The Pyrenees---Southern France

The Pyrenees---Southern France

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Take a Few Whacks At It--Like a Pinata

       Late last week I had a critique night looming over my head, and nothin' to share. Wednesday evening would be here all-too-soon.

       Also pushing my procrastinator's button was an anthology's deadline. I wanted to submit something, but had not started anything until Saturday night, when I sat down and wrote...a whopping three sentences.

      Crapola.

      On Sunday evening, instead of working on lesson plans when I had some spare time, I added to my piece. Now it was about a third or so done.

      Monday evening, Adam Levine was beckoning me ("The Voice" was on NBC) my muse cooperated a bit, and I made a bit more headway. But still, no end in sight..

      On Tuesday night, I got within sight of the finish line. However, it lacked some oomph here and there and it lacked cohesiveness.

      When I woke up on Wednesday morning, I was able to finish it and do some much-needed polishing. After some extremely-needed critique from the WWWPs last night, I submitted my story...just a few minutes ago.

photo by starmunki

      Last week the piece felt really forced. There wasn't anything easy about it. However, after working on it for a few days, and taking several whacks at it, the words busted loose...just like candy from a piñata.

      When the words are dammed-up, let your writing sit for a day or two. Make several attempts. And if the writing doesn't flow then, take a big stick...and whack at it until something busts loose...

24 comments:

  1. I know that at first you were afraid, you were petrified, but I know you will survive and thrive as an outstanding writer!

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    1. And I wondered how I could live without you by my side...;)

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  2. Hitting it is my solution for all mechanical issues.

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    1. Shay--Me, too. Especially my laptop when it's acting up.

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  3. If I'm really stuck, I save the file (with the first line as the title). Then when I have time to write, I look through my folder of first lines and pick one to work on - often, I don't remember writing it in the first place, so it doesn't feel forced - it feels like a good place to begin.

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    1. Kim--That's a really unique idea. I might steal it from you...

      And the older I get, the more "fresh" my old ideas seem, because I get more and more forgetful...

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  4. I'm not so sure about the whacking. I might get carried away. But I agree about making the attempts. I seed the garden. Let it out in all its craptastic splendor. And you're right. A few days later, it's easier to prune the weeds and add fast-acting Miracle Grow.

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    1. Craptastic. I love it. I'm gonna steal that, too.

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  5. This is just the advice I needed! I've had some wicked writer's block lately.

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    1. Mama Zen--I don't believe you ;) I've got your book on my shelf and started reading it. If YOU are blocked, I'd love to experience that kind of blockage...

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  6. Great advice, because some of us really seem to block up easily. I use Kim's technique a lot, too.

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  7. Hi Sioux - Popped over here from Linda's blog. I KNEW you were a writer! Susan :)

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    1. Susan--Birds of a feather...;)

      It was a great interview. I'm looking forward to hearing more about your writing success.

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  8. Good luck with your story! I bet you've got another winner.

    It was good to see you at SLWG this morning.

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    1. Donna--It was wonderful you see you as well. Have fun with the flurry of your granddaughter's last bit of high school. All too soon, she'll be in Columbia...

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  9. Guess it's time I whack on mine! Love the way you put it in this blog.

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    1. Lynn--Yes, it IS time to whack on yours.

      (And thanks.)

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  10. Saw the back of your head at StLWG but then lost track of you. Wish you had joined us for lunch at Amigos. Delish. Suzann was great too.

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  11. Oh! Words like candy from a pinata! Good one. If I get candy it might be worth it to keep whacking away ...

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    1. Marcia--Suzann WAS great. Scary, too. Scary in that I KNOW when I do a word search for those no-no words, I am going to find them in the triple or quadruple digits. Yikes!

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  12. I've been beating the S&*t out of my "pinata" trying to get the words to flow!!! I think I'll go eat a few girl scout cookies, maybe that'll do the trick!

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  13. The way my mind works, if the first draft doesn't flow like crazy, it's just something that needs to be fixed -- and I don't mind fixing it.

    I love the pinata comparison...

    Pearl

    p.s. You asked about the scarf, the "soft green" scarf. :-) I think four feet is plenty long for a scarf, isn't it?

    I'm quite excited about this!

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