Big Ed's PlaceSolo enterprise
One of the things that makes writing satisfying to me is that it’s fundamentally a solo enterprise. Yes, I have a team, and sometimes I need to coordinate with another author if I’m playing in his (or her) universe, but those are pretty minor interactions. The bulk of the enterprise is me by myself.
I like this because it means my schedule is my own. I don’t get hung up waiting for someone, like I do in so many of the other projects in my personal and professional life. Nor do I have to jerk my schedule around to accommodate the whims of others.
This last week was a good example of getting jerked around. I had a business trip that consumed three full days of my life. The meeting itself was only one afternoon and the following morning, but the unavailability of convenient flights forced the two extra days into the trip. It became very clear that my presence, though requested, wasn’t really needed. So I spent a lot of time not getting stuff done. I tried to work remotely with my corporate team, but found myself waiting far too much for inputs. The result was completely frustrating.
I did manage to get some writing done, though not as much as I wanted. I find it difficult to write erotica on airplanes because I’m invariably jammed into a middle seat, making it impossible for my seatmates to avoid seeing what’s on my screen. I’m not embarrassed by what I’m writing–my seatmates will certainly not see me again–but I also don’t believe that it’s fair to force my seatmates into reading something they may not like. I’d certainly be uncomfortable if the guy in the aisle seat started reading a Penthouse, not giving a damn about who would be unavoidably looking over his shoulder.
So I wrote 766 words on Unmasked. That’s respectable, though I wish I’d been able to manage more. Surprisingly, it flowed well once I started. Hopefully I’ll get some uninterrupted time soon to keep that flow going.
I also worked on my arc outlines for Deep Dish–got two of the four in great shape. It’s a bit frustrating, though. Despite me having clear visions in my head, I still haven’t solved the financing issue. Since I can’t do the art myself, it’s an issue. The down sides of it not being a solo enterprise…