Wednesday, September 3, 2014

September IWSG--Naked With a Spider and a Can of Hairspray


Okay, I might have a tiny insecurity when it comes to spiders. Many of my nightmares consist of me
"waking up"  trapped by webs while all the little spiders chant to bring on the monster spider to eat me. My poor hubby has been woken by my screams many times over the course of our marriage.

The other day I was in the shower when I noticed a giant spider exploring my bathroom. My first thought was, "Kill it!" My next thought was, "I'm not wearing shoes!"

Then the debate started. How long can I stay in here? Would it be better to let it disappear or try to find something to throw at it? I finally ventured out of the shower, ran to the cabinet and grabbed my hairspray. It's all I had! I'm spraying and shrieking as it tries to get away. For safety, I got back in the shower so I'd be separated by the glass door while I waited for it to stop moving.

Let me tell you, hairspray is NOT a good spider killer. It did slow down enough for me to get to my closet and shoes, blessed shoes!

What has this to do with writing?

There are so many times during the writing process that have me feeling exactly like I'm standing naked with a spider and only a can of hairspray to save me. Each of us has these vulnerable moments.  All we want is throw something and run, but we have to think things through. Try something. And if it doesn't work we have to try something else.

Maybe this is during plotting, drafting, revising, querying, whatever. It happens. The point is, we do something about.

Why?

Because we're writers.

I'm in one of those phases. Every time I pull out Talia's sequel I'm trapped between "I love these characters!" and "this plot is crap." Time to take a good hard look at what I've got, what I've been trying to do, what really needs to happen and then come up with a new plan. Because this isn't working. My hairspray tactic here is to work on other stories--which by the way are coming along nicely! But the rest of the Sendek Saga needs to be written and sent out into the world.

Someone want to toss me a shoe?

Happy writing this month!


13 comments:

  1. You're going to need a bigger shoe...
    There are those moments of panic. We just have to regroup and find the best way to approach the problem.

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  2. That poor spider didn't have a chance, just like the books that you'll be writing. Perseverance is the key, even when having to find a different path to get there.

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  3. Sending good vibes your way... and a pair of pumps to squash that spider!
    Happy IWSG Day!

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  4. I.HATE.SPIDERS. And I hate getting stuck in writing. But what do you do? You kill (or force someone else) to kill the damn spider. And you push, push, push through with writing. In either situation, force yourself to come out the victor.

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  5. Apparently, my new home has a bit of a spider problem. I was just told. You should have seen the big sucker in the shower the other day...

    Talia's new plot will come to you at the right time. Apparently, now is not the right time. But soon, I'm sure.

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  6. LOL. I'm not fond of spiders, either. You have to use what you've got--whether it be killing spiders or plots that don't work.

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  7. sometimes it's good to have another story to turn to and the break will make you look at the other story with fresher eyes once you're ready to go back to it.

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  8. HA! I can totally relate. I HATE spiders. Still can't watch that scene in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. We won't even get into discussion the scene in The Return of the King. *shudder*. Toss me a stiletto! I'm in the same boat :D I've found that those pesky plots come when we least expect them. Coincidentally enough, they come to me in the shower...guess I should shower with my shoes on from now on!
    Cheers,
    Jen

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  9. I hate spiders! And yeah, sometimes there are things in writing I'd rather avoid but force myself to do them anyway. I'd still rather that than a spider. I'd rather sit down for three hours at a book-signing for a book I'm sure sucks and have NO one show up while the store owner is shaking his head at me then be forced to spend a single second trying to whack a spider that might jump at me (shudder - sometimes they jump!)
    My priorities might be off but hm ... it could always be worse. At least there's no spiders around, that I know of.

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  10. This had me laughing, Charity. I'm scared of spiders, so I can totally relate to your story. You described writing vulnerabilities so graphically ~ loved it!

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  11. Thank you everyone for visiting! I'm glad I'm not the only one terrified of spiders. :)

    It's been crazy here, but tomorrow I'll start my rounds and come visit your blogs.

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  12. I've been back and forth about writing emotionally a lot lately. I suck. I like this. I did okay. I suck. It's rough. But as long as I keep returning to "I like this" sometimes, I can keep on going.

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  13. Oh man, you would have freaked the other day if you had been me. I was at the day job, breaking down boxes and I look down. Giant spider on the box I'm holding. I shook it off and kept working thinking evilly about my one friend who is scared of spiders.

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