Knowing When to Take a Break
Hello all,
As some may know, I am in the midst of writing a sequel to When Love is Not Enough. It is mostly finished with a need for edits. I have been working my a** off to get it finished so I can submit it to Dreamspinner Press. Also... There is a third book that I need to write ASAP. It is easier to write them together as they follow each other and that way I don't lose momentum.
However, there is also such a thing as overload.
My brain is surrounded by Matt and Darian constantly. What they are doing, saying, eating, you name it! So this weekend, I took a break.
And as things happen to me, I fell asleep and woke up with a great idea for another story. In fact, the lead was yapping in my head all weekend. I was plotting the story, scenes, arguments etc... I saw the structure and I started writing some dialogue. This morning I wrote chapter 1! 1500 words.
Now, the question will be, how long to I take a sabbatical from a project that seriously NEEDS to be written in a timely fashion? Answer: I don't know. Not long, but I want to give my brain a short rest so that I can come back strong and fast to finish up The Price of Loving.
WHY I needed a break is because Matt and Darian is thick and heavy material. I can only think about suicide and rape and drug abuse for so long. It weighs down the mind and spirit. This new book will probably have difficult things happen, because all books have to have some angst, but for the most part it is fun. I think the lead guy is ME. (Shocker-they are all me) But this one seems to speak with my dour pessimism. Did I mention this book is fun? LOL. How can a dour pessimist be fun? You will have to read it. Really I made him the cynical fatalist that I talked about in the last blog. I am not going to talk about this story too much since I don't really have a title or character names written in stone. I am throwing them about and seeing if they stick. So far the few scenes I imagined and outlined are pretty hot. I don't want it to be too boring :S (Yes, Vio, I always worry about being boring!) And for those who hate my structure, this story is more straight forward. I write what falls out of my head! So far, what fell out is two college guys. That is all I'm saying. Hopefully they will make you laugh more than cry. AND show the reading world I can write more than tragedy.
On the other hand, lifting my mind out of the depressing universe where abide dearest Matt and adorable Darian doesn't help me WRITE Matt and Dairan. I NEED to be depressed to flow depression and pain and hurt. So, soon, I need to get out of the fun, happy go silly style of this next one.
The most important thing is WRITING. Getting creative juices flowing in ANY direction is better than stagnation. If a writer can't write, then the career comes to a screeching halt. NO FUN! I have had plenty of months where I am writing nothing at all. Talk about depressing? I am not a nice person if I don't write. I feel all bottled up. I get shaky and antsy. It's like an alcoholic who hasn't had a drink in a while. You jones for it. Well, I jones for words. I go through withdraw if I am not writing something.
I do know my propensity for distraction and shiny objects. (No, I am not blond)... Mainly my "shiny object" ends up being a new storyline. Something fresh and new is always "shiny". The danger is to leave the harder and older project for "later" and then "later" becomes never. I can't afford to do that with The Price of Loving. Matt needs to have a voice and tell the world what HE feels! I will! Have no fear!
As I am "stream of consciousness" type of thinking, I am rambling a bit. I guess that is pro for the course, as they say since I ramble most of the time.
Knowing when to take a break from writing all together is as important as knowing when to just shift gears. Sometimes a pause can inspire new things. Walking away from a project can give you new eyes when you read through it again in a day or two. That is basically what I am doing. I just needed to take a breather and get something fresh in mind. These two guys are fresh and new and funny and sweet.
I am out of thoughts for this blog :p That happens. It is cold and wet here, and I am not a fan of being cold. Also another reason to write "funny" instead of depressing.
Talk soon.
And if you think of a topic for me to talk about, comment. I tend to blog about what is on my mind, but I can also blog about things that are on your mind too!
What are YOUR questions?
xoxo
Wade
As some may know, I am in the midst of writing a sequel to When Love is Not Enough. It is mostly finished with a need for edits. I have been working my a** off to get it finished so I can submit it to Dreamspinner Press. Also... There is a third book that I need to write ASAP. It is easier to write them together as they follow each other and that way I don't lose momentum.
However, there is also such a thing as overload.
My brain is surrounded by Matt and Darian constantly. What they are doing, saying, eating, you name it! So this weekend, I took a break.
And as things happen to me, I fell asleep and woke up with a great idea for another story. In fact, the lead was yapping in my head all weekend. I was plotting the story, scenes, arguments etc... I saw the structure and I started writing some dialogue. This morning I wrote chapter 1! 1500 words.
Now, the question will be, how long to I take a sabbatical from a project that seriously NEEDS to be written in a timely fashion? Answer: I don't know. Not long, but I want to give my brain a short rest so that I can come back strong and fast to finish up The Price of Loving.
WHY I needed a break is because Matt and Darian is thick and heavy material. I can only think about suicide and rape and drug abuse for so long. It weighs down the mind and spirit. This new book will probably have difficult things happen, because all books have to have some angst, but for the most part it is fun. I think the lead guy is ME. (Shocker-they are all me) But this one seems to speak with my dour pessimism. Did I mention this book is fun? LOL. How can a dour pessimist be fun? You will have to read it. Really I made him the cynical fatalist that I talked about in the last blog. I am not going to talk about this story too much since I don't really have a title or character names written in stone. I am throwing them about and seeing if they stick. So far the few scenes I imagined and outlined are pretty hot. I don't want it to be too boring :S (Yes, Vio, I always worry about being boring!) And for those who hate my structure, this story is more straight forward. I write what falls out of my head! So far, what fell out is two college guys. That is all I'm saying. Hopefully they will make you laugh more than cry. AND show the reading world I can write more than tragedy.
On the other hand, lifting my mind out of the depressing universe where abide dearest Matt and adorable Darian doesn't help me WRITE Matt and Dairan. I NEED to be depressed to flow depression and pain and hurt. So, soon, I need to get out of the fun, happy go silly style of this next one.
The most important thing is WRITING. Getting creative juices flowing in ANY direction is better than stagnation. If a writer can't write, then the career comes to a screeching halt. NO FUN! I have had plenty of months where I am writing nothing at all. Talk about depressing? I am not a nice person if I don't write. I feel all bottled up. I get shaky and antsy. It's like an alcoholic who hasn't had a drink in a while. You jones for it. Well, I jones for words. I go through withdraw if I am not writing something.
I do know my propensity for distraction and shiny objects. (No, I am not blond)... Mainly my "shiny object" ends up being a new storyline. Something fresh and new is always "shiny". The danger is to leave the harder and older project for "later" and then "later" becomes never. I can't afford to do that with The Price of Loving. Matt needs to have a voice and tell the world what HE feels! I will! Have no fear!
As I am "stream of consciousness" type of thinking, I am rambling a bit. I guess that is pro for the course, as they say since I ramble most of the time.
Knowing when to take a break from writing all together is as important as knowing when to just shift gears. Sometimes a pause can inspire new things. Walking away from a project can give you new eyes when you read through it again in a day or two. That is basically what I am doing. I just needed to take a breather and get something fresh in mind. These two guys are fresh and new and funny and sweet.
I am out of thoughts for this blog :p That happens. It is cold and wet here, and I am not a fan of being cold. Also another reason to write "funny" instead of depressing.
Talk soon.
And if you think of a topic for me to talk about, comment. I tend to blog about what is on my mind, but I can also blog about things that are on your mind too!
What are YOUR questions?
xoxo
Wade
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message 1:
by
Vio
(new)
Oct 03, 2011 02:04PM
OMG you have a side project I am so excited......oh no now I have to wait for that one as well, its not fair you are being too secretive light and fluffy ha I will believe it when I see it lol! Its good to see you working on some new material at least it drags you away from the sad for a little while anyway. You could never ever be called boring, I have no idea why you could possibly think that...."grins". I love your posts about everyday life so no questions from me yet.....
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I'm with Vio. Totally excited.I have no doubt you will make me laugh as hard as you made me cry.
Good luck.
I am glad for the votes of confidence. :) You gals are great!I hope I can make you laugh. Normally I only crack myself up because no one gets my humor.
Glad the everyday life stuff is enough to hold interest, Vio :) It is really all I have to talk about. It is kinda how I write the stories I do- it's everyday life stuff for me.
Ooh, new story? Can't wait! Your slice-of-life approach has been good so far so there are no questions yet on my end. Really, the I'm having a very scattered thought processing day and I keep thinking about cajun tots.
