As good as I think the story I'm writing is, there are moments of murkiness. Uncertainty. Sometimes the horrible knowledge I'm going to take a great idea and make it mediocre.
So, when I'm feeling that way how do I get back to the place where I've got all of my crayons spread out on the desk and can create with abandon? Where I believe I can color outside of the lines and it will be beautiful?
Where I can simply get started?
I have a candle on my desk. That helps.
I listen to The Writers Mind CD. That helps. Or I listen to another CD of my choice. That also helps.
I start typing away until something good happens. That sort of helps.
Now, I have a fire going. That helps.
I also play Free Cell. Yep. There. I said it.
When I begin a game of Free Cell, with the intent of moving on, I tell myself what the plan is when I bring the game up on my computer screen. And at the end? It's like flipping a switch. Peg is on. Focused. Ready.
What do you do? C'mon. You can be honest here.
CR: Absinthe of Malice by Pat Browning.
It's all better with friends.
I start typing any old rubbish and that usually helps get something going. I've also been known to play Spider Solitaire for longer than is good for me. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm just glad to hear I'm not the only one who needs to get a jump-start from time to time . . . oh yeah, and who might be known to waste a little bit of time.
ReplyDeleteFirst, I remain deluded. It's all brilliant!! Not a word will change.
ReplyDeleteBut when something cracks that precious delusion, then I go for a drive. Somewhere pretty with no traffic. I see creepy things happening just outside the cozy confines of my car. And when I get back, magic happens. Or at least the delusion takes hold again :)
Jenny, I know what you mean. I'll be hitting 50,000 words either tonight or tomorrow sometime, and really believe they're awesome and the story is gold.
ReplyDelete(Except for that very brief moment when I went back to read it and do a timeline and see all of the work yet to be done.)
Delusion. It's how we live. On so many levels.
Spider Solitaire. I confess. But I listen to music that goes with what I'm writing, edit what I've written--it's always a puzzle how something that looked so good yesterday can be pure crap today. I have more black moments of my own than my characters do, but I wouldn't give it up.
ReplyDeleteI'm waiting till yours comes out, Peg. I'm sure it will be real gold.
Thanks for sharing. I needed that.
ReplyDelete