Like a Hermit

One good thing that came out of Jer working nights for three years is I grew used to being alone. This is especially handy lately, when I realize I've had no human interaction in awhile, and I may or may not have left the house. Since Tuesday.

I mentioned in an earlier post I was trying to write a "straight" story -- that it would be a good challenge. Yesterday I decided to stop kidding myself. As a friend and I once joked, "I have lots of skills. I don't need that one."

Yeah, so I closed the Word document and I'll just let it sit. If I get inspired, I'll try again. I wasn't feeling it.

In the mean time I'm trying to make sense of the novel idea. Since elves aren't writing it while I sleep, my only recourse is to get my hands dirty. So I'm planning. I'm giving myself exercises. I'm Googling things like structure and storyboarding. Leaving myself notes.

There's so much I don't know about writing; I'm embarrassed to admit it. As painful as it is though, as ego-crushing, I'm making slow progress. I feel like I should be further along and not stumbling around with these stupid basics. But if the basics aren't solid, what's to keep the rest from collapsing?