Grapemo 2014 Day 23: WORD THERAPY
After a very disconcerting past couple of weeks, I sat down at my laptop yesterday and opened my WIP.
I admit I haven't written much this month. I felt lucky to simply be keeping up with this blog in spite of everything going on around me, especially the death of my wonderful stepmom. I wanted to blog about her (and still do, and will) but words failed me left and right. Knowing I had to post something every day, even if just a picture or a word of inspiration, gave me focus, provided some distraction.
Whenever I thought it felt more like a "chore" I remembered of all of you, pounding away toward your goals. Regularly sending in updates and teasers. Offering words of encouragement with in your comments and on Facebook.
Then I thought: You know, Jen, YOU started this thing--DO SOMETHING ALREADY! Stop floundering, for Christ's sake.
So I stopped. I opened the file and reviewed what I'd already written. It's not great. It's not terrible. It's a typical first draft, rambling in some places, condensed in others. A mess of words, incomplete scenes, and snippets of dialogue. Naked, undeveloped characters. A vague timeline. A hasty synopsis that stops about halfway through the story, leaving the ending, my characters--and especially me--dangling.
But the story...oh, the story! It was there, all there, and waiting for me. After a couple of false starts (Wait a sec, WHO is this person? How did X get to Y? What was I thinking here?) the words tumbled from my brain as fast as I could type.
HELLO, STORY! ARE YOU HAPPY TO SEE ME?
~WELL, YES I AM. WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?
OH, BUSY, YANNO. WITH LIFE AND STUFF.
~BUSY? BULL. YOU'VE BEEN SITTING ON YOUR ASS. I SAW YA, SISTER. I SEE YOUR EVERY MOVE.
(Note: My WIP never minces words)
OK, WELL, I'M BACK, OKAY? SO PUT A SOCK IN IT.
(Note: Neither do I)
ANYWAY, I'VE BEEN IN KIND OF A BAD MOOD...
~YEAH, YEAH... YOU'VE BEEN WALLOWING.
I HAVE *NOT* BEEN WA--
~WAAAAAALLLLOOOWIIING! WALLOW, WALLOW, WALLOW!
WAIT. IS THIS SUPPOSED TO BE SOME KIND OF "TOUGH LOVE" THING?
~YOU BET YOUR SWEET ASS IT IS.
WELL...IT'S WORKING.
GOOD! NOW GET TO WORK AND SHOW ME WHAT YOU'VE GOT!
So I showed it (her? him?) and hammered out 5,000 words this weekend. Some good words, some bad words. I may keep some of them. I may cut some of them.
Whatever I do, though--I'm back to doing it.
Thank you, Grapenuts, for your own inspiration.
xox