Weak start…
Hmm, the pep talk seemed good, the writing after it… eh, not as much. I still don’t consider the 30 day to have started officially.
There is definitely good energy around, but still not enough focus. The work I have done has been good, but it never seems like enough. Then again, it never has.
It’s ironic, because every time I start up again, I start at the very beginning, so I fear that I’m polishing the first few chapters into a diamond at this point, which is only going to make the coal that much harder later.
A poetry thing I did for Oasis recently actually had some good effect on me as far as the rewrite. Just reinforced the power of finding the perfect phrase, the right imagery, how you could say a lot with very little, as long as the very little is expertly done.
I refuse to buy into the notion that a novel has the room to be lazy, that you have enough room and time to get your point across, just keep mentioning it enough and it will work. The first 2-3 chapters of this book are really hard, because they dictate the success of the book. The character undergoes massive change in each early chapter, setting up the person who will actually be narrating the majority of the book. But very important to get people on for the ride.
There is a finality to this edit, though. I don’t let the slightest thing go by. Everything gets fixed in this pass, the next step is people get to read it. It’s good that this site is basically read by few people, lest I’m sure diligent people sift through the archives for what I’m sure has been talk of this finality aspect before. 
I keep getting e-mails about Chuck, from Amazon, from his website, etc., as he has a new book coming out soon. I’m ordering it, sure, but I’m not even going to his event this time. I already encountered public Chuck enough at this point. And got Chuck in a slightly more intimate vibe for the interview. So, at this point, until he’s peer Chuck and I’ve finished the book, I’d just as soon not bother. The guy that shows up for the book events is the version I’m least interested in. Plus, they are becoming big rockstar events, ticketed, etc. And I’ve got enough stuff signed by him at this point to suffice.
Still haven’t missed a day of yoga. I like the flow of yoga. I like the feeling of it being done for the day. My friend who’s been taking a few classes with me, though not daily, called me yesterday and asked me to go with him to the 6:15 p.m. class, and I refused, as I already went that morning. He kept on me, but I wouldn’t relent. I already did my yoga for today, I told him. When I’m in class, and just about getting sick of the standing series, we’re on the floor. The floor series is broken up into three of four connected poses. So, you’re always in the moment, but there’s a clear timeline. progress is being made. There is an endin sight, and all you have to do is stretch, breath, lift, lock, and it all happens.
The challenge is transferring that experience to the editing process. Still figuring that part out. How to give it flow, shape, attention, breath, and acceptance.
