The Bug is Back

It's official. I suck. Not only have I been neglecting my self-imposed responsibilities to this blog, I've been shunning my novel as well. I've been working weird shifts and wasting time on the utterly addictive Sims 3. Dana got the first expansion pack for me as one of many pretty awesome Christmas gifts, and I put off installing and playing it because it sucks me in. And once I'm sucked in, all I want to do is play. I think about ways to skill up my Sims so they can get another promotion. I dream up names for their offspring, and ways to remodel their modest abode. It's my own little soap opera and I am helpless to resist.

And as a result of my newly reawakened addiction, I have barely touched my novel. My poor MC has been trapped at a family dinner in which she just admitted she broke up with Mr. Perfect for weeks. I feel guilty. It's a very awkward situation to be stuck in. I felt so guilty, as a matter of fact, that I opened my document this morning and wrote her right out the door. The guilt has eased and now I have the writing bug again. I'm actually excited to get back to this story. I want my headstrong MC to realize her feelings for her childhood friend and have that darn baby already!

Of course, I still have to finish my outline. I'm nearing the end of my outline in the actual writing and I need to be prepared. I'm a planner. I love a long, detailed outline. Bits of snarky dialogue I don't want to escape me, scraps of description. A road map for my novel. It makes the actual writing virtually fly by once I'm in the groove.

The need to finish this thing is getting stronger by the day. I want it done so I can toss it aside for months and forget about it. I want to be surprised by how awful it is when I go back to it. I want to be shocked and pleased when there are actually good bits in there. I love editing. Polishing something until it shines. And I'm bouncing up and down inside like a child on Christmas morning at the mere thought of editing this story.

Therefore, I must finish.

I designed the cover for my Createspace proof a couple weeks ago. I am slightly in love with it and can't wait to show it off.

For now, I must get ready for work. All freaking night, I'll be there. I can't tell you how I'm looking forward to it. Work has been dramatic and busy and slow and frustrating lately. Yesterday was THE longest day in history, I swear! Let's hope tonight is a little shorter.