It happened. I was struggling and I was attributing it to not feeling well and having a crappy week... and maybe those things played into it, but the bottom line is, Mark Waid was right. Yes, Mark Waid. Some of you may know him as a Comic Book Writer who is most famous for his work in Superman comics over the past decade. I know him from a seminar he gave at WizardCon back in 2005. 2004? 2005? I can't remember which. Anyway, he spoke on the topic of Writer's Block and how he believed it was an issue of trying to take a character in the wrong direction. Until now, I never really understood how right he was. Don't get me wrong, I've quoted him on the subject a dozen times since then, but never actually experienced it before.
I hit a point in the book where I had my characters doing something, and suddenly it felt like it was dragging and felt so BLAAAAHHHHH, and in my head I blamed my writing, but yesterday I was sitting at home, thinking about the book, and it occurred to me. I wasn't listening to my characters. I was trying to usher them toward my plot ideas without any real considerations of the hows and the whys. So I deleted a couple thousand words and rewrote a good chunk of the third chapter.
Well, after that things were easy again. Writing felt good. I finished chapter three, I wrote chapter four, which was pretty short, and a good ways into chapter five. I cracked 20k words a little more than a week after I planned to, but I feel really good about it. I finally got to where I was really wanting to go, and this week is going to be super slow at work so I foresee taking some major strides in the next five days. Wish me luck! until next time...
Dream Big,
Ian
Ya know what is awesome about being your friend Ian?
ReplyDeleteIn the what...
*counting in my head*
...nine years... holy shit is that right?
Anyway... in the nine years we've known one another, I still get excited when you're talking about writing. Granted this is much more frustrating because I reeeeeally want the instant gratification of reading it RIGHTNOW and I can't but... lol it's great seeing you're having a breakthrough moment.
Mr. Waid is definitely right about taking characters and trying to push them like a puzzle piece into the wrong spot. I've read a few books where I felt like the author pushed characters together (thinking of romantic situations here) when there really wasn't the chemistry between them. Sometimes you just have to give in and let them have a little more voice as to which direction they want to go and I think it can be hard for a lot of writers (myself included) to do that without feeling almost like we're giving control over to someone who isn't real.
Good luck dude! Can't wait to hear your next news. :)
Man, has it been that long? It feels like just yesterday Kale Icarius and Rhianna Skywalker were sparring away in their own little duel of the fates. *sighs* How time flies. For the record, though, I was way off in my post. I went to WizardCon in like 2007-2008. Well, not way off, but off nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad I have your support, and I will do my best to keep the updates a-comin'!