Wandering In The Wilderness, Good For Writing. But Where's The Exit Already?
Sometimes I really love being a writer. Sometimes I really hate it.
Recently I've come across both emotions. I was stuck on my fourth novella. (I write short, see my first post) I mean, it wasn't coming together at all. The good news is that it did, finally. The titles say it all. It started out as "The Ghost In The White Satin Dress" and ended up as "The Wrong Ghost". The title switch is a long, long story. Maybe I'll tell it someday. But I am not promising you'll enjoy it. I didn't.
I addressed this same subject in my last post (Arguing with myself and losing) so I won't bore you by repeating myself...okay it was a nice thought, but I'm going to repeat myself!
Do other writers have this trouble? I mean you have a concept, even do a story and character treatment. The plot is going along nicely, and then without warning your characters take a sudden left turn on you and you're out in the wilderness wondering what happened and where is the Lord leading you?
I suppose I should mention that I am a Christian, my writing is Christian, so you are going to hear me mention the Father, Son and Holy Spirit a lot. Just letting you know. Now back to my rant.
Okay, it's not a rant exactly, but am I the only one whose plot never turns out the way it was originally intended? I've written four books in my ebook novella series and one novel. Only one has turned out as I originally plotted it. Which means I end up out in the wilderness a lot. Wandering around, praying to God to help me make this... thing, which I can now barely stand, make sense somehow. Just when it looks like I am going to have to scrap it all and all start over again, I see it! The Exit, the one point that brings the whole story togehter and make it make sense. Suddenly, I love the story again and I love being a writer. Which is nice while it lasts.
There is a strange thing though, I have been told by readers that my "wilderness books" tend to be my best ones. Which is nice because I struggled so much, but annoying because I struggled so much. I hope that makes sense.
Well, the main point is that God does know what He's doing. I just wish He would show me the Exit a litle sooner. Easier on the nerves.
Recently I've come across both emotions. I was stuck on my fourth novella. (I write short, see my first post) I mean, it wasn't coming together at all. The good news is that it did, finally. The titles say it all. It started out as "The Ghost In The White Satin Dress" and ended up as "The Wrong Ghost". The title switch is a long, long story. Maybe I'll tell it someday. But I am not promising you'll enjoy it. I didn't.
I addressed this same subject in my last post (Arguing with myself and losing) so I won't bore you by repeating myself...okay it was a nice thought, but I'm going to repeat myself!
Do other writers have this trouble? I mean you have a concept, even do a story and character treatment. The plot is going along nicely, and then without warning your characters take a sudden left turn on you and you're out in the wilderness wondering what happened and where is the Lord leading you?
I suppose I should mention that I am a Christian, my writing is Christian, so you are going to hear me mention the Father, Son and Holy Spirit a lot. Just letting you know. Now back to my rant.
Okay, it's not a rant exactly, but am I the only one whose plot never turns out the way it was originally intended? I've written four books in my ebook novella series and one novel. Only one has turned out as I originally plotted it. Which means I end up out in the wilderness a lot. Wandering around, praying to God to help me make this... thing, which I can now barely stand, make sense somehow. Just when it looks like I am going to have to scrap it all and all start over again, I see it! The Exit, the one point that brings the whole story togehter and make it make sense. Suddenly, I love the story again and I love being a writer. Which is nice while it lasts.
There is a strange thing though, I have been told by readers that my "wilderness books" tend to be my best ones. Which is nice because I struggled so much, but annoying because I struggled so much. I hope that makes sense.
Well, the main point is that God does know what He's doing. I just wish He would show me the Exit a litle sooner. Easier on the nerves.
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