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The Importance of Slogging
Aug. 27th, 2010 12:55 pmThe other day I mentioned being stuck in the Mirey Middle of my current project. It's a tough place to be. You know that somewhere in the future, this story has the potential to be awesome, but all you see for miles and miles is pointless dreck. At this point, all you can do is slog on, but anything seems a better use of your time. That sewing project you've been putting off for months. Making a playlist for your next story.
That's where I was, all right. (Observant readers may have noticed that I used the past tense. Less observant readers, this parenthetical statement is for you.) But for all my procrastinating, I knew that the only way out was through. And so, Wednesday night, I made myself write. Just a little. A hundred words, I told myself, and I could go to bed without guilt.
A hundred words became four hundred. And somehow, in the midst of ridiculous dialogue about ranch dressing, an idea formed. Coalesced. An event that I knew needed to happen soon, but couldn't figure out how, came to life. And just the thought of getting to write this scene so filled me with shiny and squee that I fell in love with this story all over again. ^.^ And then, just to prove the moment of epiphany wasn't a fluke, I got another idea— this time, a subplot for the characters that need more to do in this story. The book, it comes together!
Now, this isn't to say that my slogging days are completely over. Epiphany #1 involves a concept/theme that I've not done more than toy with, and that will take a lot of effort to work in, and not just have it pop in and out of existence. Epiphany #2 involves relationship drama that I find awkward and painful, and I'll have to work hard not to just sitcom the problems away. So this isn't exactly the light at the end of the tunnel. But at least I've been reminded that this is a tunnel, and not an oubliette.
(In other news, my mood icons are terribly distracting. This post has taken twice as long as it should have because I can't stop staring at that adorable bouncing bunny. ^^;; )
That's where I was, all right. (Observant readers may have noticed that I used the past tense. Less observant readers, this parenthetical statement is for you.) But for all my procrastinating, I knew that the only way out was through. And so, Wednesday night, I made myself write. Just a little. A hundred words, I told myself, and I could go to bed without guilt.
A hundred words became four hundred. And somehow, in the midst of ridiculous dialogue about ranch dressing, an idea formed. Coalesced. An event that I knew needed to happen soon, but couldn't figure out how, came to life. And just the thought of getting to write this scene so filled me with shiny and squee that I fell in love with this story all over again. ^.^ And then, just to prove the moment of epiphany wasn't a fluke, I got another idea— this time, a subplot for the characters that need more to do in this story. The book, it comes together!
Now, this isn't to say that my slogging days are completely over. Epiphany #1 involves a concept/theme that I've not done more than toy with, and that will take a lot of effort to work in, and not just have it pop in and out of existence. Epiphany #2 involves relationship drama that I find awkward and painful, and I'll have to work hard not to just sitcom the problems away. So this isn't exactly the light at the end of the tunnel. But at least I've been reminded that this is a tunnel, and not an oubliette.
(In other news, my mood icons are terribly distracting. This post has taken twice as long as it should have because I can't stop staring at that adorable bouncing bunny. ^^;; )
