Tags
brainstorming, Brittney Spears, characters, new novels, outlines, plots, writer's block, writing
Woah, it’s been way too long since I’ve posted.
And do you know why? Because I’m STUCK.
Song is done, and being shredded (I hope!) by betas as I write this. Crown, book the third in this trilogy, is outlined, blurbed, plotted, blueprinted, character bioed, flash carded and noted half to death; ready to go: but I refuse to start that one until I have some sense of whether the first book will actually sell, because writing three books when they all depend on the success of one seems like an awful lot of work I could be aiming toward another potential series.
And oh, do I have a great idea for said potential series…I have characters, and scenes, and a world, and themes, and all sorts of shiny sparkly things. And my MC is great fun, and her sidekick is even greater fun right now.
So why has it been five days since I posted, and longer than that since I’ve written scene number whatever, or picked away at the lovely blank page that is my outline, or even just stared dreamily into the middle distance, pipe puffing pompously, stroking my very beardless chin and contemplating the profound, abiding themes of my novel-to-be?
I have no farking idea.
This is The Next Step. Write something new. Make it compelling, engaging, fun. Gods know I’ve read enough on this subject to make my own list of what works and what doesn’t – and yet. I open the file, I stare at the page; I re-read the scenes I’ve already done, get excited about them; re-read the notes I’ve made, and get excited about them; wander through the internets reading about fireworks, well-digging, mangonels and the like - and by the time I’ve done all that I’m sure this is going to be great, if only I can get one word on the page.
Characters? Got ‘em. They’re a little thin on background yet, but I never have a problem with characters: my books always start there. It’d be nice to know a little more about where they live, what they do, and what they want, though.
Plot? Sketchy at best. What I want is Rembrandt in full technicolor glory, with sound effects and those creepy eyes that follow you wherever you go. What I have is this:
*sigh*
Depressing.
I know what I need to do. I’m certainly not short on instructions about how to get there. But Sword, Song and Crown are still rattling around in my head like kids high on those yard-long pixie sticks, stomping all over my mojo with their flashy-light, retractable-wheel high-top Nikes and singing the latest Spears song so loud that little whisper of inspiration I’ve been listening for gets drowned out by the staggeringly clever refrain “if you seek Amy”.
Argh. Somebody smack me.
smack
I have a scientific proven formula for getting unstuck.
ass + chair = success
*reels backward with red mark on face*
ah, good stuff. thank you, sir.
Oh, the sticky writing blues. I’m having them myself lately and just having to plod through. Part of it is the exhaustion that comes with the end of the semester. But hey, you just came out of surgery, so I can’t complain!
This seems to be going around lately. It isn’t just you! Misery loves company and all that… so let’s bite back, shall we? We should have a gigantic blogger “I’m stuck” fest on Friday or something. Tackle it head on. Beat the crap out of it. Make the motivation / creativity / rainbow poops come out of hiding and kick us in the rear.
Or we could just give ourselves a mental break until after New Years. That keeps sounding better and better all the time.
Hey Amy,
Honestly, I think you’re being way too hard on yourself. You did NaNo, edited it, and then wrote the second draft in *two weeks* while recovering from surgery.
Writing can take a huge emotional and mental toll. After all the hard work you’ve just done, you just may need a little rest.
Hey Nancy!
I’m betting end of semester beats surgery for tiredness! I remember being on the student side: I can’t even imagine being on the teaching side. Yeek.
Sass!
I love the idea. Both of them, actually.
I’m going to look for a Friday Motivator, and if one doesn’t make itself known I’m going to let this new thing stew for a bit. Thanks!
Hi Gypsy!
You’re totally right about the toll: I think one-pass was harder to recover from than having an organ removed!
(or I may just be whining; I am good at that)
Didn’t do NaNo – I wish I could say I had! Every year when it rolls around I am mid-prject, and I end up using it as a motivator to finish, but I’m not cool enough to have that NaNo Winner banner yet. Kudos to all y’all who did!
Hi Amy. Maybe a breather for the holidays, get out and window–people shop may give a bit of a kick.