Pantser to Plotter: How did that happen?

When I began writing back in November of 2010, I wrote by the seat of my pants, or pantser as I learned later on. Somewhere along the way I think I have changed to a plotter. It is as if when I am writing, I am on a journey from my hometown of Millington, Tennessee to see my bestie in Milford, New Hampshire. Along the way these forks in the road advertise exciting adventures and lure me from the route I am on. I get to the ‘new destination’ and realize it isn’t really where I want to be.

This morning I was discussing with my best friend how my muse had abandoned me. I haven’t been able to write much of anything for the past six months. While I was texting her, I thought about my last few projects that I have worked on, wondering why I was unable to produce new material. Then it hit me…I have been sabatoging myself and confusing my muse…no wonder she left!

The first example of this that came to mind was book three of my original series, Vision of Souls. If you remember, I just posted a blog entry a few weeks back about a new beginning. It seems as if when I get these new beginnings that when I go to start writing on the new beginning, things turn south and nothing comes of it.  The second example is the project I worked on for NaNoWriMo ’12. I was about two-thirds through the book and thought of another great beginning to the book. A week later, all I had was a great new beginning, but nothing more.

I can’t explain why this knowledge has sparked the writer’s light in me, but it has…and I guess that is what is most important. I am eager to get home and see if I can put this new knowledge to good use.

What about you? Have you ever realized something about yourself that turns the writer’s light back on?

~Jynn