Finally doing some heavy lifting with the novel, and Chapter 5 is no more. I’ve been spending my time lately on Chapter 4, but thought I should read through Chapter 5, since I know it was going away. Just wanted to see if there was some idea expressed there that needs to find its way into Chapter 4. Out of the whole she-bang, only two paragraphs seemed necessary.

The hardest part of Chapter 4, which will take a while yet, is it is a very dense chapter. It has a framing device, flash backs, and a lot of time condensing, and it’s hard to get it just right. The other trick is that some of the stuff in this chapter is completely wrong for the book, but are taken from my real life. And they were stitched together pretty well, so it all flows nicely, until you step back and realize the character in this novel doesn’t have this issue. The author of this novel does.

So, the fourth draft will be even less autobiographical than what is already not autobiography.

Still having trouble getting to bed before 9 at the earliest, which I’m not happy about. When this happens, I’m in less creative space at 4 a.m., and usually around mid-afternoon, there’s a period where I’m really tired, and it happens after my caffeine moratorium for the day, so there’s nothing to do but ride it out. And then, I’m winding down, and then… I don’t feel as tired as I should at 8. So, I read some more, go on the web, but I’d rather sleep.

I admit it’s an unnatural schedule, but I keep expecting it to find its rhythm and be less managed. I woke up a few minutes before my alarm this morning, so my body is getting used to the rhythms of it all. I just need the night part to kick in and be tired earlier.

It has been more of a push to be creative in the mornings, because I’d rather go back to bed for another hour. But I never give in. In worst cases, I have energy drinks here, and I’m not afraid to use them.

Of course, the last time I kept this writing schedule, I was unemployed. So, I would get up at 4, write for a few hours, and go back to bed. But, with a job now, this is the only system I’ve found that works consistently.

Well, the book takes a major turn after this chapter, so it will be smooth sailing soon enough.

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