M. Lori Motley

“Finish the damn thing first,” my inner voice screamed within the confines of my skull. “Edit later.”

It’s good advice. I should get the first draft done before I go back to the beginning and put on my editor’s hat. Writer’s hat and editor’s hat are two different things, ya know.

But I procrastinate, and I get tired of doing the same thing for too long. So I decide to burn my story at both ends — this is last year’s NaNoWriMo novel, and, although I finished the 50,000 words, we all know that 50k does not a completed novel make — and edit the beginning chapters until they follow the story the way I want them too, AND write first draft at the end of it.

Is this insane? Can this be done?

Again: “Whatever works can be done.” and “Yes, it may be insane, but being a writer is often insane. It’s in the job description.” (Besides, it’s what I want… what I love.)

Perhaps it is just playing in to my procrastination. Hell, writing this blog post is part of my procrastination as well. The kiddies are in bed, they are being quiet for once, and I’m supposed to be writing (or editing), but I’m not. Well… I am writing, but… well, you know.

Anyway…

When I feel like writing, I write at the end of my novel. I’m coming up to a very exciting bit where the mages begin to interrogate – magically – the serial killer. I’m not sure how it will go. I’m very eager to find out – hopefully as eager as my someday readers will be. )

When I feel like editing, I scroll up till I reach the break between black text and blue and journey through the familiar bits, making sure there are no holes.

I’ll let you know if the process works when I finish the novel.

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