I’m thiiiiiiiiis close to finishing the first draft of my current work in progress. Of course, I’ve been thiiiiiiiiis close to finishing for over a week now, and I have a deadline looming. Eep!
You’d think I would just push through, right? The end is in sight. It’s right there. Still, I can’t quite make myself write it.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not blocked. Not in the least. These characters chitter-chatter in my head all the live-long day. I know their voices, I see their mannerisms, and I feel every ounce of joy and sorrow for them. The outcomes have already been determined, and the story is arcing up to the big ‘dun-dun-dun’ moment.
All systems should be a go, but at the moment my fingers say no.
I do this every time.
There are writers who shudder when they type the words ‘Chapter One’, but I’m not one of them. I love the beginning. There’s nothing more exhilarating than diving into a new story and rolling around with fresh characters. I even love the middle chapters because that’s where the story starts to click into place. I get a big, fat high out of writing scenes filled with tension and unresolved angst. The beauty of writing romance is knowing the characters I love are going to come out on the happy side of ever after, so you would think the ending would be a no-brainer, wouldn’t you?
I just can’t get them there.
Oh, it’s going to happen. Each day I whittle away at it, inching my way to the end that’s thiiiiiiiiis close…but still so far away.
How about you? Are you a fast starter? A middle muddler? Do you finish fast or is every word leading up to those two magic words pure torture?
Start on fire and the end drags and drags and drags…. That black moment has a reeeaaalll long build up. I know what you mean!
I start out slowly, sort of a meet and greet with my characters. Once I hit the top of my arc…it’s all downhill, baby! I zoom to the finish line.
I have the hardest time with the middle. I LOVE the beginning and end.
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who stalls out at one point or another!
Is there a term for someone who’s sluggish all the way through? I’m a slow-starting, middle-muddling, finish line crawler. But as they say, slow and steady wins the race. 😉