* This is an actual form taken from the book No Plot? No Problem!, by Chris Baty. If you don't know why I'm posting this here now, read the previous entry first.
I hereby pledge my intent to write a 50,000-word novel in one month's time. By invoking an absurd, month-long deadline on such an enormous undertaking, I understand that the notions of "craft," "brilliance," and "competency" are to be chucked right out the window, where they will remain, ignored, until they are retrieved for the editing process. I understand that I am a talented person, capable of heroic acts of creativity, and I will give myself enough time over the course of the next month to allow my innate gifts to come to the surface, unmolested by self-doubt, self-criticism, and other acts of self-bullying.
During the month ahead, I realize I will produce clunky dialogue, cliched characters, and deeply flawed plots. I agree that all of these things will be left in my rough draft, to be corrected and/or excised at a later point. I understand my right to withhold my manuscript from all readers until I deem it completed. I also acknowledge my right as author to substantially inflate both the quality of the rough draft and the rigors of the writing process should such inflation prove useful in garnering me respect and attention, or freedom from participation in onerous household chores.
I acknowledge that the month-long, 50,000-word deadline I set for myself is absolute and unchangeable, and that any failure to meet the deadline, or any effort on my part to move the deadline once the adventure has begun, will invite well-deserved mockery from my friends and family. I also acknowledge that, upon successful completion of the stated noveling objective, I am entitled to a period of gleeful celebration and revelry, the duration and intensity of which may preclude me from participating fully in workplace activities for days, if not weeks, afterwards.
Michael A. Slusser
27 February 2006
Novel Start Date: Wednesday, March 1, 2006
Novel Deadline: Friday, March 31, 2006
7 comments:
Mike,
Mike,
I noticed your description of the undertaking as an "adventure"--and I think that's a great way to look at it. In this modern world, we don't have the opportunity to follow some wizard who drops in with 13 dwarves wishing to reclaim a dragon horde. But there remains adventure out there for those willing to test their limits.
There is a very cheesy little song in the old cartoon version of The Hobbit called "The Greatest Adventure". The reason I mention it is that it has highly inspirational lyrics about going out there and taking chances instead of over thinking things or being worried about failure. The song has been one of my resolve-strengtheners as I move on to a new job and buy a house for the first time. Check it out, or check it out again as I suspect may be the case.
Anyway, good luck!
Kham
That’s a fscinating idea...I had a similar thought a few years back about poetry. How my admitedly ludicrous impulse to get the thing perfect on the first draft stiffled most work from ever getting out of my head...very cool.
Well, for my part anyway, I'll pledge to keep you accountable, tease you ruthlessly if you fail, congratulate you bountifully if you succeed, and encourage your statement of talent - go get 'em tiger!
Heh, heh...I knew you were going down when I passed you on Hwy. 18 Sunday morning just above the turn off to Lake Gregory Drive and saw you with the fam on the way to church. I had just come from Pastor Dave's sermon, and I was remembering our conversation in the car on Saturday, and as I passed your car I thought, "Dang, poor boy's about to get his clock cleaned in church today." The weirder thing than you gettin' smacked with the "message" about writing again is that I knew it would happen...like watching you get on the plane to go meet Joanna for the first time and I knew you were going to meet your wife.
My chore, should you fail--you are SOOOO doing my pine needles that are here in big heaps from a winter raking but have not been bagged and/or hauled away. Normally something I pay people money for, but you shall do it for free--HA HA HA! Also, you're hauling away all my boxes of old teaching lessons and crap, since if I ever do return to the classroom, it'll be too stinking old to use anyway.
Plus, cleaning the lint vent on my dryer. What a pain.
Just think what I'd offer up if I didn't love you so darn much!
And I am not kidding--I am sick of these pine needles. Write or rake--it's your choice.
And I could be as bouncily encouraging as Chris (and have for the most part, except for my silence in the car Saturday), but he has not heard all 1,427,318 whines from you. I have heard at least 1,426,034, and am now resorting to pain and torture as requested.
That's love, baby-bro-bigger-than-me-dude.
Now, go get 'em.
Passion! It's a killer! I'm proud of your ambitious undertaking. Don't know if I can tease you mercilessly but I can be a cheerleader…GO BIG MIKEY!
Thanks to everyone who chimed in--please don't let me stop you. The more, the merrier! I appreciate it loads.
Kham, I do remember that song--it's been stuck in my head since childhood, and I still sing it even today when I'm looking for tale-telling songs. The part which says,
"The man who's a dreamer, and never takes leave,
Who thinks of a world that is just make believe,
Will never know passion, will never know pain--
Who sits by the window will one day see rain,"
always struck me as a kid. Maybe I've "taken leave" long enough to come back to fantasy and make believe usefully...
A song which speaks strongly to me, these days more than ever and especially as regards the writing, is Kendall Payne's "Ups and Downs":
All that I've found through the ups and the downs
Is that I'd have it no other way;
Life in the raw is both fragile and strong,
It’s both lovely and ugly the same.
Who can attest that when they're at their best
Oh, their worst is still crouching close behind?
It’s coming to peace with the darkness in me
That allows the true light inside to shine.
So let it go, for we are still far from home,
Though your try and you try to escape.
To live and to love will always be dangerous,
But it's better than playing it safe.
We are composed of a symphony of notes—
Every life is as music to His ears.
I'll play my melody, be it haunting, be it sweet,
Unashamed of what anyone might hear.
So when the load breaks your back and your will,
You must still keep your heart in the game.
To live and to love will always be dangerous,
But it's better than playing it safe.
So let it go when it don't feel like home,
When inside is your only escape;
To live and to love will always be dangerous,
But would you want it any other way?
Thanks again, Marilyn, for putting us on to Kendall.
Rubbing my hands together, chuckling gleefully...
Oh, I can't wait! What could I make you do? I'll have to think about this one; such a special opportunity for degredation doesn't come every day. This will require thoughtful consideration...
Unless, of course, you actually pull it off.
Mu-ha-ha-ha-haaaa!
The clock is ticking, Mr. Slusser!
Post a Comment