It’s Friday and time for the weekly novel writing update. As I said a few days ago, my goal was to write one thousand words a day six days a week for the next three months. I started mid-week because that’s when the kids were back at school and have been successful every day. On Wednesday I worked at home, Thursday at the library and today at Starbucks in the local Chapters book store.

Wednesday was easy. I haven’t written a thousand words of fiction at one sitting in such a long time. I was shocked at how quickly and easily they came. I had my music on because the kids were home and the words just flew. What a great way to start.

Thursday started shitty. Libraries have never been my favorite place to work. They are at once too quiet and too damned loud. There was a woman there with two teenaged boys who were odd, to say the least. I don’t think they had any developmental issues. Rather, I think they were just kind of jackasses. One sat a few tables from me the whole time shouting out names of places. Florida! Kansas! Germany! Antactica! Thankfully I was already in the groove when he started up because otherwise I’d have had to leave or something. I made a mental note to always bring my headphones so that I could plug in and fire up iTunes.

Today I decided to work at the book store. I had to pick up my next book club selection:

I hear it’s really good and from the two sentences I’ve read so far I think I’ll enjoy it. I’ll let you know. I’ve never read his other book but it’s on my night stand waiting for its turn as well. I’ve only heard good things so I’m looking forward to both.

The bookstore was a great place to write. There was an outlet right next to my chair in Starbucks in case my computer died and required plugging in. I forgot my headphones but it’s alright. Once I get into it I can’t hear anything that’s going on around me. Takes about ten minutes to get into that headspace and then I’m fine.

So three thousand words this week. No hardship getting them done. Feels good this time. I said to Dan today when I was done: This is so much fun. That’s what I’ve wanted it to be. Writing has always been something I did because I just had to. I couldn’t not. But when I decided to do it seriously it started to feel like a crap sandwich. I hate crap sandwiches. They’re such crap.

Next week I’ll tell you about a book I just read that got me feeling this way. Got me feeling happy about writing fiction again. Writing your first novel doesn;t have to be painful, it turns out. And I’m so glad. Because if I wanted to do something that sucks and feels like work I’d have a job like the rest of the world and dammitalltohell, i so am not meant for a jobby life. Ick.