Inspiration March 20, 2007
Posted by Jen in : Journal, Novel , trackbackHow odd. I keep getting stuck. Whenever I try to write my novel, or even make notes, my brain seizes, my thoughts stutter, my fingers become arthritic or my pen groans in its death-like grip.
I couldn’t figure out what my character’s problem was. I am an idiot. (Well, yes, we knew that already.) The character, of course, knew what her problem was all along; I just wasn’t listening. It’s kind of groovy when the characters take themselves off on a tangent. Or a tangerine. Or whatever.
A new idea has bubbled up. Fermented. It’s going to take a lot of research that I hadn’t considered. But it’s sort of there. I already know about it, have seen it, experienced it. I just didn’t realise that it should go into The Novel.
Two hours ago, I was almost in tears, planning to give the whole thing up as a bad job. A waste of time. But. Now the words are flowing.
I can’t tell you what it is. I’d have to kill you. Obviously. I’ve given you a tiny clue though. ‘Cos I like you.
I’m having a little drink now. As a celebration research. Dedicated, see?
Wine is bottled poetry.
Robert Louis Stevenson
Comments»
a magical moment of clarity - I am over the moon for you. I know the frustration of being blocked, how draining it can be. I really cannot wait to read your novel - to get your email telling me when it is benig released; to go into the shop and pluck it from the shelf; to grin at the cashier and say ‘I know the author’… because this is going to happen… I believe in you.
xxx
Hi Jen
I thought I recognised some of the signs of stuckness. Glad to see your back, and enthused. I do believe that sometimes you need to the break to give time for your head to catch up with what you know unconsciously.
Of course, there are also the times when one simply cannot be bothered… Then I find that chocolates help!
xx
Oh Kate… that actually made tears come out! Thank you… thank you so much for your confidence… xxx
JJ - the breaks and stuckness are frustrating though, aren’t they? I guess if we were painters, we would have a bash and just screw up or re-jig the efforts. But as a writer? We delete. And that’s it. Maybe it’s because we’re still learning? We don’t know for sure that it’s ever going to be right. Hmmm… rambling instead of writing. Hopeless!! Maybe just a square of choc with my cuppa then….
xx
We all have this honey. I am currently banging my head against a wall of three.
I am however concerned that you eat pesto pasta for breakfast!? How was the interview?
xx
Ah, well, I’ve tried that art thing too. I’ve been a sculptor in a former life (no, I’m not talking regression therapy!) but found the public side of it too difficult to deal with. That isn’t of course because I found fame (I so didn’t) but because of the need to exhibit to ‘get your work out there’ which I found horrifying. (I think I’d rather have a smear test!) And if I ever get anything published I realise I will have to big me up, but since there isn’t any danger of that yet, I’m just (mostly) enjoying the writing!
I think Caroline is right- we all go through times like that.
I wanted to delete my entire WIP a few weeks ago. I just couldn’t face it! Luckily I got over it and my WIP is still intact. I call them my ‘wobbles’. They are coming more regular and it’s a worry. I think it’s the nearer I get to submitting my work, the more wobbly I become.
Stuckness is horrible, but getting unstuck is so good that it’s almost worth it. Your post conveys that beautifully for me. Long may your words flow.
Caroline - pesto pasta for brek is really not a good idea. You’ll be glad to know I didn’t have wine with it! Was just hungry. Wanted onion rings but didn’t have any. Muesli sounded dull. So I cooked pasta, then felt sick.
Interview was AWFUL: what was supposed to be a job in marketing in idyllic rural surroundings with a progressive company turned out to be answering the phone, in a portacabin, in a field of dust, in the absolute middle of nowhere with two Chinese men who can’t speak a word of English!!!! So… um… it was a ‘no’ really!!
A W: Perhaps, if the wobbles are becoming more frequent, we should think of them as the painful but necessary contractions before we give birth to our novels?
Zinnia: I hadn’t really thought about the ‘getting unstuck’ bit being worth the agony of the stuckness. But you are absolutely right. It wouldn’t be fun if we just rattled out endless words, would it?
XXX
Oh, I like the giving birth contractions bit……not really if i think too hard………its a good think the brain doesn’t remember as well as it once did……..getting unblocked as it were……od dear now I sound like I’m taking about draino
Good luck with the new tack!
JJ: I’ve been thinking about your comment… one of my characters works in an art gallery and, having hung an exhibition, the artist is just the same, scared stiff about having her ‘pain splattered on the walls for strangers to see’ as if they can see inside her. I guess writing’s much the same really! Eeeek!
Liz: Gawd. It’s amazing anyone has more than one baby really. Men wouldn’t, I bet you. Saps!
X
OMG! I’ve never ever thought of it like that! Contractions… giving birth to the novel…. eek! For someone who hasn’t had any children and is unlikely to ever have them, that’s a bit scary! But I like how you’ve linked the two…