Dreaming and Dreading. What a combination! However, that's where I am in my writing world. I'm dreaming of the day I can get back to my creative side. In fact, I've even told my husband that I feel like I'm losing my true self because it's been so long since I've been able to sit and write the way I used to. Free, fingers flying, characters and plots playing out in my head like a movie. I love that feeling!
I did okay at the spring retreat, but I was restless and took more "walks" than I think I put words on the page. I wish I could turn the writing side of me off and on.
How do you put yourself in the mood when you have to get writing no matter what?
I plan on taking all my music and headphones, as well as download some of my pinterest inspiration boards to get me started. Please tell me what else you do because I want to be over-prepared.
October Question--When do you know your story is done?
This is going to sound dumb, but you just do. As a writer, you may not know where you'll end up, but you can feel it in your heart and soul when you get there. Your characters have become your best friends, gone through hell and back in one way or another, and at least for me, they've reached some form of resolution hinting at a happy ending.
The harder question for me is--when is the editing done? I could tweak forever trying to get phrases, paragraphs, scenes and chapters perfect, but that will never happen. At some point I have to tell myself to let it go and move to the next story.
What about you?
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The editing could go on forever.
ReplyDeleteHope that writing retreat is just what you need!
You are moving forward on your writing journey Charity and that matters a lot.
ReplyDeleteI guess baby steps are better than nothing.
DeleteYou know what gets me writing when I have time to write but don't quite have the impetus? I write about starting to write. I sit down with a blank document and type stream-of-consciousness stuff. Like how tired I am. Or what I'm thinking and feeling. And at some point I'll start writing what I should be writing about.
ReplyDeleteLet me explain that. As I write, I start saying "I should be working on my novel. Character 1 is..." and as I start writing about what I should be writing about, slowly it morphs into actually writing the story. By "slowly" I mean it takes about two sentences.
Hope this helps.
Awesome! I'll have to keep that one in mind. Thanks.
DeleteI let distractions - like taking walks, or house cleaning - interfere when I have all the time in the world to write. Its like I self sabotage my creativity. I know if I went to a writer's retreat I'd likely find some way not to write (sighs). I hope you sit in a chair and let the free flow take you.
ReplyDeleteI do exactly the same thing. Last year the retreat was great for me. I managed almost 20K words on book 3 of my series. Sadly, I haven't added more than 5K for the rest of the year. :(
DeleteEnjoy your retreat. Hope you get a lot of writing done.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your retreat. Sounds like a piece of heaven - 3 days of uninterupted writing. Wish you lots of fun.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Hopefully, I'll settle in quickly.
DeleteIt sounds like your retreat is coming at the perfect time for you. Maybe if you jot down some story ideas or prompts before you go, you can get the creative juices moving again while you're there. Then again, there's a lot to be said about taking those solitary walks, too. Give yourself some breathing room, and let yourself relax.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. Knowing when a story is done is a lot easier than knowing when it's time to stop editing.
Luckily, I have tons of ideas to work on. I'm not going to pin myself down to any one in particular, but let my brain write on whichever one it feels like to keep the words flowing.
DeleteHope you get a lot of writing done.
ReplyDelete\
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