Mr. V’s new workout plan

I don’t see how authors do it sometimes. Work a full time job, spend time with the spouse and kids, work-out, handle miscellaneous chores and errands, AND still find time to write and read other novels.

In an attempt to try to monopolize all available hours, I’ve set a pretty rigorous schedule for myself. Starting this week, I’ve been getting up at 5:30 in order to get my writing done. So far, it seems to be working: although I haven’t gotten much done in the area of writing, I have been forcing myself to get up in the morning. Folger’s Coffee has become my new best friend.

I’ve also got time set aside for web browsing and blogging, for reading other novels, and for spending quality time with Mrs. V. It looks like television is the main thing that I’ve erased from my previous schedule. And, maybe that isn’t such a bad thing. The only television show hardwired into my schedule is 24 (Jack Bauer is one bad mofo).

I just finished Ellen Wittlinger’s Sandpiper, and I’m currently reading Teach Me by R.A. Nelson. I’m a big fan of Ellen’s work, and Sandpiper did not disappoint. There are some mature themes in the novel, although it’s nothing new to most high schoolers. I thought I wouldn’t like the main character, but I actually found myself liking Piper (as she begins to call herself). And the Walker is a good, solid character. There’s a lot going on in this novel, but Ellen handles all of the themes very well. Some folks may want to call the novel edgy, but I prefer the term “realistic.” Highly Recommended.

My current work-in-progress is going pretty well. I got to Chapter 6, and decided to scrap the story and start over again. This sounds bad, but this is pretty routine for me. After 6 to 8 chapters, I usually find that I know my characters well enough so that I can go back and build on the plot. I’ve hashed out a better story while still retaining the essence of my characters; now I just have to start putting words on paper.