Call of the Wild
I’ve been jammed up for a while and the words just aren’t coming. I’ve whined and complained. Bitched and moaned. I can’t seem to get what I envision in my head on to the page for my story.
While I’ve been trying to focus on the WIP that I need to finish, my muse has gotten bored. (“Marneeee…. I’m Boooorrreed.”) She’s snapping her gum, texting her friends, and complaining about the lack of selection on her Ipod. All at the same time. She’s easily distracted, you know.
As a result, while I’ve been basking in the blahness that has become my writing, I’m being tempted by other stories.
All kinds of different things have been traipsing through my head. A contemporary about a mercenary. A paranormal about werewolves and a paranormal about organ transplant. A YA about ghosts that I’ve been percolating for months now. The little brat must love her some teenage soccer players because I even entertained an idea about that at one point.
But what I really need is some additional creative juice for this story.
I try to reason with her. I tell her that if I just finish this story, I’ll write whatever she pleases next. A YA about a soccer playing ghost who gets an organ transplant and becomes a mercenary? Whatever. Just please please get me through this one now. (Ok, so it wasn’t reasoning; it was begging. Don’t judge.)
So what do you think, wenches and lad? To allow a distraction when you’re stalled in your WIP or not? Do you follow where the muse leads, even if you’re sliding down the hill to the finish line? Or do you power it through, dragging that bitch along by her messy ponytail? (Sorry, not to make it about my muse again….)
Suggestions?
Books by the Crew
58 comments:
Well, I'm gonna recommend threatenin' the little tart with some splash time wit' the Kraken. But I never been good wit' children...
What do I do when a distraction slips me way? I go wit' it fer a little while. At any given time, I gots 2 or 3 storylines on me laptop at a time. I find when I stall on one, I get ta another. This don't always work... I been waylaid too long and find me memory deserts me when I needs ta get back. And it only works if'n yer not on a deadline, obviously.
All in all, I recommend the Kraken, Marnee. I find 'is threatenin' presence does wonders fer motivating both muses and silencing inner critics.
Marnee, I read somewhere that women are good at multi-tasking. Their brains are highly effective parallel processing engines. But men are more like serial computers. You know, one thing at a time.... and usually the same thing. Don't think I can't see you grinning Sin!
I think you should conform to psychological theory and indulge your muse. Make notes of new ideas until that avenue of creativity is exhausted then go back to the boring polishing.
I always obey my muse. She is wonderful to me when happy but a boring old grouch if I defy her. Come to think, that also applies to other ladies in my life :wink:
Just read Chance's entry. I see that she is busy parallel processing, conforming to theory. Not sure I approve of throwing things to Krakens though. Isn't that a bit blood thirsty? :shock:
Sorry to miss your daring blog of yesterday. If you should resurrect that theme I might have a few dares for you! *grin*
It never hurts to take a break. Go play soccer or kill people for a while, then come back. Everything in the old WIP will be sparkly and shiny like Christmas, and you will say, "Damn! Who wrote this fu---fabulous book?" As long as you're not on a deadline, indulge your Muse. She'll thank you in the end and share her fruit-flavored lip gloss with you.
Ah, this happens to every one of us. I do take breaks, and when I do, I usually gobble up as many books in my genre (historical) until the muse strikes again. (I do not read my genre while I'm writing or editing, just can't for some weird reason) When you are feeling satisfied with the readings and ready for writing the story again... Drag the bitch by the ponytail! LOL
I'm with Maggie... if you aren't on a deadline... indulge away! Write the other stories, shut the comp for a few days, do something that makes you feel better.... Chocolate is always good! LOL Eat lots of chocolate, but then it'll be you who has to play soccer not the characters.
You know me, the no muse person. I'd say ignore her, take her cell away, or just drag her by her hair to where you want to go. But that's just me. :)
I do agree on the "write down all the details of the stories she's telling you she wants to tell" advice. Get it down on paper, establish even tiniest foundation, then you're usually able to go back to the work at hand. That works for me anyway. Of course, I'm not sure where I've put all this information now, but still, I know I have it written somewhere. LOL!
Morning ladies and gent. :)
Chance - the Kraken huh? I'm afraid if I tossed her in that she'd never swim back. Then I'd really be screwed. :) But you give me hope with the 2-3 MS on your laptop at once.
Q - There's research that proves that women can multi-task and men aren't as good at it? That's great! See, I knew I was on to something. This explains so much. Like how I can't give my DH more than one thing to do at once or he gets all flustered.
What'd they say explains that anyway?
Maggie - I think I've said something like, "who wrote this fu-fabulous thing" before. LOL!!
And perhaps I should be more indulgent. I find having the teenage dictator along for my writing travels a bit irritating sometime, but I'd probably be lost without her.
Tiff - I've been reading some, in my genre, but I can always use recommends. Anyone read any good paranormal lately that they'd like to rave about?
Ter - LOL! that's just like me too. I write stuff down and lose it or I'll write it down and later come back and say, what the hell was I talking about?
But I think maybe I'll see about that, check out and see if anything else jumps out at me. :)
As the newbie writer I am, I haven't gotten to this place in my writing yet. BUT, I already have 4-5 stories sketched out on paper and in my head.
I find that each story calls to me when I'm in a different emotional phase and then I think/work more on the outline for that particular book.
Now, that might be horrible - as evidenced by the fact I'm barely into writing my very first draft, but it seems to me that writing down the stories that your muse is filling your head with can't be a bad thing.
I agree with Maggie - you'll look at your WIP with new eyes and inspiration might strike while your mind isn't overwhelmed with the details of that story.
I tend to work on other things once I stall out or I get new music. I've been getting a lot of music lately (my newest love is Parabelle) but I find usually what brings me back is music that I've loved for a long time. If I try to drag my muse back by her messy ponytail then we have a cat fight and my writing doesn't profit from that. So I just try to go with the flow. I yoga when I feel like I'm losing focus. I rock out when the muse has me down. I rest when the muse keeps me up until dawn and I have to work in an hour. For me, writing has to be about flow. And even though you don't always mesh, you have to flow with one another.
But we all know I've yet to finish my manuscript *shrug* so I dunno.
I can see lots of random late night drives in my future when my muse won't cooperate!
Question Marnee - where or what usually inspires you?
For instance, I have a long commute back and forth to work and I usually find that's when my imagination takes off and I think of new ideas or write dialogue in my head. Yes, I had dialogue written in my head before I ever put a word on paper. Silly girl that I am.
If there is something/place that usually lets your mind get imaginative, then do that and see what happens. Just step away from the computer and figure out how to let your muse relax and flow freely for a bit.
The New Yorker published an article on writer's block several years ago in which the writer of the article discussed the work of a psychologist who thought "transcranial magnetic stimulation" might end the malady: “It may soon be possible to ward off depression and at least some types of writer’s block by holding a magnetic wand over a precise location on our skulls.” Would that it were that easy!
I too think Maggie's suggestion of getting away from the work can be helpful. I find listening to music and people watching helpful.
Sometimes my ideas stop clamoring for my attention long enough for me to get back to work if I sketch out a plot.
But taking a break can be good, too. I recommend reading, too.
Holly Lisle posted about this a while ago, too. She said she let herself write on the new, exciting idea one day a week (she was on a deadline for the other thing and it was going really slowly).
She met her writing quota really fast on the day she let herself write about her exciting idea. But then she also started beating her quota when working on her main work, too. Working on something she was more passionate about got her writing more all together.
My muse is on some beach in Mexico with a cabana boy, and refuses to come home *g* (but then, I wouldn't either, so who can really blame her?)
I'm getting lots of cool other ideas too. I'm jotting them all down, but trying not to think about them. Though Jordan, that sounds like an awesome plan to write the exciting stuff one day a week. Keeps you inspired, yet still moving forward.
Just this morning, I got a great idea for a regency (though I'm sure it's been done a gazillion times before), and an idea for my next thriller. But I desperately want to finish the MS I'm working on so I'm just jotting down the ideas and trying not to dwell on them (too much) *g*
Sabrina - I used to get a lot of good ideas while I was driving. My mom lived across PA, so I had at least 5 hrs in a car. But she moved to FL last year so I don't drive very far these days.
I don't know what gets my ideas going recently. Movies? Music? Just watching people. Maybe I need a trip to the mall....
Sin - Maybe that's what my muse and I need: a good old fashioned hair pulling cat fight. I try to make do with a lot of eye rolls and barely concealed nagging but maybe I just need to get in her face. LOL!!
And music has been helping, I think. I think....
"maybe I need a trip to the mall" - LOL! Yes!! We officially have an excuse!
Janga - a magnet to the brain to get me going again? Sign me up!! :) But that suggestions it's something physical, doesn't it? I'm guessing this is more an emotional blockage, honestly.
Sorta swimming in a big pool of "meh" these days. :)
Jordan - I like this idea! One day a week to let myself get away from myself. Instead of every day these past few weeks. :) But keeping it in control instead of letting the muse run free and crazy, out partying all the time.
Hal - Any room in that cabana? LOL!
And I think my ideas just sound exciting because they're NOT what I'm currently working on. I bet they stink all by themselves. LOL!
And like we need an excuse to hit the mall. :)
I'm sure you're right. If I went to work on any of these other ideas, I'd stall out there too. Now it just take sheer will-power and determination.
Uh oh.
I'm not sure I have enough of either of those things!
I would say indulge her. Dragging her by the pony tail does work if you're doing this with EVERY manuscript you start; however, you have finished a previous manuscript and you are almost done with this one.
Go ahead and indulge a few chapters of the Shiny, New, Perfect Story--because I can guarantee by about chapter 4, the Muse is going to realize that story isn't as perfect and shiny and wonderful as she thought either and she'll gladly trot back to your current WIP, ready to work. The problem with shiny new ideas is that they all seem easier, better, et al, than the current idea...and that's clearly not true. But we can't imagine any idea being more problematic than the story we're writing now...so we refuse to believe it. *LOL*
I like the reading/watching movies.
hellie - "But we can’t imagine any idea being more problematic than the story we’re writing now…so we refuse to believe it. *LOL*"
SO true!
I gots a friend who takes long bus rides and her plottin' problems fall inta place as she stares out the windows... Drivin' works fer some. I get me best ideas doin' whatever lacks focus. Walkin', ridin' in the car, drivin' (oops, did I say lacks focus? Nevermind... I do pay attention when drivin', really!)
And, 'course, as I prepare fer bed and as I wake up. Come ta think a' it, lots a' me ideas come when I'm sprawled on the bed. Hmmmmm!
I can't imagine the difficulties a' dealin' with a teenage muse... Which is why the Kraken works fer me! Ya could teach yer muse ta swim, Marnee!
Q - Always knew women could multitask and men couldn't. Tryin' ta ask me DH somethin' when he's watchin' tv... Oblivious! but when ya can get that concentration on the right thing... ;)
Go 'head, dare me! After givin' up chocolate I can do ANYTHING!
Marnee, I haven't read the book, but based on the article, the psychologist's argument is that all writer's block has a physical cause. It starts in the brain. She sees the mind and the brain as one. Her argument doesn't leave much room for elusive or stubborn muses. It's an interesting idea, but I prefer my image of an ethereal being who whispers ideas at her will. :)
Janga, so would she say that writer's block is probably something more that stems for depression, maybe? (Even mild depression?) I know depression is thought of as a mental thing, but there are so many physical effects people are not aware of.
You know, Marnee, the best way to silence the beast is to indulge the character who's jumping up and down screaming, "Me! Me! Write me!" and start writing the story. You'll get out what you need to, then that same character who was bugging you for attention will slink away because the characer realizes: it's not going to be all fun and I'm going to have to tell her (meaning you) things. Then, you can you return to the main story.
My theory is that this book of Marn's--which everyone who's read it has raved about--is so much darker and more emotional angst than she's used to pouring onto the pages. I think getting into our character's psyches--even though they're made up--has a really real physical effect on us mentally and physically. It's almost like being around a friend or relative who is so emotionally draining, the way they suck up your resources to deal with them that you finally start avoiding them just so you don't have to deal with their problems. You need to be recharged so you can deal with them.
Marn needs a vacation and she needs to drink more.
Ugh on my typos!
I believe writer's block is just you trying to work things out in your wip.
After reading Hellion's comment @1:01 p.m., I will add this, Marnee. When you write something that takes you somewhere new as a writer, it will freak you out and cause major doubts. You'll want a "safe" ground (Virgos, sigh), but push past it and really allow yourself---give yourself the freedom and okay---to write the story. At the end, you'll be a different and better writer.
My ideas usually show up as I'm falling asleep and my plotting works best while I'm driving.
Chance - I say driving is mindless for me all the time, but it depends where I am and what's going on around me. When I do my roadtrips to Knoxville, I'm cruising down I-40 at around 80mph for hours on end. The mind can wonder off then and plot away. When I'm driving here in town, totally different story. Must drive defensively around these nutcases. LOL!
I think these are great ideas, and I'm taking notes. I have been feeling meh, about my story, too. But the last time I had my finger hovering over the delete key, Devin stood up and said, "Hell, no. If you delete us I don't ever get to make Sarah see that there is more to me than what she knows."
Aren't you the one with the mantra "Just keep swimming" ?
A good para series that I really enjoy is Alyssa Day's Atlantis series-Atlanteans, shifters, and vampires all in one place.
Di
So, Hellion - Characters are vampires on a psychie?
I actually can dig that. And ya want them ta latch on, because when ya crest that big wave and climb up on that board, take that great dive down into the rushin' water a' gettin' it right... There be nothin' finer in the whole wide world.
How be that fer a California metaphor?
Hal - you definitely have will-power and determination. I love False Move; it's all going to play out great. I promise. :)
Hellie - "But we can’t imagine any idea being more problematic than the story we’re writing now…so we refuse to believe it. *LOL*" This completely hit it on the head.
And your post at 1:01 I think is my biggest problem. (Though the part about the raving is flattering. Thanks, dearie.) I think these characters are more different than I ever would have expected and I've revised so much in the beginning that now they're just where I really need to dig deep and bleed about them and I'm tired.
Ely- in relation, I think you and Hells are right. I'm really digging, pushing myself here and I'm nervous and afraid I don't have it in me or that it's not enough. So I'm avoiding.
I know I need to stop avoiding, that I need to just open up that vein, but I'm sorta waiting to be ready to take that plunge.
*sigh* Sooo tortured am I. And dramatic. *LOL*
PS, Hellie, "Marn needs a vacation and to drink more."
Oh, ain't that the truth? LOL!!
Chance - a bus ride, huh? That's a good idea. Maybe the train would work. I could use another trip to NYC.
Janga - I like the ethereal idea too. Makes it less that it's my fault. I prefer to blame the writing gods than myself, ya know? :)
Di says: "Aren’t you the one with the mantra “Just keep swimming” ?"
You are absolutely right. That is me. This mehness, this isn't the way I usually deal. I persevere better than this, usually.
Maybe I need to take my own advice, huh? :) Quit my floating in the ocean of mehness and get to dog paddling. LOL!!
And thank you for the recommend. Alyssa Day, huh? I'll have to check her out. :)
You're ready. Let go of the perfectionist gene that what you know needs to happen won't happen like you think it needs to. Everything will turn out like it needs to. Have faith.
I think your faith has been shaken at the moment. So I don't know what to tell you to get back out of it. I've been there, and mostly I just wallowed. *LOL* The only thing that got me back to doing it is having my CP there and me going, "Okay, here are the X words I wrote today" and going on. Both the CP and I know I'll be cutting half of the crap I wrote and revising the other half like mad, but I did it and I'm pressing on. And the CP reads it and goes, "This part was really good" which is the motivation I need to keep on keeping on. The reassurance to drown out the inner critics.
But these aren't new tips. *LOL* And sometimes I know you just need a break from the whole damned thing.
Ter -"When I’m driving here in town, totally different story. Must drive defensively around these nutcases. LOL!" LOL! This cracked me up. I can completely relate (I live in NJ, for those unaware. Nots of crazy drivers here. Not me though, of course).
Hellie says, "Let go of the perfectionist gene that what you know needs to happen won’t happen like you think it needs to"
That's good advice. Along with that, I can't revise a blank page advice. :)
And wallowing is fine but it sure as hell isn't getting my story written. :( *sigh* Maybe I do just need to yak up the rest of it, at least for the time being. Clean up the mess later.
So was I finally able to crack out some words this morning, but I know they're crap. I just kept saying "Just write it down, worry about it later." It helped.
But then, like you were talking about Marn, I had this heart wrenching scene where Naomi (heroine) finally realizes that the hero just simply doesn't give a shit about her, and it's all heart wrenching, and I'm just typing thinking, "haven't I put these people through enough? Jeez! I can't take anymore!"
that's where I'm at Marn. Just yak it up :) Wow, we paint such beautiful pictures of the writing process. Vomit it out, yak it up, lol!
As the queen of mulitple drafts and overseer of continual drafts... Jus' get it out and clean it up later. The only way ya'll figure out what ya need ta do is ta do it however ya can ta begin wit'...be it right or wrong. Don't matter. Jus' get it done. Somethin' will be right. From there ya figure out what is wrong and fix it...
LOL! Hal, you and I are a pair. I know EXACTLY what you mean.
Oh, queen of multiple drafts and overseer of continual drafts. I bow down to you. LOL!!
So, vomit it up. Just keep swimming.
My new one: quit your yapping and just get tapping.
Ride the waves, babe. A good clean one is bound ta sweep ya up eventually.
Catchy huh? :)
ah, that one even rhymes!
That's very surfer-y, Chancey girl. Better than the ridiculous fish sound to my "swimming" mantra.
I like it.
Janga, there is no doubt that the head is filled with seething complex patterns of electromagnetic fields. They are observed daily with medical scanners . They are clearly linked with brain activity and firing neural circuits so it seems plausible to postulate that the electromagnetic fields are in some way connected with the nature of mind, so that mind may then be influenced by applied external fields. I'm not saying that this magnetic wand is necessarily effective though!
Chance, A couple of years ago when Mrs Q was in hospital I had to buy her some under wear. I blushed horribly and didn't know where to look when the shop attendant called to her assistant in a loud voice:
"Hey Mildred, fella here wants to see our selection of panties"
I dare you to wear your husbands clothes and a man's cap so that you look masculine as you next go shopping for ladies under ware. See if you blush *grin*
Then try it again waving a magnetic fairy wand. :lol:
I can't help it. We are having the most incredible few days. I don't surf, but love to watch it all from the bluffs near our house. This is such a strange summer...much warmer than we are used to...
And nothin' like the beauty of crashin' waves ta inspire a woman in need a' refreshment. Jus' keep paddlin', jus' keep paddlin'...
I had a comment started then hit the drasted refresh button by mistake. Grrr... What was I saying?
Something about don't knock the Vomit It Out mantra as it's working well for me, even if I'll have a major mess to clean up when I'm done. Seems pointless now to even say it though...
Chance - We're having unseasonable cooler weather here. You must have our heat!
Q - I can't wait until she blogs about that one. Though I doubt she'd blush for one second.
If'n I fit me husband's clothes, I'd take ya up on that dare, Q! I could wear one a' his ratty baseball hats and maybe one a' his t-shirts, but the pants be a non-starter!
And in California, honey... No one would blink twice. Especially in Santa Cruz, where a grown man wanders the downtown dressed as a fairy with a tutu and parasol...never saying a word. When he wasn't there for a week everyone wondered where he was and it made the papers...
Now, this be one a' those fairy magnetic wands talked about a few blogs ago that stimulates the brain? I bet I could find one downtown!
The motto of me county? "Keep Santa Cruz Weird"
We all work very hard at living up to the motto.
I'm off ta see Ice Age 3, crew.
Marnee...relax. Have a double Marneasy on the rocks, extra easy! Kick back and think a' waves and ridin' the curl...
Cowabunga, baby!
Blimey, its a different world over there!
I'm way out of my depth. :shock:
Marneasy with extra easy. LOL! Too funny.
Q - You have no idea.
I sympathize, Marnee. I used to work on one thing at a time and not start anything else until finished. Then I let other stories ideas interfere. I'd start one, stop, work on another, and so on. What I found was that I had (have? :( )several partially written books.
I'd jot down new ideas but push through the book you're working on. Maybe talk it out with someone? Sometimes just saying things out loud starts the old juices flowing again.
Marnee, I usually find reading a book in another genre than what I'm writing helps. I let the writing mind cool, and focus on someone else's writing. I find when I immerse myself in another set of characters my storyline is more fresh when I decide to approach it once more. When I come back to my MS I ask a lot of "what if" questions. I've found when I talk it out with someone, or imagine my characters in an off the wall situation it sometimes makes my muse give a sh**:)
Ice Age 3D has a character that is obviously a pirate... Buck. A weasel with great verve and daring...and a really big knife.
Nice!
Dee - :) I have couple starts myself. :)
I think maybe you might be right. Maybe I need to just try to plug through. Though I'm definitely going to write down the ideas I have.
Lis - I think maybe reading in another genre would be a good idea. Reading in general helps get me grounded, I think.
And putting your characters in an off the wall situation gets her going? Man... Maybe I need to explore that....
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