The finish line is in sight. I can’t believe I’m actually saying this, but there it is on my calendar. That’s right, the last day of regular work–all highlighted, circled, and red pen starred.
It’s a beautiful sight.
Sure, I’m still 2+ weeks out, there’s still a lot of regular work to get done and there’s the usual reaction of, “You’re leaving? Oh, you need to get all this done first.” It’s a familiar drill to anyone who’s ever resigned and moved on.
But it’s ok. It’s all part of tying things off and getting ready for the next stage. Besides, I have an extra bounce in my step (make that two) because A). I can see the finish line and B). I’ve gotten some wonderful recommendations on my work.
Aside from getting a juicy cash bonus, how much better could this get?
OK, I admit, the work load means I haven’t made much progress word-count wise on the novel but I’ve grabbed some amazing insights about my character. I guess it helps to lie awake on a Sunday night trying to think about anything but the pile of work waiting for you Monday morning. Sounds silly but just take a moment to think about your favorite characters and why they resonate for you.
For me, it’s the 5th Harry Potter book that hits home because that’s when Harry became really annoying. Typical teenage boy, incapable of controlling his temper, wracked by hormones, and completely self-centered. In fact, Harry’s character got so irritating, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue the series.
I just wanted to smack that kid silly.
I can’t speak for J K Rowling but I imagine that was precisely the reaction she wanted to elicit.
Now my character is not a teenager (although he does have a teenaged niece who sulks and stomps around a lot because she’s ‘misunderstood’) but he’s made some choices that have really locked him into a less than ideal situation. These are not bad choices but ones we can all recognize. For some of us, they will hit a little too close to home.
2+ more weeks and this can finally start falling into place. I can’t wait.
