inspire in me the desire in me

When I spoke to Ryan's creative writing class, I mentioned the importance of ritual for me as a writer.

When I'm working on a project that takes more than one session to complete, I need to write at the same time of day, in the same place, with the same music. I don't know why, but it kicks something in my brains into motion and the creative part of it rolls out of bed and starts running. In both of my published books, I've included the music I was listening to during the various phases of their construction, and it will be interesting to me to see the Venn diagram of all three.

Today, I realized that I'm sitting in exactly the same place (the dining room table, kitchen on my left, family room on my right, facing the living room) as I sat when I did the final draft of Just A Geek. The first draft was written in my office, at my desk, on my Linux machine, just like the first draft of both Just A Geek and Dancing Barefoot. I also start and finish my work around the same time each day. I don't understand the significance of these individual bits, but they all go together to make up one very important writing ritual that helps me work every day.

Which leads me to another thing I mentioned to Ryan's class: the importance of discipline and schedule, especially if you're freelance or self-published. If I don't give myself actual deadlines and make them, I'll never get anything done. If I don't set aside some chunk of time every day (for me it's from nine in the morning until 2:30 in the afternoon) that's just for writing, I'll never be disciplined enough to get things done.

I bring all this up as prelude to the real reason I broke away from writing to post in my blog: I'm so very, very close to being finished with this penultimate draft, I can feel it. In fact, I can flip over to OpenOffice and I can see it. I have to substantially rewrite one story to make it less bloggy and more timeless (that's a theme, I've discovered, when converting work from a blog into a book) and then I just have to polish everything else before I send it to Andrew for notes.

Current word count: 26000. It's substantially less than I'd originally wanted, but I'm okay with that. I keep reminding myself, it's a companion to Dancing Barefoot, not follow-up to Just A Geek.

Some people have asked me what the plans are for this, and how you'll be able to get your hands on it.

The main release will be softcover, but there may be a very limited-edition signed and numbered hardcover, like Scalzi's Questions for a Soldier, depending on how much that sort of thing costs and how much interest there is from the audience (that's you, so speak up if you're interested -- it will make a difference for me.) There will almost certainly be an audiobook like Just A Geek, too.

At the moment, the plan is to do this just like Barefoot, setting up a little shipping operation in my living room and handling all that stuff with the help of my friends. In fact, Ryan is counting on working for me before he goes to school near the end of summer, so I already have my first employee!

My great hope, of course, is that this method becomes impossible to manage when you all tell your friends to buy two copies as gifts and I have to move to some sort of fulfillment house, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

Comments

[Marie A.]

I know I am only one voice so far, but I would most certainly buy a hardback limited edition book from you, even if it costs more. You can't put a cost of creativity. Thanks again for writing a great blog, it relieves the stress at times to come her and smile and laugh at something you have wrote.

[June]

I'm a poor college student, so I probably wouldn't buy an autographed hardcover limited edition version... but I wouldn't mind an autographed paperback edition. ;)

I'm glad to hear that we may be seeing this book soon!! (Note the two exclamation marks. This is serious excitement.) Good luck shipping out of your home.

[MJBUtah]

One hardcover and one audiobook please.

Oh, and I am sure you are sick of me bringing this up, but what happened to the audiobook for Dancing Barefoot? I'm pretty sure I know the answer (it's pretty old stuff, you've performed it so much, etc) but is it truly a dead idea?

[darla8855]

Well, crap. I'll probably need a hard cover, cuz that would be a very cool thing to have, but I'll also need a paperback, because the rest of the Wil Wheaton book collection is paperback and I'll need the books to match, which is a dorky thing to say, but it is what is. So, two for me.

[cryssyer]

Me, me, me, me! I want a hardcover autographed copy :)

Of course, I also intend to buy the soft cover AND the audio book. I hope your friend David helps you with that and that you include the bloopers like you did with JAG Audiobook. I put that on my iPod and listen to it often. I really like to hear you relaxed and cutting up. Hey, I haven't stopped by in awhile, so congrats on the Trek gig too!

[Fraize]

That's how I got through NaNoWriMo. Crammed into my cave of an office with my "Music for Writing" playlist going on iTunes full of Decemberists and Granddaddy.

[stargazer]

signed hardcover? Definitely interested! I look forward to it's release :)

[Stoner]

Yes. I'll buy an autographed hardcover. You want more motivation? I'll send the money now.

-Stoner

[Katrina]

I'd dig a hardcover copy.

Hopefully it will have a larger run than the chapbook that some missed out on in the few hours it was available....? Or at least forewarn us when its going to be available.

I also get the ritual thing. I have to get into my groove in the quiet of my home office with just the right playlist, or else my weekly column takes 10x as long. If just one thing is off, my mind wanders too easily and I get lost off-task. I think the husband's learned to stop asking why I play the same stuff every monday and just leave me to the work.

[Adam Salsman]

Count me in for 2 copies of the uber-1337 hardcover edition of the book. I know a certain gal pal of mine who'd like it more than jewelery.

[JM]

Count me in for any available supercool hardcover version.

[ChazB]

Hardcover for me too. I think I can say for sure it would be a hit at any price.

[Jason Toomey]

I would have clicked a link to buy a signed hardcover copy today were it available. In fact, I'll now be obsessively checking your blog a dozen times a day worried that I'll miss the "ultra-limited edition" window. I'm a little sad that way, but I'm okay with it.

[Kyle]

I want, I want, I want! Add me to the list of folks who would pre-buy a hardcover right now.

/kff

[Beckie]

Um, I would want a signed hardcover FOR SURE. Sign me up!

[rapunxelle]

I would love signed hardcover! Can't wait! :)

[Chuck]

The signed hardcover would be uber cool if it was at a level I could afford (say something under $100.) Now, if you need to charge more to make it worth doing, I fully understand, and will happily buy the paperback and try to come to another one of your shows or readings to get it signed.

[RichL]

I'd go for a signed hardcover at a decent price. $100 might be a bit of a stretch...or at least not quite justifiable to the better half.

[peanutbutter]

Count me in also. I'd like to get one of the hardcovers. I'd also like to throw in my thanks for maintaining a great blog over the years. Keep on writing.

[Wil]

Oh, I can promise you that the limited edition won't cost $100, at least not if you buy it from me.

That's just insane, and bordering on extortion.

[RichL]

Ah, (Burns) Excellent... (/Burns)!

[starshine_diva]

I'd love a reasonably priced special edition autographed book, to accompany my two other autographed books. Of course, if you're coming to Montreal, I'll get the normal version and get it signed in person :)

[enjonel]

I'm financially challenged right now also, but I would consider a hardcover, autographed, depending on the price.I love harcover books, and signed; even better!

[bphuettner]

I definitely want one but (dorky though it may be) I will need the paperback so that it matches the rest of the Wheaton collection on my shelf. Also happy to pre-order if it helps! I was just wondering... might these be ready before the Star Trek convention in August?

[enjonel]

Count me in if I can afford it :)