I’m not sure if my plan is going to work. Yesterday, I worked on a story arc for another story idea that’s been around for a while. I spent far longer than 30 minutes on it and I didn’t get beyond than the set up and inciting incident.
I should probably start on one that I don’t already have any part written out. I ended up taking what I’d already written and trimmed it to 250 words and left it at that. My internal editor had a field day and, of course, once I got to the point where I’d previously stopped writing – SPLAT! Crash and burn, baby. Do not pass go; do not collect $200. There was a complete dead standstill in my brain.
I don’t know why I have a problem with that. I’ve run into it several times now. I’ve hit that same point in the Food Critic story as well. I stopped and now there seems to be a brick wall preventing me from moving forward in the story. On one hand, I suspect it has something to do with how thoroughly I’ve thought through a story. On the other, I haven’t made an explicit agreement with myself to come back to finish it. There’s also the likelihood that something shiny grabbed my attention in the meantime.
However, I need to make sure I try this exercise the way I planned and not give up so easily. Writing exercises done only in your head don’t accomplish anything. My friend, Bria of the Purple Hearts, commented on the previous post that she was learning a lot from me on process. I hope it’s not just lessons in what NOT to do. 🙂
This might be too simplistic…
But have you gotten to that wall and changed POV?
I do that when I hit a wall. Throw a curve, disregard common sense, shred the charts and spreadsheets and timelines…
Good luck.
Love the mouse.
Sending you lots and lots of writerly vibes (did I just actually say vibes?) I sure know that feeling like my head against a board.
Hang in there.
Kimberley,
Thanks so much for them! Vibes or just good thoughts, they were welcome and always appreciated. I’m glad you found your way out of the dark psyche room. I hope the cream puff crumbs and chocolate smears didn’t attract any ants! Hasn’t the moon here over SoCal been amazing this past week?
Morgan,
Sorry, I missed your comment yesterday. That’s what I’d been doing with the novel when I was doing a lot of chat challenges, I’d get stuck and then shift gears. However, with that one, I ran into a wall where doing that wouldn’t work.
The story I was talking about I didn’t really want to write more than maybe 1000 words total. It ended up around 2400. It was also all in one point of view. What I did to get back into it was study the plan I’d laid out, set the timer and just wrote, knowing if I needed to cut anything I could. No one would ever know. In fact, last night before I have it to DH to read, I thought I was going to cut the first three paragraphs I’d put down as momentum building material. DH pointed out I needed that there and I should probably add a bit more with the character’s mom since she was such a major force in the opening.
Thanks for the pep talk, guys! I appreciate it!
Why didn’t my post stick here????
Anyway – NO! I meant it then, I mean it now – not just from what not to do – you have a beautiful, exploratory mind. You challenge new techniques and structures – and I honestly believe when you find your stride and it all becomes second nature and you just let your voice flow you’re going to blow us all away.
Keep it up!
bria