Back near the dawn of time, there were only manual transmissions. Many of these dinosaurs were unsynchronized. The driver had to use the clutch to move out of one gear, then depress it a second time to enter the next gear. This, I believe is still the case in commercial vehicles like semi-trucks.
I am not a good multitasker. Which seems a strange thing since I am known to work on three blogs, a novel, a newsletter, and text to read for Open Mic, all while simmering (currently 4) other books at various stages of production in my writer’s head.
Then, there is my new role as publisher and the other roles a man my age has collected through the years. I drink a lot of coffee. However, there is one other technique I have found useful as a writer—double clutching. That is, shifting from one gear to another in a very unsynchronized life.
I’m not complaining at all. I must like it as evidenced by the fact that I have recently committed myself—no, not to a state facility—but to another run at NaNoWriMo, also known as National Novel Writing Month. This is a self-inflicted challenge to write a 50,000 word novel in the month of November.
It is not an easy task. My plan is to write the sequel to my book Redemption in those thirty-one days. I brought this on myself by stating the sequel would be out in the Fall of 2021. And, well, it’s Fall.
The big shift to do this book comes on Halloween. When I must be finished with Blood Moon, the sequel to Bayou Moon, one day and begin the challenge the next day. Double clutch. Overnight I need to go from fugitive-sheriff, shift to neutral, release the clutch, engage the clutch, and shift into outlaw-preacher.
One difficulty with smoothly changing gears is that Ed Landry is not going away—the seed for novel three is already planted. Ed is an old pal, but writing is a sweet love and a demanding mistress. Can he be ignored and still hang around?
Not without that double clutch of letting him go on a vacation in New Orleans while I go out west for NaNoWrimo. I think being able to multitask would make life easier for me, but I like working the clutch.
Maranatha.
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