So, I've been sitting here staring at my blank Friday Fricassee screen--because I keep slipping into the world of my WIP, thinking through plot elements and specific scenes. That's a good sign, right? When we're so engaged in our stories that they creep into our thoughts when we don't mean for them to.
Actually, those tend to be the moments that contain the most potentially brilliant revelations, yes? I just had one of those--a soft-gasp-inducing "oh I actually should do it THIS way!" moment. And for several heartbeats, the universe made more sense.
I love being a writer!
Eons ago, when I was working on the revise-and-resubmit Josh asked me for, I was absolutely stuck on something. (Yeah, I don't even remember what it was.) In the kind of despair that only we writers understand, I sat halfway up our front stairs in a weak patch of sunlight and rested my head on the wall, eyes closed.
(Can't you just FEEL the melodrama?)
Yet, in that moment of utter lostness, the solution to my sticking point flashed into my brain without any effort on my point. It was suddenly...there. I opened my eyes, amazed. Without even THINKING or TRYING or DOING ANYTHING AT ALL, I had come up with the solution to my problem.
And, yes, I went on to finish the revision, send it to Josh, and the rest is history.
I know you have similar stories. And I want to hear them today! Share your weird, writerly brain experiences--the ways in which you figured things out without trying, or perhaps without even realizing what you were doing. The odd moments in the shower or on the dentist's chair or perhaps even in your sleep, when you've suddenly and inexplicably worked out something brilliant.
Or even not-so-brilliant. Because sometimes it's the small things that make a difference. But then, those small things can be pretty brilliant, too.
Looking forward to hearing your authorly a-hah moments!
I figure out solutions to plot holes in my novels a lot while I'm at the grocery store. It has happened several times. I think this means I need to buy food more. Or maybe just write the entire first draft sitting right there in the produce section.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I think my brain just needs to be untangled, and doing the normal frees is up to untangle itself!
The solutions to plot or character problems never come right when I need them, it's like your subconscious or your muse makes you suffer a little first before you discover them.
ReplyDeleteI have had random fun plot ideas though while driving (and listening to favorite songs in the car maybe increases the likelihodd). I have had to pull over to the side of the street to jot the idea down before I forgot! Also while walking - never go on a walk without a pen! You can at least write on your hand. One penless time I had to repeat the idea over 10 times out loud so I would be sure I wouldn't forget it before I got home.
I get ideas on walks, doing housework, in the shower--anything that keeps my hands and feet busy and leaves my mind free to wander. Most of all, I love when I'm writing dialogue and a character nonchalantly says something that makes me say, oh, I didn't know that about you, and it takes the plot in a whole new direction.
ReplyDeleteI totally had a moment like this yesterday! I'm doing an R&R and I was trying to explain to a friend why I wanted to perserve the strangeness of a super strange character. I had been trying to figure out how to better explain him so he's easier to digest, but I was kind of just rambling trying to get her to understand what he is before I told her what the problem was. And out of the blue, I thought, "Well, I guess I could just do this and that. That would ground those scenes some more if nothing else." It was so simple, I can't believe I hadn't thought to put those things into the story before, but that's the way it goes, I guess. Needless to say I'm feeling a lot better about things now!
ReplyDeleteSometimes I'll write until I get stuck, and then I go take a shower. Something about the warm water and just standing there often gets me unstuck. I also find if I take a short nap, like ten to fifteen minutes, I'll wake up with the idea I was looking for.
ReplyDeleteThere was this one novel I was working on and the MMC was driving me crazy. I couldn't figure out his motivation and so his actions weren't making any sense. I was working at a bookstore at the time and one day I was covering a break at the register and the store was dead and there was literally nothing to do so I was kind of walking around straightening things that didn't need to be straightened and BOOM. I looked up and, with what I am positive was the creepiest smile ever, said out loud (in a total Darth Vader impersonation), "You have a sister." And then I looked around to make sure no one had overheard/seen my bizarrely acted out revelation. But everything for the character clicked into place after that :)
ReplyDeleteI'd finished one MS and was going through the query-rejection process, depressed and frustrated because not only was my novel not getting any nibbles (and it was a good novel; I still believe it), but I couldn't commit to any new concepts to work on. I had begun and rejected half a dozen novel hooks; none of them were grabbing me.
ReplyDeleteI volunteered to go in to work early one day to get a project done for a client. Super-early. Irresponsibly early. The roads were empty on the drive to work and all that kept my eyes open was the blaring rock music and the smell of my morning coffee. And as I was sitting at a red light on a deserted intersection, suddenly a dozen different micro-ideas fell into place in my head, synthesizing themselves into an amazing and unique hook. Suddenly the world made sense. I knew what to write. I knew what I needed to do. Then (I'm not making this up), the light turned green, and I hit the gas.
That was a year ago. I'm in the final editing stages now, preparing to query that MS.
It seems as though I've become (am becoming!) more spiritual when it comes to my writing process these days. Because my life is wildly busy...working part-time, being a (mostly) stay-at-home mom. I'm at home but I'm working my ass off writing. I'm in the community teaching kids and doing workshops and readings...when I make time (or it magically uncovers itself for me) to work on my poetry or novel, I find I need to burn some sage to give my space some calmness. I ask a question of a deck of angel cards...and I typically end up 'giving up' my worries about the plot, where the money will come from, and how to fit it all in - I 'give it up' to the angels...or the air or to god or to love...whatever the necessary word or feeling is most prevalent. When I do that...I find I can face the screen, the glaring cursor, and the plot with a deep, trusting freedom. And sometimes that means just sitting and waiting...trusting my writer's instinct, trusting the characters to tell me what they need or where to go. This is how I've been able to finish and edit my novel. I have great faith in it, and I love every painstaking moment it's taking to get it out of my heart. I have big dreams that are trailing behind it like tin cans behind a convertible whale car at a wedding...but right now it's about the process and the sage, the cards and the chocolate are helping me through.
ReplyDeleteSo I'm self-employed. Which people always respond to with, "It must be nice to work in your pajamas." But aside from that time I was finishing a novel and was wayyyy too excited so I pulled two all-nighters in a row, I don't work in pajamas: I always shower and dress for the day. And the reason is what you outlined here.
ReplyDeleteEvery morning when I step in the shower, ideas appear and flow through me effortlessly. Everything comes together. It's beautiful. When I step out and get dressed, those ideas marinate. By the time I've reached my home office, the best ones have floated to the top and are waiting to be written.
The muse is a beautiful thing.
So I'm self-employed. Which people always respond to with, "It must be nice to work in your pajamas." But aside from that time I was finishing a novel and was wayyyy too excited so I pulled two all-nighters in a row, I don't work in pajamas: I always shower and dress for the day. And the reason is what you outlined here.
ReplyDeleteEvery morning when I step in the shower, ideas appear and flow through me effortlessly. Everything comes together. It's beautiful. When I step out and get dressed, those ideas marinate. By the time I've reached my home office, the best ones have floated to the top and are waiting to be written.
The muse is a beautiful thing.