That's Bailey.
I don't really have anything to blog about. I keep thinking about the WIP, but the problem is - I'm lost. I'm not interested. Bebo says it's going pretty good, but I don't feel it. I've been reading a lot of blogs lately about writing what you want, not to the market. I've always felt that what I wrote fit both of those criteria. I read Blaze's, so I'll write a Blaze. And that's okay - I don't think that's the problem. I think the problem is the WIP, I'm not into it. What do I know? I know that I'm a writer. I know that my fingers itch to hit those keys, to get into that groove, rhythm, zone - whatever you call it, where the words flow. It's addictive. I've been there before, I've felt that high - but not with this book. Every word is like pulling teeth. I don't know where it's going. Don't say plot, because I can't. My mind is blank, empty. There isn't anything there - I don't know what this book is, what I want from it. I'm not sure I even like the characters, their motivations. Nothing, and I mean nothing, is talking to me. I think what I need to do is step back, pull out some other unfinished stuff - see if I can find that missing spark. I know that there have been others who have gone through the same thing and struggled on, actually finishing a decent product. But what do you do if even the thought of working on it puts you to sleep? Do you keep working on something that isn't going anywhere? Something without the passion? I know that I need to stay with one thing; I know that switching in midstream isn't a good thing. Sorry this isn't making any sense. Look at the title - I'm rambling folks. No maps for this ping-pong journey through my mind.
31 comments:
i always reach a couple of points when i get sick of the story i'm working on. SICK and BORED to death with it!
sometimes it helps me to just skip to a scene i want to write. sometimes i need time away from it. sometimes i have to find something in a scene or that act of the book that inspires me again.
I have been where you are more times than I care to think about.
Unfortunately for me, if I don't feel the spark, I drop the WIP. I've done this twice when the story was up to 75K words. Hard to do, but at the time, there was no way I could continue. Quite often I end up taking pieces of those cast off WIPs and using them in something else. I think this is why I try to have two WIPs going all the time, it helps keep me fresh and interested.
When I'm struggling with the WIP I usually start something fresh and short, something that still keeps the imagination going while at the same time exercising the writing muscle.
If you have other unfinished work, it might be a good idea to have a look at some of that, as you say. It'll do the same trick. And while your mind is actively working on that, your subconscious will be trying to work out where to go with the other.
Good luck.
I agree, swapping over to something else can really help. I usually have a couple of shorts on the go and move over to them if I get stuck. It doesn't work all the time, but when it does it refreshes me, kick starts me on the original, and I'm still moving forward.
I love your kitty! I used to have a visiting neighbours cat called Smudge and he looked very similar. Smudge used to spend all day with me while his owner was at work. ;-) The problem arose when his owner called to collect for charity one evening and the cat shot in and sat in front of my fire, washing himself. Owner was aghast, and I didn't know where to look. ;-)
Anne and Saskia - thanks for dropping by, and for your comments.
Anne - I've skipped scenes. I have two scenes written that take place later. It didn't work, except to make me want to start up from those scenes and not go back to where I left off.
Rene - I know, and your blogging about them has made me feel better about what I'm going through - how I'm not alone with this problem.
Diane - Thanks. And I think I may have already figured this one out.
Saskia - And the owner had a problem with this? I think it's cute, and I would think it was great that someone was watching out for my cat while I was at work.
Eve, maybe you just need to step back and look at working on something else for a while. Bailey is CUTE!!! Thank you for posting his picture!! I'm sure everything will work out. Just take a break form it and then you'll have fresh eyes looking at it!! Hoping for you!!
Eve! That's the story of my life! LOL
Rambling Rose
Travelin' Trina
Journeying Jena
Jetting Justine
Globetrotting Gerty
All over, all around
Waiting for my feet
to touch the ground.
All that I see
All that I hear
Sooner or later
Comes back to me
And so too, this will pass,Eve.
Happy prolific Saturday!
iwi
OH! And I put a better link to Mel on my other site so you could see the hottie that Brandy was telling you about, OK?
Brandy - and Bailey knows he's cute. Yep, stepping back a little seems to be the thing to do ... or not - more tomorrow.
City Chickie - you have such a unique way of putting things. I love it. On my way over to look at the link. Thank you sweetie.
Y'all, I think I have it figured out, but I still want your perspective on the subject - you might give me something else to think about.
It sounds to me like you’re experiencing growing pains as a writer, Eve. What I mean is that you’ve probably evolved in some way--perhaps your interests or your writing style, etc. have changed--and this story is still stuck in your previous state of mind. (I know what I mean, but not sure I’m making it clear here. LOL) For the present, I wouldn’t waste any more time or effort on this story, Eve, because you’ve lost interest and you’d just be spinning your wheels and going nowhere. You can drag it out again at some point in the future when you find yourself suddenly thinking about it again. You might wake up in the middle of the night with new ideas about how the hero would work better if you gave him ABC characteristic and the heroine would be more interesting if you changed XYZ about her personality. Or if, perhaps, you threw a monkey wrench into the plot to stir things up a bit and add some spice and excitement. You can’t force this to happen. It will just happen when the time is right for you to work on this story again. Until then, let it go.
Personally, I work on more than one manuscript at a time. Just the mere mention of doing this makes some writers shudder, and I know it doesn’t work for everyone, but it’s great for the way I’m wired. Whenever I get writer’s block or wonder what in the hell I was thinking when I started writing a boring, lackluster manuscript, I’ll shift to another story. I might choose something I’ve already been working on or I might decide to barge in to something brand new. In any case, it gets me out of the writing doldrums and sparks my muse. Soon I’m feeling inspired and the ideas are rolling in faster than I can write them. When I return to the original manuscript, I have a whole new perspective and the ideas just flow.
As writers we spend long hours each day creating. If we’re not truly happy with what we’re doing, our work reflects it--our life reflects it. You need to find what makes you happiest, Eve--what makes you feel most alive when you write. What do you feel like writing? Forget writing for the market or writing what you think will be popular with readers. The story won’t work unless your heart and soul are evident on every page. You need to find what makes you bubble with enthusiasm inside--what makes your fingers itch to get at that keyboard and pound out a kick-ass story. Then write it.
How do you discover that? Ask yourself what you like to write when you don’t feel pressured to create a great novel. What voice do you use in your blog posts or in your comments on other blog posts-or when writing emails or chatting with friends or family? What voice comes through easiest, effortlessly and most often? Whatever it is, it’s probably close to your natural writer-self and that’s the voice you should turn to when sitting down to write that novel. Until you’ve found your own distinct natural writer voice, it’s tough as hell to create a sparkling story, because it isn’t really you, but, rather, it’s somebody you feel you should be in order to produce a marketable manuscript.
Yikes! Sorry, Eve, I got carried away and ended up posting a damn short-story-length comment here--LOL--but I get passionate about this subject. I just hope to hell that some of it makes sense to you and anybody else who reads it. Keep in mind I’m writing this at 6:30 in the morning before I’ve had that first cup of coffee. :-0
What Daisy said ;-)
No seriously, normally I'd say, stick at it work through it, we all get bored with certain scenes (usually because they're the wrong scenes, not necessary ect), but maybe you're better than the original story now. Maybe you need to go out and play with the bigger boys ?
I heard they are making lots of changes to the Blaze line in terms of taking more chances ect--maybe you want to do the same???
I'll jump in and say you need a new view. Something to stir the pot, shake up your world & renew your interest in your story.
I get feeling like this when I'm doing revisions. I second guess what I've done, what the motivations are, if the ARC is strong enough, blah, blah, blah.
Maybe you need to do some critiquing so that you can get your mind working on something else for awhile, but still keep your edge?
Bailey looks like a Bailey! Cutie pie!
I was agreeing with you and wishing you luck. Sorry if it looked like I was teaching you to suck eggs.
Wow! Daisy's advice was a humdinger!
Mind if I borrow it?
I'm glad she took the time to write a large comment. Advice like that can't be shortchanged.
Awesome post and responses.
Mine was the only weird one.
*sigh*
I think City Chickie is making a name for herself: Odd Duck
BUT, If I quack you up, then it's worth it. Humor feeds the muse too.
Eve, I'd normally advise you to stick with it. I think all mss have points at which the writer thinks "this sucks...it's boring...wth am I doing, where is this going?"
But if you're really, really, REALLY that totally uninvolved with it, it might be best to try something else. A new story always gets my creative juices flowing. And sometimes I'll come back to that ms later and feel like doing it, or extracting part of it for a NEW story.
Love the kitty. :-)
Ack! I hope my post came through. Blogger just died on me.
Nope, it's gone. Sigh. What I said was that I agreed with Daisy -- sounds like growing pains. Don't stop writing, but switch to something else for awhile. You might really have a problem in the ms that needs to be addressed, and some time to clear your mind will help.
I would say that too, work on something else for awhile, maybe ideas for this wip will come to you and thankfully you are not on a deadline so we can see your best effort.
I had another movie night, The Family Stone, Tristen and Isoble, Walk the Line, P & P(the one with Kiera Knightly and Matthew) McFadden)
I'm visiting again after a busy week in the day job, which is why I haven't been around much. What I've read here is such good advice. I've been struggling with my WIP recently too. I think writing must be the most difficult of the creative arts as writers have to create something out of nothing before they can begin to mould what they've written. At times it can be such a struggle. But then, hey presto, it comes right and then the buzz is fantastic. Hang in there, Eve!
You ought to consider writing books Duchess. LOL Wonderful advice even before coffee.
Toni - that's what I'm thinking too.
Meretta - Critiquing - OMG I've got reviews to do - I need to be reading right now! And yes, that's where the idea of the name Bailey came from.
I didn't take it that way Diane - your post of perfect, just reinforced what I was thinking.
City Chickie - your post was great - gave me a laugh and that is always appreciated.
Raine - I was totally uninvolved in it - noticed the emphasis on the word was? More about that tomorrow.
Joely - blogger's hungry. Thanks, but it might not be necessary to switch. ;-)
Christa - saw Tristan + Isolde, didn't care for it. Loved P&P! Walk the Line is on our list. Don't know about The Family Stone (that is, whether we want to see it or not)
It came to me this morning what to do about this, and I'll blog about it tomorrow (since I have nothing to blog about). But let's just say - break out the calamine lotion.
Siobhan - I'm glad there was information here that might help you. It is a constant struggle. You hang in there too.
Peggy - that was the problem - I didn't know where the story was going. Can't say anymore about it until tomorrow, but I think it's been worked out. Keep your fingers crossed. (And I remember your problem and I think this is going to be a little bit like that at the end)
Bailey's cute!!
*hugs* I go through that on what seems like the last five manuscripts. Maybe more. I think some of its burn out. Take some time away from it. Write something different. (Its why I started my vice fic...what better research then Crockett pics? *g*) or don't write at all. Read something completely different. Then go back when you've got the itch. Maybe you'll be able to pinpoint what it was that was bugging you and be able to change it. Or just leap ahead.
And if you've got the drive to write scenes way ahead, do it. :o) No rule that you have to write in order. I certainly don't! lol
Eve, hugs! I think it happens to every writer. Sometimes I had to plug on when it was a bit hard to go back to a particular ms, but if it's like pulling teeth, I'd probably try another project. Best of luck!
I know I'm the least reliable person to give writing advice--at least on a novel. However, when I had to write essays and my mind was tied up in knots or blank and I couldn't get anywhere, I'd just go and do something else entirely for a couple of days. I think it may be a little bit like having dear friends visit for a few weeks. You love them, enjoy their stay, but at some point you just want to be by yourself and not have to think about them for a while.
I guess you could write just anything interesting that comes to mind, or go somewhere with your mom (if that's feasible). Maybe you can take out a former manuscript and tweak it a little to see if will work better.
What I think is that you need a change of scene in some way or other. You've gone through a lot and to any loss there are a number of stages of grieving. Perhaps subconsciously that's what you're still doing.
Hugs and prayers still go your way.
Ruby - I think the grieving has something to do with it - but only in the exhaustion side of things. I don't have a lot of energy - sleep around 4 hours a day. It's a fight (and I'm not just talking about the grief over what I've lost lately, but of what I'm losing with mother). But I've got a different perspective on this thing, so we'll see.
I'm actually going to try and go to bed early tonight.
Bailey is just gorgeous!
Saskia - And the owner had a problem with this? I think it's cute, and I would think it was great that someone was watching out for my cat while I was at work.
Eve, I think the owner felt betrayed, like her cat had been having an "affair." LOL
Nope, still wouldn't bother me - after all, I would be the one it was coming home with. LOL
Eve FWIW I've been there and I know how hard it sucks to write something your heart isn't in to.
In terms of something that WAS working but isn't now, for me, it usually indicates a problem like er, a plot problem or er, characterization *Ouch!* With the second BCC novella I had both problems, one I solved before I sold it, the other I solved after.
Take a break from it, but also try some free writing about whatever the problem is you're having iwth it. If it's just something your heart ain't in to then walk away. Every bit of writing is a learning experience, even when we hit a dead end.
That's how I'm looking at it. If this doesn't work, at least I will have more writing "experience" under the ol' belt.
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