Lately, my work in progress has been reminding me of the end of my three pregnancies. If you've had a baby, perhaps you know what I'm talking about. If not, please let me explain. By the time you get to the end of your pregnancy--at least for me, I'm sure there are some women out there who do not feel this way--you are so unbelievably ready to give birth and get your body back that you just want to beg the baby to please get out. Get out. Get out. Get out. At least I did.
That is how I am feeling about my work-in-progress. I know what has to happen. The characters know what has to happen. And yet, nothing is happening. The writing is slow. The characters are frustrated with me. I'm frustrated with them.
So, I need to ask: Can I just give birth already?
This I understand, both the metaphor and the real-life situation. Best luck birthing that book.
ReplyDeleteI'm so with you! I'm probably a couple years away from popping out any actual human offspring, but this is exactly how I feel toward the end of each manuscript. PUSH, CARA, PUSH!!! [Twitter friends dab sweat from my brow as I shriek and curse] It's the hardest stage for me, the final 5–10,000 words. The start is a giddy rush, the middle a joyful exploration. But the end? Jesus Christ, where's my epidural?
ReplyDeleteThats how I felt for my thesis LOL. 500 pages of Chemistry wordage later I got no baby just a pHd and more time to write novels. I feel for you and let me know if you need anything to help it "get out get out get out!"
ReplyDeleteYes! I compare my wip to birth all the time. And I just typed the end to my revisions on my new novella and feel like I popped out a newborn - lol!!! I need to celebrate - I promise you will get there!
ReplyDeleteThe WIP I am working on right now is going the same way. I'm lucky if I'm writing 100 words/day. It'll happen though, for both of us. :)
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