I feel very quiet today. The words are in the stories. As I rework passages of my novel, toss out sentences, bring in new ones to replace the old, I find myself in an unusual position, caught in the breathless anticipation of something coming.
I've never been one of those writers who has a lot of ideas. To be honest, that's probably one of the hardest things for me when it comes to writing, coming up with ideas. It's a strange thing to say but, really, I just don't have any.
I don't know how to jump from one project to another with a dozen nexts stashed away. I generally sit down with nothing. A blank page. An empty space in my head. And I just think: fill it. Because that's how I approach my whole life. That's just what I do.
But, all the sudden, here I am with a little something. A someone. A fragment. One stitch of a seam. And, of course, I am not at all prepared. Not at all ready.
I love it when I feel like this. And totally agree with you about the idea thing. I'm jealous of those who have ideas coming out their ears and unfinished manuscripts stuffed in their closets.
ReplyDeleteAha! Is one of your characters inching forward to grab the steering wheel of your car?!
ReplyDeleteI'm the same way, I never, never have ideas. If I get an idea, it's a big deal. I can come up with characters, or a scene here and there maybe, but getting the Big Idea that can be an entire book is a really rare thing for me.
ReplyDeleteBut I'm ready. For it and for you.
ReplyDeleteExcellent description of the writing process. Grab the spark and hang on!
ReplyDeleteI rather like the idea of ideas presenting themselves one at a time -- quietly sneaking up on you. It doesn't matter how many ideas you have in reserve...as long as you get them when it counts, you're good
ReplyDeleteYou rock, my friend. And you're right. I always thought that I had to have seven hundred ideas a week. But they never panned out. But the one idea did. That fragment is waiting for you. (((hugs)))
ReplyDeleteThat is the best feeling :) I bet you have more ideas than you know.
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