Well, dear readers, I am exhausted but happy to say I have finished my latest book. It took quite a while to get the penultimate chapter to be what I knew it should be, and it also took quite a while to get the addendum that ends the book right. I actually finished around eight. I then needed a real break, but I’d already talked to Muse Margaret and told her I’d be up at nine to print, then to Xerox and then to bring her the new pages, which are a little over 100.
I’d begun futzing and finessing at around nine in the morning. As I read through what I’d written I was really not happy with the little road I’d gone down. But I tried to smooth it out and make it fun and to a certain extent I did. But I knew it wasn’t right and I was just frustrated by spending three hours trying to fix something that wasn’t working the way it should. So, I went and had a bacon and cheese omelet and a bagel and made the decision to just get off the bad road and cut all that stuff. Of course, that meant all those pages I’d written were pretty much going away, which was annoying. But as soon as I got back I found a way to keep the stuff I liked by slightly reworking it, and then just cutting the rest, which I did. I was then finally able to continue writing – I have a really hard time going forward when I know something isn’t right – it’s like pulling teeth, but once I fix what’s wrong, then everything gets easier.
So, I finally got to the end of the chapter and all that remained was the addendum. It took about two hours to write those six pages – I really just wanted to get it done, knowing I’d go back and futz and finesse and probably a lot. I thought the feel of what I’d done was right and one line I wrote made me literally fall off my chair laughing. I really don’t know where this stuff comes from – I’m just grateful that it does. Then I sat on my couch like so much fish, needing to not look at anything and to get my mind clear.
Last night I watched a motion picture on the Flix of Net entitled Counter Investigation, a French film from France starring Jean Dujardin, he of The Artist. It’s based on a short story by Lawrence Block and I enjoyed it quite a bit, even though you really know where some of it’s going pretty early on – but not quite – it still has a few things up its sleeve. I liked the way it was directed, the music was very good, as were the performances, and best of all it was only eighty-three minutes long.
After I finished, I did a few other things, then went back and looked at the day’s writing. I smoothed a few things out, cut a few lines, added some stuff and then read the addendum, which had a lot of awkward stuff in it – in fact, I couldn’t believe how awkward some of it was. So, I smoothed it out and made some changes in the morning I will read the final chapter and the addendum to make sure I’m completely happy with it – if not, I’ll futz and finesse further. Then I’ll print it out, Xerox and take it to Muse Margaret and hope she likes the final 100-plus pages. I won’t really begin to feel either elation or depression until she’s read it and calls. But that was my day – except for one tiny visit.
The tiny visit was from Richard Sherman, who came to play me his song for the LA show. I’d heard the lyric, but it was great to hear it with the music. It’s a very emotional song for him, but it’s really wonderful. I made a little recording of it on my phone and he left me the lyric and will have a proper chart done on it now. He also asked me to play the long song of mine that he’d missed at our Christmas Eve party, and I did – and I have to say he was really moved by it.
Today, I’ll probably arise at seven-thirty to do whatever futzing and finessing I have to do. Then I’ll print, go to Staples to Xerox, drive the pages to Muse Margaret, and then come home and deal with at least one unpleasant task, which I actually hope I CAN deal with. Do send strong excellent vibes and xylophones, won’t you? After that, I’ll just relax and as we have for the last couple of books, I’ll probably sup with the Staitmans to celebrate the finishing of the book. And hopefully I’ll have a call from Muse Margaret and of course we’re praying she likes the new pages.
The rest of the week is meetings and meals, planning the next Kritzerland show, and praying for more miracles.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, futz and finesse, print out pages, Xerox pages, get pages to Muse Margaret, hopefully deal with an unpleasant task in a positive manner, hopefully pick up packages, hopefully hear from Muse Margaret, and then I’ll sup with the Staitmans. Today’s topic of discussion: If you had to hazard a guess, based on the past eighteen days of notes, do you have any ideas as to what the new book is? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy that I have finished my sixteenth book.