Stalling Tactics (Backfired!)
16 Jan
I’m proud to report that I’ve stopped sulking. Well okay, I stopped sulking about five minutes after that last post, and then the Steelers won the next day, but it sounds much more dramatic this way, doesn’t it? It’s what we do.
I’m stalling myself on purpose right now, writing-wise– a weird practice I engage in a few times a year when I know my peaceful life of constant daydreaming is about to be interrupted. That means I shouldn’t start anything big, not even an editing project, because I’ll get my head all wrapped up in it and be really angry and annoyed when I have to leave it for a whole week. The general interrupt of my groove is never good, and sometimes has a nasty aftertaste of bitterness toward the novel-in-progress. I have two books that want edited right now (three, but I’m totally not ready for the Nano book yet), and two more that want written. If I give in, I’m screwed.
I suppose I could try for short fiction, but as I’ve already confessed, my ideas in that field don’t come often or easily; I’m lucky to get one a month, and I have to jump on them almost immediately. I can turn one out in a day without any trouble if it’s there– but if it’s not, what can you do? (No really, if you have an answer, please tell me.) I have a list of ideas for short fiction, but none of them have given me that weird flash, that sudden moment where I know where the f#$k I’m going with it that is pretty much the meaning of life. Sometimes I can try and write it anyhow, but more often than not it’s just an exercise in futility.
And so I’m sitting here, collecting notes for the massive editing projects to follow upon my return from Madras, and continually world-building. And what happens to me?
I get that flash. I wasn’t kidding, it really is the meaning of life. The thing that makes all this crap I’m compiling just to amuse my brain while I’m trying not to get wrapped up in anything in particular make sense…
Talk about backfiring. Now I’m almost ready to write three books about this screwed-up epic/clockpunk fantasy crap, too. I mean, if I have to have a problem, it’s a a freaking great one to have. But thank god India’s only a week away now, because I think that’s all the longer I can stall. The voices are getting loud. Soon, they’ll start getting mean. Dun dun dun!
(Again, I charge you not to pretend you don’t know what I mean. Please feel free to share your own stories and make me feel less crazy. Or you know, comfort my misery.)
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Now playing: MGMT – Kids
posted with FoxyTunes
Mmm, my most recent experience with that type of flash was last week. Flash #1: I’m in bed but HAVE to get my notebook to scribble down some weird shit about hookers. Flash #2: The next day, I’m wondering what on earth to do with that story. Suddenly, it tells me that it needs vampires and for everybody to die gruesomely at the end. Okay then!
I don’t get them with novels as often. Of course, I only have the two finished right now, so who knows…
The voices do get loud. I have several in my head right now, but I actually work BETTER the longer I let them steam. The more time I have to mull over my ideas (as long as I get the opportunity to jot them down in my coveted notebooks), the more eager I get to write them and the faster they come out in the end.
One of the voices isn’t actually a character, but a world – this weird sci-fi thing I’ve been playing with for a while. None of the characters are defined beyond names and roles – and those only for the two leads – but the story itself is talking to me quite eagerly. It’s fun. I won’t be able to write this for at least a year or two, but in the meantime… I get to play with it in my head. The louder it screams, the better.
The flash usually comes when I don’t want it too…or I least expect it. That’s why I call it a muse, personifying my frustration and pretending “it” has a will/personality of its own.
Um…I meant “want it to”. I blame that on the muse too. (shakes fist in the air)
There is no such thing as “crazy” among writers. I wrote a story about a Korean Boy Band because for three weeks they were all I could think about. Let’s not even get into “Relentless Sodomy: The Musical!”
Inspiration always hits at the most inconvenient time – and always when I haven’t got a pen nearby so I run around muttering the idea to myself over and over so I don’t forget it. One of these days a man in a white van is going to take me away.
Enjoy India.
One of the voices isn’t actually a character, but a world
Yeah, that’s what this was at first. Then they started pushing back and forth, characters, world, plotlines… oh man. Click.
I agree, Cory, it is best to have more time to mull them over. Waiting an extra month or two on the Nano idea, for example, was awesome. It’s just that after a certain point, I start to find them irresistible! I imagine you know what I mean there, too.
Aaron, I totally knew what you meant. I like to refer to the muse, or just to the characters as individually having their own will, for similar purposes. It’s just more convenient!
Natalie, valid points all. I’m still really excited about the boy band. Not many people get to say they have their own troupe of slumber-party-havin’ Korean teen heartthrobs. (Too bad for them.)
Thanks Cate! That does make me feel better, yes, since I do pretty much the same thing. Or I just can’t listen to anything anyone says because I’m saying it over and over in my head. Either. White van time for both of us, I reckon.
I had that happen a couple of weeks ago. Went to bed thinking about vague idea. AS I was falling asleep, dialogue and mental images popped into my head.
Luckily, they decided to stick around until morning. Now I just have to get my kids back to school so I can finish it up.
For me, the flash comes:
-in the shower
-as I’m falling asleep
-while driving
-while taking a long walk.
… but mostly happens when I’m really hopped up on caffeine. Thank goodness I finished the last of the tricky novel scenes before going off the bean.
And yes, the voices do get quite loud. And cranky. I figure if the van with the nice young men in their clean white coats hasn’t shown up yet, some super-secret government agency has probably decided I’m loony, but mostly harmless.
Don’t you love that, Sue? JUST about to get there (which is so hard in the first place!) and then BAM. Insta-story. Good luck with the weather and the long weekend!
And Megh, yeah, you know, I think caffeine is often a factor for me, too. Hey, it’s better than coke– at least I don’t think I’m a rock star.
You’re right though. They know we’re harmless. Well, except maybe to ourselves.