On Hiatus

[rj_anderson]

I was getting so stressed out about this book of mine that I have decided to take a two-week holiday from writing anything whatsoever. Hopefully that will give me the time I need to brainstorm and make notes and get ideas flowing, so that when I come back to the story I'll be ready for it instead of feeling like I'm getting ahead of myself.

It's frustrating to have to rediscover/reinvent one's entire writing process, but that seems to be what I'm doing at the moment...

Comments

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Sometimes gaining distance is exactly what one needs.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

I hope it's what I need this time! But I was getting to the point where I felt that pushing myself any harder would make me hate the book and everyone in it, and I definitely don't want that. It's a good book and deserves better -- in theory, anyway. :)

[fandoria.livejournal.com]

I hope this does the trick for you and that you're able to come back creatively refreshed and with lots of ideas that just pour forth with great ease when you start writing again.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I hope so, too.

[kerravonsen]

You can look at the sunshine and feed the hamsters. It is hamsters you have, yes?

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

It is guinea pigs and they are shockingly pampered, but yes, sunshine would be good. :)

[kerravonsen]

I knew it was small furry animals of some sort.

[shoebox2.livejournal.com]

Ooh, cute nose-twitching hamsters! [/sporfle]

Anyway, I hear you re: frustration - I'm very much in the middle of the same process. One thing I have found is that if an idea's really good, it'll stick, and your brain will eventually find a way to work it in...as long as you don't try to force it. Perspective is a grand thing, really.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Perspective? What is this strange thing of which you speak? :)

[shoebox2.livejournal.com]

OK, I can see we'll need to start this from the beginning. Go eat some chocolate. :)

[terihall.livejournal.com]

Have a good rest from all the hubub. It is a good thing to do.

[wahlee-98.livejournal.com]

Good luck, RJA. I hope this is just the thing you need.

See you on the other side. :)

[yahtzee63.livejournal.com]

Hang in there! I'm here if you need me.

[olmue.livejournal.com]

You've had a lot of deadlines and revisions, which are enough to freeze out anyone's mind. Glad to hear you're taking a break--enjoy!

[izhilzha.livejournal.com]

I know the feeling of trying to re-invent one's writing process--only some of the stuff I've painstakingly learned writing prose over the past 15 years or so is truly applicable to scriptwriting, so there are times when it flows, and times when it...really, really doesn't, and I have to figure out why.

May your time off be blessed, and may you grow fonder of this particular project for the brief absence.

[deva-fagan.livejournal.com]

I hope that the time and distance will help you find what you need.

Are you finding that you have a lack of enthusiasm toward the project, or just that it's become intractable and difficult to wrangle into the shape you want? Or something else entirely? [If you don't want to talk about it feel free to just ignore this question]

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

I don't know what it is, to be honest. I have confidence in the story as I've outlined it (though I'm not above making changes if I see a better way, I've stayed fairly close to the original idea so far) and I quite like the characters (at least in theory -- if I feel`that I'm still getting to know them).

But the gap between what I hoped this book would be in terms of theme and depth and complexity of character, and the way it is actually turning out (which is more like connect-the-plot puzzle, where everything is about getting from Point A to B to C to D and there's no time for anything else along the way) is frustrating me no end.

And I don't understand why, when I have a perfectly good outline that shows me where I should be going next, why it's so incredibly hard to figure out what my characters should be saying and doing within any given scene. I swear it was easier when I didn't have a clue about what would happen next and was just writing whatever seemed good to me at the time.

I know all this can be fixed in revisions. It's just so discouraging to know already, when I'm only eight chapters in, that 90% of what I've written to this point will be thrown out and that all that time I took on outlining really hasn't made the writing process any easier or shorter in the end.

Anyway, I'm stressed to the max over this, so I think it's time to take a break.

[ladyjaguar.livejournal.com]

And I don't understand why, when I have a perfectly good outline that shows me where I should be going next, why it's so incredibly hard to figure out what my characters should be saying and doing within any given scene. I swear it was easier when I didn't have a clue about what would happen next and was just writing whatever seemed good to me at the time.

Perhaps during your little escape, you can sit quietly and listen and see if your characters won't tell you what they are going to do next.

[jenny-moss.livejournal.com]

Thinking of you, Rebecca.

[laurasmagicday.livejournal.com]

I wish you well. Unplugging is a great way to get centered. I started playing the guitar to try to calm myself lately. If you ever did play an instrument, maybe pick it up again. Very soothing.

[owl]

Look at it this way: people with 9-to-5 jobs are entitled to annual leave; why not you?

[erinbow.livejournal.com]

wish i weren't out of town. I could so do with a brainstorm/tea/break/commiserate about writing/thingy. Pencil me in for August, and hope that at least one of us is over this brain-dead slump by then.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

It's a date. I'll be gone the first week of August on family vacation, but after that it should (Lord willing!) be easy to get together with you... and I would love that.

[ladyjaguar.livejournal.com]

It's frustrating to have to rediscover/reinvent one's entire writing process, but that seems to be what I'm doing at the moment...

In my experience, not much different from non-fiction. Have a nice escape!

Come back recharged.

[russian-ivy.livejournal.com]

Just dropped by and friended you. My sister and I used to write together at the SQ as ivy & Gracie, and were huge fans of your D & L trilogy. I believe they were what inspired us to start writing FF ourselves. All these years after we discovered them, we still talk about them.

Congratulations on your book contracts! I look forward to hearing how you progress in your writing.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

I certainly remember you! How lovely to hear from you again -- and thanks for the kind words!