Project Green ❇️
A psychological thriller in the making...and I'm hating it so far!
Today is Monday. This past weekend, I was supposed to dive into my writing project. I made plans to sit with it, go over my main character's goals, needs, and wants. I'd brainstorm a few scene cards for chapter two, create a summary for the catalyst, and obsess over whether I'd introduced it too soon. I planned to figure out a few other beats.
I was supposed to do all these things, but sadly, I did not. What I did was nowhere near as productive. I ate an unhealthy amount of sweets, played with my cat, and talked coding with the kids (more like me desperately trying to understand this foreign language they now speak, or type, or whatever. I listened as intently as possible). I lounged and doom-scrolled because in my mind, work was only a day away, and I couldn't miss out on my precious relaxation time. Procrastination truly is a writer’s kryptonite!
Well, here we are, a new week, a new day. New excuses? I can’t afford it this week. This week, I'm rooting for Project Green, hoping I can complete at least one scene.
And what's Project Green all about, you ask? You probably didn’t, but I'll tell you anyway, because now feels like an excellent time to share some details. Here goes, the short synopsis:
Chloe Green, a hardworking woman in her mid-20s, is walking home alone at night when she realizes she is being followed. In a moment of desperation, she bumps into a passing man and begs him to pretend to be her boyfriend to deter the stalker. The man obliges and scares off the stalker, leaving Chloe forever grateful. He offers to see her safely home, and she senses a connection with him. However, the stranger's good intentions soon cross boundaries, and Chloe finds herself in a dangerous situation.
And that’s all I’ve got! For now.
At least until I can get this first draft completed. I'll change things. Rearrange scenes. Drop characters and add subplots. I'll make it better. Once I push through this dreaded first draft stage, I know I can make it spectacular!
For now, though, I hate every word I’ve written so far, and I know I have to keep writing more garbage for this project to be done. If anyone has the playbook on how to write a novel quickly, fast, and pain-free, please leave it on my desk. Thank you.
This made me laugh (and flinch in recognition). Honestly, if eating too many sweets counted as novel progress, I’d be on my 10th book by now. Mine took two years.
Project Green sounds brilliant already. I’m fully invested in Chloe and her possibly charming/possibly creepy stranger. You've got the spark—you’re just at that part of the writing process where your brain pretends you’ve made a huge mistake so you’ll stop and do something safe, like reorganize the cutlery drawer or learn CSS from your kids. (Been there.)
Keep going, even if it’s one “garbage” word at a time. That trash becomes compost. Compost becomes flowers. You’re basically gardening now.
Rooting for you—and Project Green (pun absolutely intended)!
I understand – I have been working on a project I love for over a year… and it’s sometimes still like I’ll pulling teeth to get the words out. Just when I think I have sorted out all the knots, the story becomes sly and elusive. The characters I know so well suddenly confuse me or prove difficult. But I keep trying. 🙂