C.S. Simpson's Blog, page 4

The Digital Rabbit Hole

So... I've been writing, and writing, and writing, and... my brain is tired. Do you ever get lost in what you thought would be a simple research moment? Yesterday, as I was writing (shocking I know), I decided I needed to add specific detail to the moment. But I didn't know what the RIGHT detail was. So, I opened a new browser tab, entered my digital research key words, and then two hours passed. TWO hours?! How could that be? The subject matter wasn't even that engrossing. It was like some kind of a time warp thing. I've decided that my mind rebelled against my determinedness to finish my novel by the end of this September. My addled mind saw an opportunity for a gear-switch and went for it. Two hours worth of research became relaxing! My subconscious took me down 'the rabbit hole of mental rest' from my story. And I'm grateful. How can you find rest from your engrossing work this week? Maybe you shouldn't wait for your subconscious to choose one for you...

It's Back, Baby!

I’m happy to say that I’ve found my writing groove again! For those of you who have experienced this temporary mental setback, you’re probably thinking, “Of course it comes back.” But for a newbie like me, whose only been writing for eight months, IT WAS SCARY! I had such a smooth beginning, and wrote The Elephant and the Dragon fable quickly (of course, it’s a glorified short story and not a novel). This novel business, though? There are a lot more mental mazes, details and character building involved. Again, for seasoned authors, this is a no-brainer. Just like my fable, the first half of this novel wrote itself quickly. It wasn't until after the midway point that I had to sit back and ask myself some hard questions: "Where is this thing going?" "What's going to happen to my main character now?" These questions stalled my apparently tenuous creative process, and plunged me into a pretty big slump. I put it down and walked away. Thankfully, my story came back to me, with a new turn that I'm embracing. I have to re-write some earlier chapters to make it all fit together. My brain hurts. But it’s a good kind of hurt. I’m not really complaining, so please forgive me if it seems like I am. I’m just working through this writer’s journey thing, and hopefully encouraging a few others along the way by sharing how I feel. If you enjoy writing too, don’t give up! Maybe let it go for a few weeks and let yourself enjoy something else. Your story will ruminate in the back of your mind and hopefully let you know when it’s time to write the story again. We must be patient with ourselves and the twisted process that is writing.

A Writer's Struggle

I think I'm halfway through the first draft of my first novel. I should be ecstatic, but I’m struggling. From all I’ve read within the writer's community online, this is pretty normal. But it still bothers me. The story has driven itself so well up until now. I've already written the answer to the mystery, and the protagonist's reaction. Now I’m afraid what I have planned for the second half (or last third) may not be good enough. I'm afraid I might have to rewrite or delete large portions of what I've already written - and I LIKE what I've written so far. I'm afraid the whole story will move too slowly for the average reader. I'm afraid I won't be able to reach the story's best audience once it's ready to publish. I'm afraid I'm wasting my time trying this author thing. But I'm really enjoying myself! I'm writing the story of one woman's journey to find physical, emotional and psychological healing after overwhelming trauma. The novel is meant to be a slow, unraveling puzzle. She can't heal her memory quickly, or she wouldn't have gotten herself into the situation she's in - right? The story has to move at the pace of her healing - right? So... I shouldn't stop. I should continue on. I need to trust the work I've already put into this story and let it drive me forward. I need to trust my own journey. #TheFlowerMaiden #writersblock #fear

Why Do You Write?

I’ve been asked this question a few times by friends and family since I decided to begin the writer’s journey. I think the expected answer is something like: 'I want to tell a story' or 'I want people to read my story.' There is some truth to those answers, of course, but there’s more to it than that. * * * I write when a story won’t let me go. I write until the words are done with me. I write when I need new inspiration, until the story propels itself forward. I write because I need to know the end of the story too. The act of committing to a story, and seeing it through, is like any other project. It takes perseverance. #writing

Why Do You Write?

I’ve been asked this question a few times by friends and family since I decided to begin the writer’s journey. I think the expected answer is something like: 'I want to tell a story' or 'I want people to read my story.' There is some truth to those answers, of course, but there’s more to it than that. * * * I write when a story won’t let me go. I write until the words are done with me. I write when I need new inspiration, until the story propels itself forward. I write because I need to know the end of the story too. The act of committing to a story, and seeing it through, is like any other project. It takes perseverance.

2019 Project

I'm working on something new! Since you heard from me last, I have been working on a longer story. This new project will either be a novel or a novella (depending on the word count when it's finished) and I'm really enjoying the journey my protagonist is on. We’ve all heard the idiom/cliché, “Her heart turned to stone.” What if this were actually possible? What if, after a severely traumatic event, a woman becomes so afraid to remember and feel that not only her heart turned to stone, but her body as well? The Flower Maiden - coming soon :) #amwriting #fiction #TheFlowerMaiden #newproject

The Journey Begins

Thank you for joining me as I begin this writing adventure! The Elephant and the Dragon is my first published work, even though it's currently available in digital form only. Strangely enough, the idea for The Elephant and the Dragon came to me while I was walking my dog and enjoying the clouds. Looking up, I saw a double cloud formation that caught my attention (thankfully I didn't trip). The cloud in front looked like a dragon laying down with his head up, and the one behind looked like a standing elephant with her trunk raised. They were facing the same direction and I thought, “They look like they’re holding court.” Thus, a fable was born. #writing #journey #letsdothis