Writus Interruptus
Here's my sad, sad story for October: these last couple of months I've been making great progress on my current WIP. I estimate I'm two-thirds of the way through the first draft at a current count 57,000+ words. I know it'll need lots of polish and some reworking when I get to draft two, but I'm pleased with how it's coming along. I'm in a groove. And tomorrow . . . I leave on vacation.
More accurately, it's a quest for fun. That's right, three generations of blood and in-laws---nineteen of us in all---are gathering at the real life Wally World for what certainly won't be relaxing, but most definitely will be fun. :) The thing is, with my focus interrupted for seven whole days, not to mention readjustment time once we return home, will I lose my mojo?
It took me over a year to recover from the first book being published before I revved up the whatever-it's-called to go at this next manuscript in earnest. (See? I'm already losing my ability to summon a fitting noun on command!) Will this trip of the century---during which there will be no time to scribble anything on a notepad---throw me into another tailspin from which it'll take me far too long to recover?
Tell me, what do you do to rekindle the magic when your writus has been interrupted?
It took me over a year to recover from the first book being published before I revved up the whatever-it's-called to go at this next manuscript in earnest. (See? I'm already losing my ability to summon a fitting noun on command!) Will this trip of the century---during which there will be no time to scribble anything on a notepad---throw me into another tailspin from which it'll take me far too long to recover?
Tell me, what do you do to rekindle the magic when your writus has been interrupted?
Comments
Rekindle the magic ... hmmm ...
Got me.
Srsly, I'm not in the best place to answer your excellent question, at the mo. But I loved reading your post.
Have a safe, thoroughly enjoyable trip.
or
Do time limits. Day one, set the timer for five minutes and you have to write for that long non-stop twice a day. Day two, twenty minutes...You get the idea.
or
Go for a walk, think about your next scene. Now, imagine I'm interviewing you about that scene --because when I read the book, it's my favorite scene--what made you write the scene? Why did you add it into the book? Sometimes, it gets me excited to write the scene.
When you return, maybe you can use some of your memories to generate ideas for a story.
Just a thought.
Donna V.
Vacation always throws me. As for getting back into it, though, that's not usually a problem, because I'm ready to claw my hair out with the need to write by the time I get back.
Don't worry! Your groove will be there when you return (vacation isn't nearly as distracting as putting a book out!).
Hmm, what to do when le writus mojous has been interruptedus...usually, I listen to some really emo music. I'm not emo at all, but I tell you what, all those feelings and stuff remind me of my characters and all the shenanigans I had planned before the interruptedus. Or, if you have a playlist for your book, listen to that?
Either way, have a great time on your trip and let us know how your writus fares!
Read books
Critique books for my CPs
Listen to blaring music with my fave song on repeat
Lots of long bike rides so my mind can wander
Mind map crazy book ideas, see where the brainstorm takes me.
Lean on my friends, both writers and non-writers alike.
:)
Love your blog here. Yay! I'm a big 80s fan!!!
I blogged about this today. Write in smaller chunks just to tell myself I'm doing something. And read.
Thanks for your sweet words and enjoy your vacation.
Have a wonderful time on the get together and just hit the last scene you were working on.
Kate
and after all that funfilled family time, i'll bet you will be anxious to get back to your story.
or bring it along to re read what you've done =)
vacays are win win =) have a great time!
Perhaps something happened that you can use in you finish... We get influenced by SO many different things and being open to a new WORLD might just give you that excitement to finish with a BANG!
Have a FANTASTIC TIME! I want to hear all about it when you come for your visit into the city.
My mojo was interrupted for formatting and polishing what I just published. And now I'm trying to move the first draft of the next piece to brilliance. So, I made a schedule ... M-F for revision, weekends for the WIPs. Yes, there's more than one. Sometimes I don't know why I get myself into this stuff.
Oh, and we're on vacation soon, too. I make notes of where I left off and print out the last chapter. I scribble notes on it. It's a place to start when I pick it up again. That usually helps.
Have fun. Good luck!
HMG
Good luck! And have fun on your trip!