That’s the question of the night. My husband the non-writer let me yammer at him for a bit tonight, spinning absolutely useless ideas, crappy, stinky, I can’t believe you even said that ideas, in the hopes that I would eventually flush the good ones to the top. No luck. Did I mention how much I hate being at this beginning part of the book? Sigh.
I know the story is about M. I know what she wants most in the world. I don’t know what her parents are like but I do know that they are not the sort of people I would make eye contact with on the street. I don’t know if she really did the terrible thing I think she did and if she did I don’t know why. And if she didn’t do the terrible thing I think she did then how did she get into the class she’s in? And if she did do it, why did she do it? What could one kid say to another kid that would cause this to happen? She might be fat. But maybe she’s not. She might have a younger brother. But maybe not. She might have a talent at something but I have no idea what. She doesn’t have any pets and I wouldn’t want to sleep in her bed.
I did mention, didn’t I, how much I hate this part of getting started?
And then there’s her name. Which I know is her name. Absolutely her name and no one else’s BUT there’s a worry there. If you look her name up in a book someone might connect it to Hugging the Rock and then I wonder if people will wonder what the heck is wrong with that writer that she’s so obsessed with those things? Man we writers are a worrying bunch, are we not?
So it all comes down to I don’t know.
Kelly – 4 days until May 1st and then it’s time to go looking for these answers through the actual writing.
Aaaaaaaaaaahhh the beginning is so hard! I can’t even tell you how many beginnings I have sitting around waiting…
and waiting
and waiting
Oh yes, all those OTHER beginnings are almost just as bad, taunting me from their various perches in my office, tempting me to go play with them and desert my current project. Of course that’s how I got so many endless beginnings to start with.
Give me a murky middle any old day. Or revision. Please.
Aaaaaaaaaaahhh the beginning is so hard! I can’t even tell you how many beginnings I have sitting around waiting…
and waiting
and waiting
Oh yes, all those OTHER beginnings are almost just as bad, taunting me from their various perches in my office, tempting me to go play with them and desert my current project. Of course that’s how I got so many endless beginnings to start with.
Give me a murky middle any old day. Or revision. Please.
It’ll come Susan – if its sitting that close to the surface it will come.
How about a long, quiet walk to flush it out?
Want to borrow Cookie?
Yes, it is all bubbling forth. I have to get the final final copy edits done on Hugging the Rock tonight so it can go off tomorrow and then two other “must-dos” tomorrow and then, then I will be able to give it my full attention which should help. And brainstorming via email with a couple of friends.
Thanks for offering Cookie. I think Chelsie might get a wee bit jealous. She’s not exactly a dog’s dog. But we have started walking more.
I have been a researching fiend this week, which is no small feat considering that I’ve had to be a sewing fiend as well (costumes, no less, which are needed very soon for two different events)! Plus the usual having to feed people and do laundry stuff. Oh, and I leave for a conference tonight. I’ll be taking yet another book with me to continue my research. One of these days, I might even let you know what I’m on about, but suffice it to say that it involves a lot of biographical research. And yet, having promised to make a start on Monday, I am getting it done.
And so will you. And you will start, and many more questions will appear, but some of them will start to have answers. And it will be good.
Yeah on making progress! And a conference. I really need to go to more of those. I have two books that I want to write someday but right now, with the day job, I don’t think I could handle all the historical research I know they need.
Remember that starting Monday is different for everyone. One sentence is a start. Another sentence is progress. (You might need to remind me of this from time to time.)
The way I see it, one sentence can be enough some days, depending on where you are in the work and what other life issues exist. And I’m going to have to keep going with research as I write, BUT I will be writing a little something about Jane Austen on Monday. Now if I only knew whether it was going to be in prose or in verse, and what it is that’s going to be included . . .
Yes, it is all bubbling forth. I have to get the final final copy edits done on Hugging the Rock tonight so it can go off tomorrow and then two other “must-dos” tomorrow and then, then I will be able to give it my full attention which should help. And brainstorming via email with a couple of friends.
Thanks for offering Cookie. I think Chelsie might get a wee bit jealous. She’s not exactly a dog’s dog. But we have started walking more.
>> I don’t know what her parents are like but I do know that they are not the sort of people I would make eye contact with on the street. <<
I learn so much from you, Susan.
You are so generous to share your creative paths here.
I’ll be catching up with you this weekend. Don’t think I’ve forgotten.
Hugs.
I’m glad you find it useful, Haemi. I’m mostly thinking out loud.
Re catching up – I need to answer your email so we can set a date.