This weekend I finished the penultimate chapter of the memoir. (I’m a writer. I’m allowed to use words that don’t sound like what they mean.) It was such a satisfying moment that I immediately ate a bunch of dried mango and danced around my apartment, and after hooting my joy to the walls for probably longer than my neighbors thought appropriate, I poured myself a celebratory glass of Chardonnay.
(You can only imagine the celebrating that will happen when I finish the whole book. I’m wearing a helmet from here on out, just in case.)
Finishing that chapter was far more satisfying than I expected, considering it wasn’t the chapter from hell, nor was it the final chapter. That one I need to start today. Which presents its own special challenges, since I don’t actually know how the book ends.
Ha ha! I mean, I know how it could end – it is my life, after all, and I’ve been awake for most of it – but I’m not sure what the best ending is for this particular telling of my life. I have an idea, but I’m not sure how to get there.
No matter. I’m going to make some tea, open the Word doc, and see what happens. I remind myself: Motion → direction. And that’s comforting.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
6 comments:
Excellent news! Although ... how do you *know* it's the penultimate chapter before you've finished the whole book? I've never written a book, but I always thought it was kind of like filming a movie, where you write things not necessarily in the order that they will finally be read, you know?
Monday, *SOGGY* Monday out here in SF.
When I finished my first draft, I wandered around the house in a daze. I didn't know what to do with myself. Then came the second draft. . . .
Wonderful news, Deonne! Congratulations and good luck with the conclusion.
Yipee, pause for a few quiet moments and I ponder why Chardonnay, why not a Malbec or are they the same. Was the Chardonnay left over from the December month of frolicking? was it a gift from your agent?, Was it also to celebrate the N'Orleans Saints victory in Overtime. Poor Brett Favre.
Speaking of Motion I just dragged my car out of the mud it was stuck in with 4 dollars worth of pebbles and a strap. I parked it on frozen ground two days ago when the nights were 39 degrees and the snow was still in piles around my driveway. With the torrential rain and the 50 degree weather, when I went to move it, my vietnamese car decided it wasn't headed in any direction, no motion. Damn that Global Warming.
For a picture of the success story, check out Life on the Surface at www.jabnut188.blogspot.com
AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Deborah - I'm writing the book in chronological order, and then will probably mess that up in revision. So though I don't know the exact way the last chapter's going to go, I do know where it has to end in time.
Susan - I imagine the second draft being a different, better (?) kind of pain. Is that your experience?
Michelle & Kathy - Thank you!
Tusk - It was Chardonnay because my light mood dictated a light wine. I'm glad you're writing a blog, and whether it's true or not, I'll gladly take credit for its name (ha).
Post a Comment