New Theory

Okay, I officially have a new theory of the universe. Here it is: the whinging helps.

Yesterday, I whined about my first draft. I can admit that my frustration was mostly tied to the fact that the words aren't coming as easily as they used to, so this is feeling more like work these days, so minor things get less of my patience.

But last night -- post whinging -- I had this amazing surge and I ended up writing about 1000 words without breaking a sweat. It was unbelievable.

So, my new theory is that the whinging helps. Now, I'm not talking about constant complaining of ranting about every little thing, but sometimes just getting the annoying things off your chest frees up some qi and gets the creative juices flowing again. I endorse venting.

So, for today, what's your pet peeve? What is frustrating you at the moment?

Minor Whinging

Today, midway through Chapter 8, I realized that what I was using to start a new chapter worked much better as the end to the previous chapter. And whilst I contemplated that fact, I realized that I had completely forgotten to write an important scene.

Earlier in the book, the MC's necklace is stolen, which is sad for her, because it was a gift from her dead mother. The other character is supposed to return it to her before she has to leave. I was about to write the scene where she has to leave but I hadn't written the return of the necklace! I wanted to beat my head against a wall. How did I forget that?!

I don't personally like to type my first drafts, but I have to admit that these errors would be much easier to rectify on a PC than in my notebook. Admittedly, with the first one, all I had to do was cross out the chapter label at the top of the page. It's not pretty but it's easy. The second fix isn't as pretty at all. (Yep, I care if it looks pretty. I'm an aestheticist.) I went back to the old spot, put in a post-it that says "Holy Hell! Forgot a crucial scene!" and added a note to flip to section A for the insert.

I don't like this because I like my draft notebooks to be neat and clean (in about 99.9% of cases, I write in perfect order. This is my first insert.) The only saving grace of that correction is that I was capable of adding the section without having to staple something in. I don't like doing that. Yes, this probably sounds like a silly thing to whine about (and I can admit that it's a silly thing to let bug me, I really do know that), but did I mention I like things pretty.

I'm sure there's a learning experience to be had here, maybe something like 'Don't write when tired,' or 'Constant Vigilance,' but at the moment I am not interested in seeking that out.

Okay, whinging over.

If Only Publishing Were This Easy

I'll admit it, I've never read the full unabridged version of Little Women. I made it through about half of it, and then someone gave me the abridged version. What can I say, sometimes I'm weak.

But I am familiar with Little Women: the Musical. (Beware. Impending **Spoilers**). In the song "Weekly Volcano Press", Josephine March tells her friends how she took a story of hers that no one will publish and went straight to the editor of the Weekly Volcano Press to read it to him so he would publish it. (video)

Discontent with the editors to whom she offers her story telling her to "leave it right there on the pile," Jo marches to the office of the editor of the Weekly Volcano Press, and when he tosses her story on the slush pile, she jumps on a chair and offers him a dramatic reading of it.

Long story short, Henry Dashwood, the editor, falls to his knees and begs for the story. In fact, she gets a job writing more stories for the newspaper.

God, I wish getting published were that easy.

Slump

Today, I've come just a little short of my mini goal. I think my problem is an idea slump.

I always knew sort of what I meant to have happen in this portion of the book, but the outline in general of it was more than a little vague. Without my outline to depend upon, I am left to pull the ideas together in my head. I need to create a sort of mini outline for the middle portion of the tale (it's always the middles that present the problem, isn't it?) and outlines usually take me time.

Usually, I kick the whole idea around in my head until it's ordered enough for the paper. I feel like I need to kick this middle part around in my head some more so that I can get a better feel for it.

I do know one subplot I hope to include during this portion of the book; however, since the idea only come to me (via the inspirational force known as my best friend), I'm still not sure how that's going to play out.

All in all, I feel like beating my head against my notebook.

Ever hit an idea slump? How do you regroup when things start getting hairy?

Beating My Head Against a Wall

As a general rule, I enjoy deadlines. Yes, they do make a lovely whooshing sound as they fly by, but as a rule I tend to respond well to them. The only deadlines and requirements I can't seem to flourish under are my own. For The Thief Book, I told myself to write 1500 words a day. It was going rather well for a while, until my work ended up on my alpha reader's desk for about five days, eating through all of my leeway and putting me painfully behind.

As a rule, I despise playing catch-up. I can do it, but it takes a long time, and I hate doing it. Still, that's what I'm doing now, and it makes me whiny and annoying to others. I told myself I should finish chapter three today, except I wrote the number of pages I meant to write and still have not a) caught up or b) finished the chapter. And I just don't have it in me to finish the chapter tonight.

Yes, I know, if I'm behind, I should probably not be blogging right now. Except, it's either close the notebook for the night, or moan for about five minutes straight over a blank page and a diet coke. So, for the moment, good night.

Anyone else have moments/hours/days/light years like this?