I tromped into the writing cabin and caught Lisa unprepared.
“I thought you were reading and stuff. Let me just tidy up real fast.”
The office looked emaculate and I told her so. “What kind of mess can one robot girl make while I'm out? You don't even have to cook.”
“Dust, there's still dust even if I'm completely gone.”
“Suit yourself. I finished my backlog of projects, and decided to try a bit of writing today. You know, just to see if I remember how.”
Lisa broke into action, making coffee with one hand while she took out the Swiffer and went over the floor with the other one. She took a dust cloth and ran ahead of me to my writing desk.
The raven of Doubt glared at me from his perch. He bobbed up and down a few times in excitement.
“Not yet, dude. I'm not doing any editing today. It's time to move the Yak Guy ahead.” He knows The Enhanced League is ready to start editing, but I don't feel rushed to dive in yet.
I started by rereading my last few chapters. I made a small correction or two, and Doubt gave me the stink eye. Lisa showed up with coffee about the time I started writing.
I wrote one short chapter and it was kind of draining. It came in slightly over 3000 words. I don't know if it's because I hadn't written in a while, or because of the content. This chapter involved the end of the yak. He's been such a central character to the story it was hard to see him go.
“I'm really going to miss him,” Lisa said. “He's been at the cabin for a long time.”
“He has, and the next go round maybe we'll see the end of yak guy, Ted.”
“Then what?”
“Then, you probably have to pose for more posters and plan for a worldwide blog tour – or two.”
“That's always fun, then I'm going to use some vacation time.” She opened the window and let in some fresh air. Doubt took the opportunity to stretch his wings at the same time. She sighed as the yak crossed the meadow and headed for the snowy peaks. “He played a mean game of chess, you know.”
“Really, how did he move the pieces?”
“He told me the moves, and I moved them for him.”
“Kind of like he was playing against the computer then?”
“Not kind of, he was playing against me, my processors, and memory. He won more than a few too.”
“Maybe you can get him to come back for your radio show someday. Did you put his data in your Rolodex?”
“Please, I'm completely electronic, you should know that by now, and yeah, I have his contact data.”
I checked email, and answered blog comments while she stared out the window.
“So what happens next?”
“Yak guy has to finish his journey. After that, I have a couple of novellas I want to try. That's how it will work out in a perfect world. They could be long short stories or short novels depending on the experiment.”
“What are we talking here? I might need to buy some new outfits for these stories.”
“One is a kind of paranormal superhero origin story.”
“Is that the one with all the hats?”
“Yes, ma'am.”
“So you'll want the paranormal office then.”
“Absolutely. The other one is a spin on the lifeboat story. It has a science fiction background, but they're stuck in an underground bunker for a specific amount of time. The problem is they can't leave, and the antagonist is in there with them.”
“Got it, I already earmarked a bunch of hats and can get them ordered. I wonder what scream queens are wearing this season?”
“I'm sure you'll figure it out before we start. We have to give yak guy some closure first.”
The enchanted beer horns sounded off and came running. They curled around my ankles like a pair of cats.
“Hi guys, I missed you too.”
Lisa said, “I got a nice doppelbock from McCall Brewing for you to try. It's called Dunce Cap.”
“Huh! Did you pick that specifically for me?”
“Of course, I know doppelbock is your favorite.”
“Woosh!”
“Don't woosh me, I know what you meant. Do you want the beer or not?”
“Of course, besides, these guys won't stop honking unless we fill them up.”
***
For those of you so inclined, I opened a Pinterest account earlier this year. I started a couple of boards called The Hat and Estivation that relate to my upcoming projects. You can check them out here.
Always like to go with you to the writing cabin. Such a friendly place Doubt notwithstanding.
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I’m happy to be creating new words again. I’m getting so close to some new releases that it’s starting to be exciting again.
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Of course it is. Nothing like the smell of a book release to get the blood pumping. Other releases not so much.
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Haha! And when Yak Guy is gone, Lisa remembers him for chess and Craig drinks his beer. It’s like the fiction funeral. Ah, the life of a writer, eh?
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It was kind of like a funeral. I have the last leg that yak guy has to make by himself, a tiny denouement, and it’s finished.
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Sad to hear the yak has gone away. Oddly ominous and I was used to seeing him turn up. How’s it feel getting back in the writing saddle?
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I was oddly emotional when writing it. He’s been a strong character in this tale. It felt good to make new words. I was close to finished when I had to force the break.
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Forcing a break is never fun. I’ve found that taking them at specified intervals helps, but it depends on the story. The emotional stuff always sticks with you for a bit.
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I never slow down. I talk about it, but after the drafts are finished the edits begin. Then the promotion. Then it starts all over again.
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I keep hearing that one is supposed to wait months before editing. I usually take a week or two. Feels good to edit while it’s fresh because I can check and add foreshadowing.
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I think two weeks is fine, but this one has been longer. I don’t think there is a maximum time.
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Nope. Sometimes you have to go months or years before getting back to a project. Dark times.
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Your Estivation board gives me an idea. Like some of the hats on your board. I like the classic ones the best. They have more style to me. Not that the others are bad. Yay! on the start of new ideas and new adventures! Lisa sounds like a great assistant!
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Thanks for checking them out. It also makes a nice resource for when I start writing them.
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I use my Maedyn board this way. I add more to it all the time as it’s going to be a trilogy.
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Just noted your pics, interesting! A whole doomsday feel.
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I didn’t feel the need to address the month this time. The wallpaper just appealed to me, and I went with it. You can see that the plants are coming up in my banner image though.
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This was my first visit to the writing cabin and it was most enjoyable. I shall be back. I did notice the plant in the banner – very clever. I have learned how to get mine to change which I thought was quite good for a non tecno like me.
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I have a bit of fun with the banner when time allows. Glad you like the writing cabin, it’s a fairly regular feature here.
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It’s either Spring or all your activity is contagious, but we are having a bit of a blitz too! Found a good way forward, I think…
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That’s wonderful.
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Beautiful, brilliant boards, Craig! 😀 <3ing the Hats!
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Thanks for checking them out.
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Lisa on a Yak, I want to see that! Sounds like you’ve been ploughing on with projects Craig. I’m missing not having a WIP novel but I think it’s doing my brain some good to rest it.
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I might go that route with some posters. There are other things in there too that could be cool. I feel like I need to take a rest too, but know I won’t.
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I think I’d fall off my chair if you said you were having a rest! It’s important to recharge the grey cells too though although you seem to have a plethora of content at your disposal 🙂
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Have you been reading Christie again? (LOL) I’ll step away briefly for camping season.
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I think I want a writing cabin now – and I’d also like to see Lisa riding a yak.
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Ha ha. I have one planned, but she may not be astride the yak.
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Glad you’re back in the writing cabin!
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Thanks, Joan. Me too.
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Pingback: Writing Links 4/24/17 – Where Genres Collide
Interesting read, glad I took the time to check it out. Thanks for writing.
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Thank you.
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Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
WE DON’T HAVE A CABIN ANYMORE–SO I TALK TO MY PEN OR THE COMPUTER! 🙂
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Ha ha.
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