Saturday, August 17, 2013

WIPMarathon Check In #1


Guys, this is my first check in with #WIPMarathon. If you need more information you should go here and join us because its really been a blast.

I started a little late to the game but its still been good for me. Hard. Definitely hard, but also so good. I cant really fill the questions out like I should because this was a terrible week. My parents are still working on moving in so its been hit and miss. Oh, and I'm a slacker. Add that to the fact that every single time I opened my WIP I froze. I mean completely froze. I don't know what my deal is. Anyone have any idea? This story used to mean a lot to me. I used to love it. I think I still do but more than anything I just don't care. I cant seem to want to work with these characters anymore. Is that normal? I've been writing the same story for over three years now in one form or another and this week I just got sick of dealing with them.

Suddenly, for the first time in literally years, I didn't care about telling this story, or the characters in it. I got about 3k revised words and froze, lost steam, or didn't have the desire to work with them. I didn't care if they got their happy ending or their story told because I couldn't stand to look at the WIP for one more second.

After taking a few days off I just needed to write and I finally just sat down and wrote. Something new, something fresh. I wrote 3k and the ideas were bouncing off of everything. I didn't want to stop but baby needed me.

Anyway this Check-In is going to be a little weird.



WIP Issues This Week: This week was sad. It was a struggle for the reasons listed above. I never thought that I would get to the point that I didn't care about telling this story because it has nagged at me forever, but even opening the document was exhausting and I had to remind myself that I write because I love it.



What I learnt this week in writing: I suppose I learned that sometimes you just have to have fun with your work. I think thats a big reason that I opened a clean document and just wrote. I needed to remember that creating things is what I love to do.



What distracted me this week while writing: The normal things. Hubs and I started a new diet and it takes a lot of preparation. I've lost 6 pounds, but its a lot of work and planning ahead. Also the baby has been in a mood. And the constant traffic to and from my house due to my parents moving in.



Last 200 Words: 

I always hate this part. This is super rough and part of my shitty first draft, but here you go:


She had that deer caught in headlights look about her. She didn’t know me, and she was scared. Understandable. But it didn’t change the fact that I didn’t want her to get on that bus. Especially, now, nearing two in the morning. Who knows what kind of characters are going to be on that bus tonight. 
I could tell that she wasn’t following behind me so I stopped walking and turned. She was standing where I left her looking like a scared puppy.

Things stirred inside of me that haven’t felt in years. My chest tightened as if on its own accord and I wanted to go to her, pull her into my arms and reassure her that everything was going to be okay. 

Instead I tapped my foot impatiently, “Lets go. You’re not taking the bus tonight. We can call Joe on our way to my truck so that if something happens someone knows who you were with if that makes you feel better.” I pulled my beat up cell out of my front pants pocket and waved it in the air.

Finally, as though determined to be brave and not think of me as a threat she sighed and started my way. When she neared, I turned on my heel and started off toward where I had left my truck three blocks away. We reached my truck and she stood by the passenger door refusing to get in.

8 comments:

  1. Sounds like you've had a busy week.
    I think it's important to be reminded that we like to write when working on something becomes hard or unbearable. I hope you figure out what to do.

    I like the dynamic between the two people in the excerpt. :)

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  2. I've done this before (more than once). It's so depressing to think of the devotion you once felt for the story and how long you've spent pouring yourself into it, only to realize you don't give a crap anymore. I think this is normal. People get burned out on their day jobs, their morning commute, that relentless Taylor Swift song on the radio-- and it's considered perfectly fine for them to feel frustration about it. I think for us writers, we feel like we HAVE to love our work all the time because it comes from such a deep part of us. But I think burn out is normal. We're still human after all. I took a whole month off from my current WIP before I could stand it again. And I've taken another week off since then. Don't get discouraged! Your excerpt is great! Stick to the new WIP if it makes you happy!

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  3. It's horribly depressing when that happens. Sometimes working on something new is the best thing to do. I worked on one project for years and realised that in that time I'd forgotten that writing is supposed to be fun! Best to stick with what makes you happy. :)

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  4. Thanks everyone! Your comments were all so encouraging! I really appreciate it :)

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  5. I've had that feeling before with my writing. Really disheartening, but then sometimes, after a break, the urge to carry on with it returns. Good luck. :) Working on something fresh is a good way to stay creative and keep the words flowing. Your excerpt is great!

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  6. Thank you so much! I'm always so worried about posting my writing but everyone's comments have been so encouraging!

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  7. I'm glad you're taking the chance to start something fresh. You can always go back to the old MS once it's settled a little. Keep at it. :)

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  8. Thanks! I'm hoping to be able to go back to it soon, but I'm really loving my new WIP!

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