As some of you might remember from November 2012, I explained how I picked my NaNo novel based on the thought of creating a production-line of sorts.
The plan is simple: Write all the current ideas in my mind. Stay in draft mode for as long as possible. Then move into edit mode and stay there for as long as possible.
My reasoning is that this way, I'll eventually get to a point where I have a finished novel to query while having a whole line-up of novels to edit at the same time.
Simple, yes. Except for one thing. The way my creative mind works involves lots of pauses while it sifts through its thoughts.
Like now. I know what I want to happen in my current rough draft, but for some reason, I just don't feel like writing. It's actually a bit worse than that, although I don't know how to put it in words.
Suffice it to say, something's telling me to give this WiP a break.
But if I do, will I get back to it in time for me to fit it into the production line?
My gut says yes. My brain is wondering.
On the other hand, I know that it's wise to give this one a break. I've spent years on the book before it and I'm querying that one as we speak. Maybe I should just relax and go with the flow.
Except I know it will be much better to have the sequel drafted by the time book 1 is out, which might be much sooner than I thought.
As I write this, however, I can feel a knot forming somewhere in my thoughts. I don't know what it is, exactly, but if I force myself to continue with the story, I'll be adding to the problem.
Guess that means I'm moving onto something else. Maybe for a day. Maybe longer.
Wonder which story I'll move to now.
Anyone else hit upon snags without knowing what they are? What do you do?
With my current WIP I have all the answers when I'm drifting off to sleep but I can't write the right words when I'm awake. It's really bugging me, because I know I can do better. It's good you have something else to work on though - hopefully that will help!
ReplyDeleteOoh that's terrible! Hope you find your words again soon. :-)
Deletei understand your predicament. do i force myself to write the sequel as duty might suggest, or do i write something new that my heart wants?
ReplyDeleteforcing is not usually the best...good luck!
I agree with you there.
DeleteI'm determined to stick to a writing schedule this year. So I force myself to get the words out. (On another note, you're one of the few authors I've run into these days who is still querying novels. I'm with a publisher, but the old model is becoming increasingly less interesting for me. Many authors are going indie.)
ReplyDeleteOh I'm by no means seeing querying as my only option. It's just one option I'm ruling out before moving on.
DeleteIt's complicated to explain, but I have faith in my novel, but almost none in gatekeepers' ability to see the different way I used to write it is worth the risk.
If it's not working even after you try forcing it to work, it might be time to set it aside.
ReplyDeleteExcellent point.
DeleteYes, definitely. I hit that same wall sometimes. I agree with Alex - if it's not working after you try forcing it to work, set it aside. However, I would definitely give it a time limit - like two weeks, and then use those two weeks for whatever fun, creative thing that gets your writing going - short stories, poetry, art, etc. That's what I would do . . .however, you know best.
ReplyDeleteI also tend to take that approach.
DeleteYes,
ReplyDeleteRemember we are CREATIVE beings... WE just can't turn it on an off. WE need inspiration, passion, excitement. I am just getting back to my first novel that I had written almost four years ago. At first I forced myself to work on it again. I didn't feel it. So I made up tons of excuses, did everything and anything else to avoid working on it.
Then a friend asked me to look over her novel. I did and it was awesome... Inspired me to work on mine. It was slow moving, but NOW the excitement has come back to me.... it took months. So let your creativity flow in different directions. You'll get back to it at some point.
So true! I lost heart for a WiP I was rewriting because I lost the entire rewrite. Now, though, it feels like I might be ready to go back to it.
DeleteI just push through it. Sometimes I get past it and write really well, and sometimes I write suckey words. But I'll fix them in editing. My process is different though. I draft a project, then edit it maybe multiple times, and simultaneously query and start next project. Sometimes, I start thenext project before querying to make sure rejection doesn't keep me from moving on.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a good way to keep going.
DeleteI believe in listening to 'gut feelings'. Maybe something has to brew in that story. Creativity doesn't summon on demand.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the writing!
That's my thinking too. Thanks!
DeleteProduction line writing is tough. You might have to rearrange a few things and come back to it later.
ReplyDeleteYeah seems like it. I'm not thinking of it as unchangeable. There's just this logical way. But I have two rough drafts, so I should theoretically be able to hop between them. :-)
DeleteI think you need to go with what your gut is telling you, and taking a break will mean you return to it refreshed and with new eyes.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I'm thinking too. :-)
DeleteI can totally relate to this. I agree with others about listening to your gut. I think sometimes you just have to take a break and then return to a project refreshed. For me at least I know I can't force it when I am feeling this way, it never works.
ReplyDeleteGood luck! :)
Same here. Some of my worst writer's blocks came from me forcing myself ever deeper into a corner.
DeleteThere is nothing wrong with letting the story breathe and then going back to it with fresh eyes. I think sometimes we writers are too hard on ourselves. Writing a novel isn't easy! Allow yourself to take a break once in a while. And good luck!
ReplyDeleteI think so too. It might be a case of me being so used to editing that I forgot what drafting is like. :-D
DeleteNothing wrong with setting a wip aside for a while. When the time's right, you'll work on it again.
ReplyDeleteI think so too. :-)
DeleteHi Misha,
ReplyDeleteIt seems that the best probability is to indeed take a breather and perhaps reflect upon it. Or, set it to one side and try something different. The main thing is to not pressurise yourself.
In kindness,
Gary
I agree with you there. :-)
DeleteI totally understand your dilemma! I had the same thing happen to me about 6 months ago. I wanted to start the sequel of my most recently published book, but my brain kept veering off into another story. I finally gave in and just wrote the story that wanted to be written. I'm putting the final polish on it now and it'll be published in March. So I say: go with your gut! Follow your instincts! They most likely will not lead you astray.
ReplyDeleteWow that's an amazing story. Now I don't feel so bad for veering off. :-D
DeleteSometimes when I'm in that place, I find taking a break from writing, period, is the best thing. I'll take a break to read a good book or watch a movie - something like that. Before I know it, my mind has figured out the problem or I've gotten the bug to write again.
ReplyDeleteBut if you're really inspired to write something else, then indulge it until it dies down. I don't know about you, but I try and harness those elusive bursts of inspiration whenever I can.
At the moment, that's sort of what I'm feeling like. The useless little rejections I keep getting are really getting to me creatively.
DeleteFor me, writing is like sculpting. I create the form first, noting basic proportion, size and shape. Then I start to shape the arm, or the leg, of the face...like bringing a blurry view into focus I just work it. The real detail, which I love to do, and which is a breeze for me, comes later. The rough form for me is the hardest hurdle to overcome. I guess it's good to remember, words aren't precious. Waste some. Go off on a tangeant. Get lost in a moment, and later go back and smooth, chisel and cut what you don't want. It's okay not to finish something. Life is long. I still have a half-finished Ziggy latch-hook in my closet if anyone wants a crack at it.
ReplyDelete~Just Jill
Hahaha so true. I also find the first part of creating a story the hardest.
DeleteI know the feeling you are talking about! Most of the times it's just me being lazy, but my gut tells me to stop. If your gut is telling you to give it a rest, then listen to your gut. I read about the idea somewhere that every writer has this creative being that sort of guides them along the way. I guess you just have to listen to that "creative being". ;)
ReplyDeleteHahaha yeah I like the thought of a muse, although I know mine is just part of my creative mind I gave a personality to. :-D
DeleteYes, yes, yes...so feel your pain! I need breathing room sometimes in my WIPs when they won't co-operate, and I have felt the conflict between pressing on with a sequel or branching out elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteI'm not the best to advise. Some folks will say go with your gut, others will recommend pressing ahead. I reckon it depends on what works for you as a writer, also what pressures are you under to do one thing or another? If someone out there is depending on you to produce something to a deadline, then professionalism is at stake. If the pressure is self-imposed then you can elect to move the goalposts.
Luckily for me, I'm not at the stage yet where professional deadlines come into play.
DeleteI feel your pain. There are several half-finished manuscripts stored on flash drives in my drawer, and I've also experienced that feeling for a short time, then powered through to the end. I guess you first have to decide if the story is worth finishing, and then think about why you are stuck. I once read a Margaret Atwood writing tip that said to go back to the fork in the road where the story went the wrong way and fix it. Until you go back to that spot, it won't work. So maybe you took a wrong turn somewhere and can fix it now? Just a thought.
ReplyDeleteThat's the thing. I took the right roads thus far. I just have no idea about where I am or where I'm going. :-D
DeleteIf I'm not passionate about a project, I put it away. Maybe I'll figure things out for it later. In a few months I'd like to take something I wrote years ago and rewrite it because now I'm ready for it. I can't stop thinking about this unfinished draft and have new ideas for it.
ReplyDeleteSo true. I just have to hope it doesn't take me too long to get back to it.
DeleteI've started thoroughly planning my books out before writing them so I know exactly what s going to happen next. It isn't a perfect method as I still need to be motivated to write each day and sometimes it just doesn't happen!
ReplyDeleteHave you tried plotting out the next section of your book?
If you really can't move on, I'd be tempted to leave it for now and try something else.
I can't plot this book. It's a bit complex to try write out before writing.
DeleteYou should listen to your gut feelings and put the book on hiatus if you're just not feeling it as strongly or if you feel you need a bit of a break. It's the same way one should never try to work through pain when exercising. Usually the work is much stronger after a break.
ReplyDeleteI like your analogy. Good points too.
DeleteThe way I see it, if you work on something without being completely engrossed in what you're writing, then you are going to come out with a sub-par product that will eventually have to be completely redone.
ReplyDeleteSome days I'll be on a tear and have dozens of pages of prewrite completed (not quite to actually writing the book yet) and other days I just won't be feeling it and come out with a couple pages of pure dreck that I hate and end up throwing out.
I always have secondary projects lined up in the wings for just such an occasion which it seems you do as well. Go hang on those for a bit. Who knows, working on something else may help give you ideas for your main project!
That makes sense. Sometimes I'm really in a zone. Other days it dwindles to nothing. :-)
DeleteAlways trust your gut. ;)
ReplyDeleteI think you should always trust your gut!
ReplyDeleteMy problem is, i have to stick with ONE story at a time. So, although I have MANY stories (and even a second series semi-plotted) I still only feel the urge to work on my current trilogy...
I have a bloggy friend that is writing 5 or 6 books right now... some in plot stage, some in writing stage, some in editing stage... I dont know how she does it. But i couldnt. I have to stick with one story (and one world) at a time.
I guess everyones mind just works different! either way, Im sure things will work out eventually!!
How is the Querying going?? You have been querying for a little while now, right?
Yeah I sent out a bunch of queries about two or three weeks ago, but so far, nobody's bitten.
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