Summer in the slow lane
I always drive the speed limit but summer has pushed me way over into the slow lane of writing. I think about it a lot and do it some. I’ve also tapered off on the reading of blogs and novels and magazines. I am doing a lot of planning, scouting of opportunities and deliberate thinking. I’m making a lot of lists.
I’m a gatherer by nature.
I have myself convinced that this break is just part of the process, a necessary evil – if you will – where I move in circles instead of forward.
I’m not spending days at the beach or in front of the TV. I’m not shopping or lunching or traveling, although I am trying to spend more time with friends and I’m accepting any invitation I get to do anything. I’m not nesting – although I have cleaned-out a few closets in the past month.
I guess I’m figuring.
I have come up with a few new characters in my head. One is the Asian/Irish 22 year old I wrote a short, short story about. I think I’ll post that here when I don’t win the contest in which it is entered! Ah, yes, I have many lists and need to put ‘positive thinking’ on one of them.
Has summer derailed your writing or kicked you into gear?
The miserable weather here in New England has both helped and hindered my writing – when it’s rainy and dismal outside I am more likely to stay home and focus. But when the sun arrives I need to worship it in the short time it’s here and set aside all hopes of accomplishing anything other than getting rid of my pale, sickly winter white skin.
Good luck on the contest, hope to read your short story somewhere soon!
Gather now, hunt later. Rumination is good.
I’m just kind of in neutral or maintaining, but did have a poem published in a nice little magazine, so that was nice.
Derailed. BIG time. You know, one of the hard things about writing is figuring out when I need to push through it, when I’m being lazy, or when I just need back-burner time.
I’ve been gathering myself – mostly ideas for the plot for the next novel. I’ve been reading a lot (research) and doing freelance writing, but there’s no “new” writing on the novel yet.
I haven’t really written much because of the stage I’m at with my wip. I’ve reworked scenes and written a new line or two, but that’s about it. Last night I finally got an idea for a new short story and wrote down the bones of it at 1:30am.
Derailed, completely!!! I got stuck on plotting and I’ve gone brain dead.
Hi Amy,
I have seen quite a few posts around this subject, and it seems many writers are feeling a bit derailed–myself included. I think the fact that so many are feeling the same lends some validity to the notion that it’s all part of the rhythym of writing. We all need some backburner time to reflect, or to gather–or I suspect we’ll run out of steam. Enjoy