Real life may intrude (rudely), but that’s my plan at the moment.
Anyway, this is a quick update for all the people who asked for something more frequent than once a month. (Good suggestion, BTW, but hard to do sometimes.)
- Nick
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23 Responses to “Survival of the Fattest”
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As always, thanks for the hard work, and post when you’re ready. I assure you, I’m not going anywhere.
Appreciate that you enlighten us, nice to know there’s life
Keep up the good work, it’s been an inspiration.
Workout? I’ve heard of them, but they sound like hard work…
In terms of schedule, whatever works for you, Nick. We’re just along for the ride. It’s been a great one so far!
Please spare a thought for foreign fans. Some comments about typical US life are lost on us - we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving for instance, and don’t understand its importance to you guys.
Like everyone else, love the story and am patiently waiting for next chapter.
Thanks for the update. Your plan for the next chapters reminded me of a Calvin&Hobbes strip I’ll never forget. A copy can be found here: http://www.xs4all.nl/~rcrosing/calhob.html
All the best whishes,
Alexander
My sympathies about schedules. It jsut seems to be getting worse.
Perhaps we need a new term for it… while we have fanatics and fanaticism, perhaps we could call it… freneticism. The conspiracy to keep us all too busy to think.
As always, love the story. And I know that when you take the time to do it right, that’s how it comes to be so good when we get it.
Thanks.
Hi Nick,
I hear you about the “too much weight” thing and for the first time in awhile I can say the same. Probably has to do with the fact that we didn’t do the obligatory “two dinner routine” with my folks and the wife’s folks. The wife’s folks always have to have every conceivable salad with a Miracle Whip binder, plus enough side dishes for the entire 3rd ID all served before 2 p.m. Then we rush over for my mom’s quick, made-from-boxes Thanksgiving dinner at 6 p.m. to top it all off.
Nope. Not this year.
Nick, Godspeed in your continuing endeavor to continue writing the Summer Camp saga!
JG
For Roy of the overseas crowd… the first two paragraphs of this Wikipedia article are a fairly good summary about Thanksgiving…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving
And only to add, part of “surviving” the long weekend can be about weathering the erruption of family squabbles. Family get-togethers just intensify the family dynamic, and that can be wonderful or terrible as the case may be.
What is this “workout” of which you speak, Nick?
I really hear you about the “no middle of the chapter” thing. I have entire NOVELS where that happens. *rolleyes* (”Lessee, chapters 1-8 set, chapters 20-22 set. Now for 9-19.”)
Well, there’s always “…” for that pesky middle part.
Nick,
I hope it was a good holiday for you.
I wonder, though, thinking over the more recent posts you’ve put on your blog…do you think throwing yourself into the writing is the answer? If you’ve got too much on your plate, maybe you should think about putting the book on hiatus. I guess a certain kind of reader would gripe; they always do. But you have to go at this kind of task like the happy warrior. I hate to think of you dragging yourself through it, both because there should be more pleasure in creation, and because, after all, the work can tell whether there’s joy in your heart. I’ve been a fan long enough to remember the original last chapters of Book 2–not bad, please don’t get me wrong, but there was no joy in your heart and the work knew it.
In any event, it’s your muse and none of my business, really, but your real fans will understand if you need to check out for a while and come back next year…or the next year.
Nick,
We appreciate the insight and sympathize with the schedule issues. I humbly suggest that you should not deplete your buffer unless you think that it will be the best thing for the book and yourself. With irrelevant exceptions your fans are a patient and understanding group. I had already expected to wait for an update until after the holidays, during which a bit of writing time has sometimes become available.
Only positive energy from here!
-Tim
Have you thought about outsourcing the middle of your chapters? Just write out the specifications and put it out for bid.
Nick,
As some have already said, you really need to think of yourself (and your sanity) first. We love your work, but as some one said, if your heart isn’t in it, the work suffers. And we know you just well enough, to know your work is exceptional when given the chance to flourish.
Please, don’t let life, or impatience (yours OR ours) push you into publishing before YOU are ready.
I, for one, am a long-time fan, and will certainly understand if you feel you need to follow the advice I read earlier, and take a break. A l-o-n-g, break. I can certainly understand, also, the irritation of a bad in-law. Mine was my sister’s husband, but it works out the same.
Eagerly, but patiently, awaiting your next chapter, or word of your impending hiatus (sp?).
-Merlin
Nick,
I think when people were asking for an update more than every month or so, they meant an update of what is happening with you. Going that long without hearing from you or seeing anything can be unnerving, if you know what I mean. Just drop in and do a quick blog every once in a while.
As for depleting your buffer, that’s your choice, but like people above me have said, don’t do it just because people are pressuring you to, personally I’d prefer good quality work that you enjoyed writing, even though I would definitely not turn down another chapter being published otherwise.
Anyways, we all know the holidays are a busy time, do what you need to for your own sanity first, then post chapters when you are ready. Use writing as an escape every once in a while, but don’t use it as a hiding place constantly, or things will get too out of hand and then we won’t see you for a really really long time.
Nick,
I too urge you to post when YOU are ready to post. SC has been a labor of love for you and like other loves, can’t be pushed or rushed. Write when you can, relax when you need to and know that your fans are out here waiting for the GOOD work that you do and we are waiting patiently and with understanding that Things Take Time. (http://www.chat.carleton.ca/~tcstewar/grooks/grooks.html)
@David: Yes. When I requested an update more than once a month on the last blog post, I just meant an update to tell us how it’s going. I wasn’t asking for a new chapter more often since I know that’s not possible.
Just hearing how it’s coming along is a very nice-to-have thing.
Thanks,
Dennis
I agree with the others..please do not rush the labor of love…each chapter is a joy to read.. the only fustration is that when we read that one we are already looking forward to the next one…But I agree with Dennis…please let us know from time to time how it is coming…we all realize that you still have to deal with the FC in Germany
I agree with the contingent that you publish when you and the story are darn good and ready. During the holidays things are so hectic, we’re lucky to even get our house decorated, let alone be productive at home, and work … you’ve added your hobby to that list? Please, we can (and will) wait.
About a two months ago, I decided not to read any new chapters until I had re-read it all from the beginning. It’s a great story, and I am in the beginning of book three. (I really haven’t had that much time even to read) So, I’ve got some catching up to do. It’s cool to see that there really is a vision and be able to follow the whole thing from start to now with the story pretty fresh in my mind.
Keep following your vision. I’ll wait.
Nick, congrats on getting through Thanksgiving. It’s always hard for me too. On your writing, I will say this:
- My own series were never finished with everything wrapped up, and it’s unlikely they ever will be.
- Robert Jordan, one of my favorite fantasy writers, died before he finished his big saga.
- The other erotica sagas I regularly read take forever (I mean months that seem like years) to update. And I’m not sure if a couple of them will ever update again… Maybe I need new erotica sagas to read.
- All my favorite TV shows, with a few exceptions, seem to get canceled or go into bleah “everything that’s wrong with TV” episodes or stories that don’t go anywhere good within the first season and a half.
If Summer Camp goes the way of these stories…
I’m just kidding! Depressed you, though, didn’t I?
Like others have said, get your writing out whenever you can. Just make sure it’s good, and as complete as possible. I will wait for it, hopefully not too long. - Doug
When I have some creative problems I found that it’s the best to make a break. Stop trying to work on half an hour instead play some computer games, read a book whatsoever. Just say: Okay, it’ s vacation time. Lock away things for 2 weeks and start with new energy when you have the time for it. Constant pressure is bad for creative work. Write when you have time AND fun writing and not when you (think) that you need to write.
Looking forward to two chapters in December. Hope your holidays are fun and full.