I can't read. I can't write.Let's deal with the 'read' part first.
If you've been keeping track, you'll know that I finished Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides two nights ago, and you'll already know how I felt about that book. Here's the problem: When you read a REALLY GREAT book, you want it to stay with you awhile. At least I do. You want the characters to live on, if only in your head, for as long as the memory stays strong.
At the same time, I'm feeling the pressure of the 50 book challenge. The stack of paperbacks on my TBR shelf are calling. I even picked up two or three, struggled through the first few pages and discarded them in disgust. They just can't compare to the richness and depth of Middlesex! I also don't really want the Middlesex folks to leave me just yet and once I'm into another novel, - poof! It's all over for Desdemona, Callie, et al.
Let's move to the 'write' part.
Scanning the old day planner at the beginning of the month, I quickly realized that I wasn't going to get much writing done. Too many things happening -- kids out of school, writing course, Destiny by Design edits, TRW newsletter, appointments filling up my 'available time', etc. Rather than get my knickers in a knot about the time that I don't have, I made a conscious decision to let things ride for a bit. So here I am with a few hours to kill and I absolutely cannot find my focus!! I can't decide whether to ride the wave of the sale of Destiny by Design and write another erotic romance (I've so many ideas!!), or if I should concentrate on my novel WIP. Or should I revisit the pirate WIP (which I've abandoned).
Ah, hell. I'm going to clean the bathroom. . .
9 comments:
When the muse isn't there you can't force yourself to write. I understand your predicament. I read the last P&P continuation book and I can't make myself read anything else. I've read about 20 pages of "Just One Sip" which is three novellas in a book; I haven't been focusing lately either and now I have to put the project I was excited about on the back burner to do edits for EE.
I don't clean bathrooms when I am in this state, I iron.
I'll come clean your bathroom, if you do my ironing... ;D
There was just a daydreaming survey that said when you are doing routine tasks (e.g. cleaning the bathroom), you are more likely to daydream, thus get inspired. So I'd say clean the bathroom, let the mind wander, and you'll come up with some story ideas.
Very interesting, Megan,...
I need more bathrooms!!!
:) You can come over to my house. Forget bathrooms Wylie. Think of all the daydreaming and inspiration you can get from cleaning all my rooms! :) I'm sorry I can't stop giggling!
Can somebody please never tell my husband that inspiration will come from my cleaning! He'll be all too encouraging. :)
Ooh, I was curious... what writing course are you taking? If you don't mind my being nosy. :)
As for the writing... which characters are calling out to you? I won't lie... I put a book, near completion I might add, on the back burner and started another one (stop shaking your head.) Anyways I'm with Amy, you shouldn't force it. It always comes down to... whatever your feeling while your writing it is usually the same feeling that the reader takes away from it. If your frustrated, or just rushing to get through writing it... your readers will know it.
Gah, I need to clean our bathroom, too. Oh, joy. Or not. :)
I know what you're saying; there never seem to be enough hours in a day! Hang in there. :) It's good that you have many writing projects in the fire, though -- if you're not in the mood for one project, then another of them might call to you. :)
It's funny I just posted about this. I find it hard to get into the groove when I only have a short time to write. Except on Sundays. Then I think my mind is relaxed enough that I can get into it no problem.
I'm like that with character too, but more with TV shows than books. Some books stay with me a long time and those are the ones I tend to reread.
Thanks for the great advice and supporting words, guys....
Vicky - I'm doing a kid lit course (writing for children has always been a passion) through the Institute for Children's Literature. So far, so good, but I'm finding it hard to switch gears between the two genre's right now. But can you blame me? The leap from silly to erotic is vast!!
TL - LOL! But if I have TOO MANY irons in the fire, as is the case now, I dither about which one I should be working on... end up doing a little here, a little there, and feeling no sense of accomplishment!
Christine -- ah, Sunday....
Yeah - can you believe my family actually expects me to do stuff WITH THEM?? Never a good day to write :(
Wow Wylie,
That's quite a jump from one to the other, but let us know how your course goes and how your transitioning. I would love to hear more about this sometime from you.
Post a Comment