Not sure what it is about this book, but I'm really struggling here. Serious, meltdown-inducing kinds of struggle. The higher-than-usual chocolate cravings should have been a sign.
Danny and I sat down during lunch and talked about it (that statement sounds more grown-up than it was. Less adult conversation and more talking-off-of-ledge). The conclusion I've come to is that I'm taking next week off of writing. In lieu of writing, I'm going to spend a week storyboarding and really figuring out WHERE THE HECK THIS BOOK IS GOING. Because there's a good story in there, and some good characters, and it's already funny and poignant and all that good stuff, but my idea of where it's all going is kind of hazy.
Hazy is bad. Actually, worse than bad. Soul killing. Mind numbing.
While I storyboard, I'm also going to try a project or two that Sara would do. This gives me a.) some fun things for her to do, for me to write about with authority and b.) an actual concrete project with a beginning, middle, and end within the foreseeable future.
The hope here is that when I return to writing, I will know what I'm doing and be able to return at a faster, more reasonable pace.
Really hopeful here, because something's got to give.
Good luck.
ReplyDeleteHere here! The power of the outline is great indeed. I have, over many many years, discovered that I am 90% more likely to finish a writing project if I've figured it all out before I actually write it, and that I'm at least 60-75% faster at writing it once I've finished the planning process. I prefer to write off the cuff (planning is Tedious and Boring, and writing is Exciting!), but I have finished a total of one writing projects in that manner, and that when I was in high school. Whereas every project I've thoroughly planned out, I have finished. Therefore, since I recently had an idea for a children's book, I have thus far refrained from writing (helped by the fact that it takes place here in Jordan and I haven't seen everything here yet...). I am, instead, planning. So good luck with your storyboard and projects. :) (Ironically, Sarah also seems more like the sort of person to need a defined plan...) :)
ReplyDelete-Rachel