The Writer's Rush

Holly, I promise to get to posts about writing craft soon. ;)

Today I'm going to answer Caroline Bridge's question. She blogs at Untitlement, and you should really check out the book covers she's made. They are all To. Die. For. I loved what she wrote with her question, so I'm putting all of it here for you to see.

Does that insane rush of first love ever return in your writing career? When I first started writing fiction, I felt like I'd discovered superpowers, a link to a fantastic new world, the candy room in Willy Wonka's factory. I still enjoy it, but there isn't that all-consuming fire anymore.

Oh, how I love that feeling she's describing. You know, when that spark of an idea takes root deep in your heart and you can't help but think about it day and night. *sigh* It really is the best feeling in the world.

I've been writing off and on for the last eight years--"playing" for most of it, but serious for the last three. And I have to say, I don't always feel that rush, the impulse that I have to write immediately or I'll go crazy. Sometimes I have to make myself sit down for "writing time". I don't think there's anything wrong with that, and I've never worried about it.

Why?

Over the last three years, I've learned that writing is a lot of work. And I'm good with that.
But I stick with it because shiny new ideas still make me giddy. Finger itchy, impatient to get quiet computer time, ready to explore a new world, giddy.

If you're not feeling that rush of first love you might need a short break. Or just a different idea. Or maybe a new slant on an idea you like, but it just isn't doing it all for you, if you know what I mean?

What do the rest of you do when you need to feel that writing rush? Where do you turn for ideas?

I think I'm just a naturally patient person (most of the time), and so when a few months go by without the rush I don't worry. There is always a new crazy dream floating around waiting to catch my attention.

Sometimes the rush only lasts a few hours or days. Those ideas get sketched and filed away. The ones that haunt me are the ones I keep coming back to. Talia. Ryanne, Elyzbeth, Elina. Some of their stories have been in my head since I was a teen. I still feel a rush when I read through what I've written. One of these days they will be polished enough that they'll make their way into the world. I don't think I could keep working and taking rejection if I didn't feel that love for their stories.

Funny, but I still don't think of them as MY stories. There's a secret hope inside me that tells me this is good. Who am I? No one. But these girls are amazing! I just have to find all the right words and string them together in the right order.

Caroline, you've made me excited for writing time today. Thanks!