When I drive, occasionally I have to make an unexpected turn. Screech. Bump-bump as I hit the brakes to slow down and go over the curb. (Just a bit.) Tom Tom (my GPS) is telling me to "turn now" and there are two streets close together. Do I turn now or at the next street?
Or I'm traveling with a friend who's the navigator, and we're listening to the radio (loud) and getting lost at several spots. But eventually, we always find our way.
It's like that with a story as well. Or at least it's that way with my stories. I putter along (unfortunately, I hardly ever manage to break the speed limit when I'm writing) and occasionally, I make an unexpected left turn.
Yesterday I was reading Lisa's blog. She wrote about an unexpected tidbit that reared its head in her current WIP (a book in her second series of books... Am I the only one that has publishing envy when I think of her?). And without even planning on it, my WIP drifted into my head.
No, I wasn't even able to work on it last night. Too busy with an evening meeting and doing work for my classroom. But still...
Before last night, I had it all planned out when it came to a major plot event. A bit of revenge. A felonious bit of justice. It has been set in stone for more than a year.
However, even though it was unintended, it was insistent: my story told me loudly and clearly--this is how that part should play out.
And now, that part is going to head in a different direction. It makes more sense. It solves a problem I was having. And, the story drove itself there...
What kind of left turn have you experienced lately? Minds with banged-up hubcaps want to know...
I love when those jogs and wrong turns end up being helpful
ReplyDeleteand putting us on the write track.
Me, too.
DeleteYou don't even want to know. But the result is I'd rather read the Unabridged Book of World Haiku than write a poem right now.
ReplyDeleteSometime, I'd like to hear about this. It must have been horrible.
DeleteIt's all left turns here!
ReplyDeleteThree left turns = a right one...
DeleteSioux, my whole life is a left turn anymore! But I do understand what you said about following the lead of the story. Sometimes both story and poem can end up some different on the page than from what it was in my head!
ReplyDeleteClaudia--That's a great way of putting it: following the lead of the story...
DeleteWell, you already know that my left turn included a dead body. Don't you love it when that happens? :) Thanks for the mention and link. The book I'm working on---with the unexpected character death (a murder most foul---yay!)---has been riddled with starts and stops. If I had been on schedule I'd be typing "the end" this month. It will be March instead. Uphill with a few backslides, but those left turns sure help us find our footing on a better path sometimes! Can't wait to read your book when you're done!
ReplyDeleteLisa--Yeah, I love dead bodies. The messier the better. ;)
DeleteIt usually IS a better path after all the backslides and left turns.
(And I can't wait to read it when it's finished as well...)
It's awesome when the light bulb goes off. Doesn't matter which way you turn as long as you get where you want to go.
ReplyDeletePat
Critter Alley
Pat--Amen.
DeleteLeft turns? Just the ones made by my newly-driver's-licensed son. Who didn't know that you can apply the brakes while turning.
ReplyDeleteVal--And do you sit in the backseat while The Pony drives?
DeleteSo many left turns...but you know if you keep turning left, you eventually get right. Or wait...well, you know what I mean. :-)
ReplyDeleteCathy--Yeah, we eventually get right back on the write path. (See what I did there? ;)
DeleteI still prefer a paper map, but it's hard to read while driving. Sure wish I could write something with direction. I just tend to go until I run out of gas and have no idea where I am.
ReplyDeleteJono--Yeah, me too, and I run out of gas very quickly...
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