I've hit the first wall on my new WIP. You know the one (if you've ever attempted to write). Since I decided to forgo the outline, I started out with characters, and then proceeded to create a mock synopsis or quick timeline of events, rather. I soon found myself writing entire paragraphs until I hit the point when I asked myself "and then what happens..." and I'm stuck.
No rush. Really.
Engineering can be very endearing, rewarding and time consuming affair. But like all affairs, it must end before the wife finds out. And writing is a very jealous wife.
I'm uncertain whether it is an an advantage or a handicap for my writing, but knowing that my paycheck is not co-relational to my publication means that I can take my time. Not that I've stopped thinking about it. By no means. In fact, the wip has been on my mind, and a few possible scenarios are circling the plot like a pack of hungry sharks (even though I've never seen Nat Geo show sharks hunting in packs). I just don't know what direction to take the story in, you know? Of course you don't.. I've not given even an inkling as to what the story is about.
How do you all deal with these situations? Do you feel that having a full-time, wage earning job helps or takes from your writing?
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About Me
- Jm Diaz
- It's not that I'm mean. It's just that I sometimes say things others only think, yet are afraid to voice themselves. Oh, and I'm not very good at talking about myself. That's why I make up people, and then place them in situations, and throw in a guy with a gun. I'm a writer, attempting to peel away from the world of Systems Engineering. Not that Information Technology is bad, its just that I don't love it. Not like I love storytelling. Pays the bills though.
8 comments:
At least you have a WIP. That puts you one step ahead of me, friend.
It does both. Teaching, for me and most teachers I know, is a 27/7 job. Before school, after school, everywhere you go in a smaller town or city. Meetings, professional development, writing curriculum, it all adds up. The flip side is that you meet so many people and get to observe them and hear so many qreat lines of dialogue it's almost worth it. :)
First of all, sharks do hunt in packs. They also smoke unfiltered cigarettes. But I digress...
I remember reading an article in the New Yorker about a successful, prolific writer who was a lawyer (can't remember his name, gosh darn it) who used write on the side of his lawyering. He always dreamed of quitting the day job and writing full-time and then when he did, he discovered he wasn't as productive and missed the illicit feeling of rushing to write something in between his lawyerly duties. So, really, working full-time can have its place and if taking your time works for you while you engineer the new Bat Cave, then that's all that matters.
Oh, yeah. I've hit that wall a time or two. The day job may keep me from obsessing about it, but I really can't say it helps. Me no likey the day job. #justsayin
Treadmill time helps me work out plot points. Of course, most people I talk to say they hate treadmills with a passion *lol*
I've hit a wall, too. After doing pretty well with 500 words a day for a few weeks, I stopped writing when I got my big news last Thursday. Just quit - cold turkey.
I HAVE to get back on track!
I do blame my day job for eating up all of my time and numbing my creative juices. At least some of the bank customers are colorful enough to inspire a supporting cast.
Try college and extra curriculars and a part-time job. SUCK-FEST. I would love to be a full time writer but school comes first!
When I hit a wall I go with my gut. You seem to be inadvertently writing the novel straight and bypassing the planning by accident. GO WITH THAT!!! If you feel the most passionate about writing it straight out of your head DO SO! Skrew an outline. Sometimes you get the best ideas when you let the waters flow freely. And if you get stuck, stop and plan on paper, come up with scenarios to get UNSTUCK.
That’s how I wrote my currently WIP. When the wall came took a few days mulling things over in my head, playing out different scenarios until it worked itself out. Good luck.
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