My brain vs. Me – an argument
I have finally got up enough courage to start writing what I think may turn out to be a novel (or a really, really long short story – hard to say).
I’m at the 30,000 word mark and I’ve discovered that writing stories makes you a little mental.
On a good day of writing, my 2000 word minimum comes easy as though the words were being dictated by the people in the story and I was just the recording secretary.
I love these days.
The bad days definitely feel like me doing the work. Each word comes as though I were pulling it out of thick mud, or excavating it out of a diamond with nothing but a sharp stick and willpower.
Over the last few days I have abandoned all sense of pride and started arguing with the characters:
Me: C’mon…I can’t write this by myself! I don’t even know what happens!
Them: Why should we do all the work? You showed up late today and completely neglected us last Friday.
Me: But, the kid upstairs used the sprinkler to water my bedroom though the open window. I can’t be held responsible for that little devil spawn’s actions!
Them: Whatever lady – but hey, good luck and stuff.
So, I’ve spent the last few days feeling like I watched most of the finale of the most awesome show that ever was, only to miss the last 15 minutes because the cable cut out.
And worse, my characters are all wandering around with superior smirks on their faces because they know how it ended.
Jerks.
2 comments
really!?!? that is so cool! after i was shut down by HIGHLIGHTS magazine, yes, the one for children, i’ve been hesitant to get back to the drawing board, as it were. i’ll just blog and criticize other authors for now.
good luck with the book. how about a teaser or synopsis?
Oh, too bad for Highlights – the fools. Head back to the drawing board asap! I’m figuring on LOADS of rejection letters before anything good happens. Rejection seems the rule and acceptance the exception. As for a teaser, well, I guess if it were published you’d find it in the fantasy section. I’d say young adults but there are some rather adult moments in the story that might make it just fantasy. Hee hee.
I’ll take the luck for sure – those little jerks are STILL smirking!
UGH!
YES!
When you see your characters, standing around, looking at each other, waiting for you to tell them what to do…
Um, Rome wasn’t built in a day?
Mine don’t even stand around waiting, they just stand in little circles whispering and when you get close to overhearing anything they say “Hmmph! We know something YOU don’t know. Loser.”
Maybe some sort of bribery will work? I suspect I’ll have to write another 30,000 words and then they’ll say, “Oh, you dolt! That’s not what happened AT ALL. Erase that garbage and pay attention. You’re so needy.”
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