Zombie Invasion

...and of course I wake up wanting to work on The Tiki Stars (and not the book I'm supposed to be finishing, or the one I just decided to edit).

Should not have listened to all that Les Baxter while trying to wake up (still trying to kick that energy thing that hit two weeks ago).

I was just thinking about how I am free to be less detailed in the descriptions on this one, painting a much more Impressionistic picture with quick strokes. And an entire opening scene sprang into my mind. One that touches on the world-building and the way I intend to present that world to the reader, the character of my protagonist (rough-and-tumble with a heart of gold, in this example), and lays groundwork for character and story arcs to come.

Trouble is, when I feel like this, it is usually just before I fail utterly to get more than three words written. Then take really ill.

At this point, I'm struggling enough with work I might need to retire early to get any writing done. Plus, I'm really missing theatre. If I could find some contract design work I think I'd rather like that.

Anyhow. Turns out I did start an edit on The Fox Knows Many Things, even if with what I know -- and what I think -- now, those notes would only get in the way. It really is the kind of work I do quickly, though. As opposed to charting my way into new territory: The Early Fox has just reached the edge of the clearing where I'm not revising old scenes but instead hacking into the jungle of completely new scenes.

My biggest plan right now is to explore an alternate to writing over brunch. Not because eggs cost so much these days, but because there's a natural slump when I leave the bottomless coffee cup behind (and start digesting), and it too-often lasts the rest of the day. At least when it comes to following up on the progress of the morning.

Maybe a Scottish breakfast (oatmeal) makes more sense. Ah, but I'm really wanting that big breakfast right now...

***

I hate being right. I still haven't kicked that thing and it's been three weeks now.

The Scottish Experiment was a failure. I ate at home, and...I didn't write. Not until far too late in the evening, when I somehow got it together to get through the Roswell sequence.

Did have one of those nice moments of discovery writing. For pretty much no reason (well, I'd included a mention of the Gort diorama in the description of the place), when time came to describe Random Museum Dude I decided to make him a ringer for Michael Rennie.

And then when I maneuvered them in front of the space exploration exhibit to name-drop the Drake Equation, I was able to work that into a little payoff. Well, probably only a payoff for those who remember the film, but still...

Anyhow that's 1,800 words in the can, and now on to a chapter I've been calling The Railroad, as the Lon Gunman runs Penny around Alamogordo playing with dead drops before he finally deigns to meet with her in person.