A Time to Write, a Time to Revise

As I am in the middle of the "vomit draft" for my next novel, I found this article on the Four Fails of Trying to Write the Last Draft First, by Mary W. Walters, particularly helpful... as I hope you will, too.

Trail(er) of Clichés

Came across this, courtesy of Pub Rants, while I was putting the finishing touches of a trailer for Bill Warrington's Last Chance. A bit long, but fun.

Eternity Defined

The sense of time experienced by a writer during the months between acceptance of all revisions by publisher and the actual release of the book.

The Write Place

Sometimes when I finish shoveling snow, I announce to my wife that we should rent a place somewhere warm for a few months. And why not? I'm a writer. I can work anywhere, right? Why not punch away at my keyboard on a beach or by a pool?

Just returned from someplace warm. Beautiful beach. Nice pool. Loads of time on my hands when I wasn't trying to re-book canceled flights. And how much writing did I get done?

Well, see, I kind of missed my desk, where I can spread out all my notes if I happen to have any. And my big computer monitor really helps me see more of the page I haven't yet completed. And my regular keyboard seems so much more tactile than the cramped laptop keys. And the mouse at home works so much better than that super sensitive touch pad on my laptop. And the chair that is so exquisitely contoured to the shape of my ever-expanding posterior...

How about you? Can you write anywhere? Or do you need that place of one's own?

Yeah? So what do YOU think about while writing?

As I've mentioned in previous posts, I'm in the middle of my vomit draft (pre-first-rough-draft draft) of my next novel. Amazing what elbows its way into my mind when I should be thinking only of the storyline I'm wrangling with. (Or is it "with which I am wrangling"? And does that question mark go inside the quotation marks? Must add these questions to the list.) To wit:

• That screen looks better blank than with what I've just written.
• I need to update my to-do list. 
• I need a better format for my to-do list.
• Is to-do hyphenated?
• This story stinks and everyone already knows it.
• I wonder if I've gotten an email since the last time I checked three minutes ago.
• Maybe I should Google "quick and easy ways to complete a first draft."
• Hmmm. Missed a spot on my chin while shaving this morning.
• I wonder what's going on in Facebook land.
• I wonder if a goatee would make me look more writerly.
•  Better check email again. Probably just missed one last time I checked.
• Is this character even remotely believable? Likable? I think not.
• The dog needs walking. It would be cruel to let her continue sleeping contentedly at my feet.
• "First of all, I'd like to thank all the members of the Nobel Prize committee..."
• That spot on my chin is driving me crazy. 
• Should I make one of the characters a vampire? 
• Pitchers and catchers report to training camp soon. Must find out the exact date. Right now.

And you?