Crossed over to page 50 today. About 14,000 words in. Never got this far before. I need to do a jig of celebration (aka dance of joy).

I felt a bit down today after only getting through 500 words in about two hours. I was distracted by the lovely spring weather and the babies that surrounded me in the coffee-shop, as they tend to do in Takoma Park on a pretty Saturday afternoon. I was also feeling a bit disconnected at this point in the story, and hoped I could get back in the zone again sooner than later.

I’m in a bit of transition point, and I’m feeling a bit impatient on getting to the next plot point, but not finding it easy to get there. Discouraged, I rode my bike home. For no reason at all, I decided to stop in at a cute little vintage store near my apartment. I was blown away, when I saw this sitting in the store window next to a wedding dress from the 1930’s and a white tuxedo jacket:

Omar Khayyam is Helen Martins’ (my protagonist) favorite poet and inspiration for much of her art. This is on page one of my first draft:

And this I know: whether the one True Light, Kindle to Love, or Wrath — consume me quite –Omar Khayyam

Omar Khayyam was a scientist, astronomer, mathematician, writer and poet living in Persia over 900 years ago. I’ve been doing a bit of research on his work, but only finding bits and pieces online.

This is the first time I got my hands on an actual book. And even though I’m on a writer’s budget, I shelled out the $6.50 to buy it. Bringing it home triumphantly, Matt said if it was $40, I should have bought it.

It’s inscribed too:

11/14/46 To Dora, “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” Hope at some time you’ll enjoy reading this book.

From, (can’t read the signature)

Got stuck writing this morning. Then I got distracted by work during non-work hours. Then I got distracted by the lovely weather. Then had a meeting about some new freelance work, which was great, but now I’m feeling off course for the rest of the day and still haven’t written my total 1,000 words. I need to get back on track.

So I ran around the high school track for a bit to gather my thoughts for what comes next in my chapter — at a bit of a transition stage and having trouble getting it to move smoothly. I never could really write late at night. Even during college, I never pulled an all-nighter. I always made sure my papers were done by 9 at the latest. I just feel dumbed down a bit at night. Can’t concentrate after 10. Not sure I’ll be able to meet my goal today, but will try.

Right now.