Take a good look at the dude in the picture. Okay, did you look? Well, does he look familiar? No? Maybe just his expression, that savage hatred as he screams at the computer. As soon as I saw that picture I thought, 'Hey! He must be a writer like me!' LOLThis is the way I've felt lately. The last few days it's been hell trying to get anything written in my WIP. I kept asking myself why? Why am I hitting this wall every single time I try to write a few sentences? Then yesterday it hit me. I'd written myself into a corner. I couldn't get onto the next chapter because the two previous chapters were a friggin' mess. So I sat down and started
revising and revising...and revising. I spent the entire day redoing the screw up. Once I had it fixed, it was like a light bulb went off in my head. I started to write and ended up getting 13 pages written. YES! Finally, I'm back on track and this story is starting to make me proud again. Oh, I know what you're thinking. You're thinking so today is going to be another 13 pages, right? Wrong. It's Spring Break so my kids are off school. LOL
revising and revising...and revising. I spent the entire day redoing the screw up. Once I had it fixed, it was like a light bulb went off in my head. I started to write and ended up getting 13 pages written. YES! Finally, I'm back on track and this story is starting to make me proud again. Oh, I know what you're thinking. You're thinking so today is going to be another 13 pages, right? Wrong. It's Spring Break so my kids are off school. LOLWhy does this always happen? Just when you get your head all straightened around, all you want is to write and write and write, but life gets in the way. Eh, that's okay, I'll find time later. Today and tomorrow are for my kids. We've been waiting for these two days to come for months now. My youngest daughter has the day all planned out, too. First the park, then we're going to do some shopping. Tomorrow more shopping and the movies. Yeah, the manuscript can wait a bit. My kids come first.
The good news is, I know what I want to write. The scene is once again in my head and the jumbled mess has been cleared away. Whew.
10 comments:
I had that problem with WIP about an American in Canada trying to drive the ice roads, I tried to rewrite the first 3 chapters to suit an editor I pitched to. I struggled for 2 months, each new chapter was agony and I hated it, every minute of it. The chapters were junk! A critiquer said they had to much back story, etc. One day I told myself enough, if this editor doesn't like it the old way all she can do is reject it and I'll move on to the next editor. I used good parts from the new version to improve the old and sent that to the editor. She gave me a glowing rejection, and I sent to the next editor. Life did get in the way since then, and I'm only on chapter 11, but I feel much better about the story and my ability to tell it.
I tried to rework a story for an editor once. She wanted it longer. I tried so hard to make it longer. It just wasn't working though. It was crap once I added in the new scenes. I thought long and hard about it and decided to send the story elsewhere, the earlier shorter version. The new place loved it as is. I was thrilled because I did too! :)
Sometimes you just have to take a step back. When the story is ready, you won't be able to stop!
Breathe, Anne. Keep at it; take some time for yourself and your family and relax a little.
Or try to write something totally different; it may jump-start the creative juices??
LOL, I had the same problem about writing myself into a corner the other day. My CP called me and we chatted on the phone. She asked a couple questions and the proverbial light bulb went on. Of course! the solution was so obvious! (Except to me at the time that was.) I guess sometimes we get so into the story we can't see the trees, let alone the forest, we're so focused on one branch.
And LOL about the kids bringing your writing progress to a screeching halt. Been there, done that. But even if you don't have kids to stop you, there's always something. I booted up my computer today after having a couple great days writing, and the power in my office went off. Not a fuse. We have to get in an electrician. On the long Easter weekend. yeah, not going to happen. Thank heavens for my laptop!
I KNEW you were in agony over this and I had to SMILE when I read your post. Aren't those LIGHT BULB MOMENTS wonderful? I mean, we just know when something isn't working. The key for me is to relax. I'll often do some mindless chore like folding laundry, and it'll come to me.
Leah is right too. Sometimes just talking it over with a friend can help you unravel it. If she's a good critique partner, she'll ask the right questions.
Take the day off with no worries. You'll pick the thread up again.
I've done that before. It's really frustrating but I'm glad you figured out what it was so you can move on. 13 pages is great. Congrats.
Molly--you are SO right!
Leah--I hate distractions. I have this vision of someday going away to a cabin, alone, a laptop computer and nothing else. LOL
Regina--Thank YOU so much for letting me bellyache to you! I was going slowly nuts, I swear!
Kelley--Thanks, Kell. Now, if I could just do 13 pages every day. LOL Yeah, right!
You know what they say "life is what happens when you try to follow all your carefully laid plans" I have half a story on paper, but can't find the time to finish. When I do get time away from the "real job" (it pays the bills)I can't seem to choose the right path for my characters to take. Then life interferes again, and I back burner it. I will get back to it one of these days, but who knows when.
Yup, the kids come first.
I am at a dead end and that is exactly what I am doing to get out of it. Best of luck.
Nancy--I have a few on my computer that had great starts, then nothing. I hate that.
Mary--This morning I re-read the stuff I'd fixed as well as the new pages and I'm thrilled to say it works! I'm back on track! Crossing my fingers you will be too!
Post a Comment