I'm on vacation from work so that means I can visit many many blogs today at a reasonable hour. It also means I'm going to actually try to get some writing done. I mean, yesterday was my lazy recovery day and today is blogging day, so...
I'm still working on Chapter 27. Actually, I haven't been working on it much at all. I don't know the exact reason. I just haven't felt like it. Maybe writing Chapter 26 took a lot out of me, but I think it's been way too long for that to still be an excuse. I guess I'm just having a motivation problem. I know everything that needs to happen in this chapter, so it's not like I have anything to figure out. I just have to actually make with the words.
Well, since I'm not at work this week, I can't use being tired as an excuse. Bring on the words!
Onto this month's optional question: Has your writing ever taken you by surprise? For example, a positive and belated response to a submission you'd forgotten about or an ending you never saw coming?
Uhh, literally everything? Seriously, go tell my teenage self about the story I'm writing. She'll think you're crazy, and she'll wonder where the vampires are.
Sometimes I'm surprised by random lines, like there's no way I could have come up with them on my own (because Jordan is writing the book, not me, duh). There's one in particular that always comes to mind, but it involves a bad word. Well, ok. I took "whatever floats your boat" but replaced "boat" with a male body part. One of the many lines that I didn't write. And yes, I know that makes it not rhyme anymore. It still works, trust me.
My biggest surprise is actually my entire idea for Book 3. It involves something that I swore would never happen. I'm so secretive about it, which I know is silly since I haven't even published Book 1, but I am keeping this concept locked up in my brain. I did tell my husband, but he probably forgot. When I first got the idea, I thought, wait, this wasn't supposed to happen. But the more I thought about it, the more I fell in love with the idea.
So if I ever finish this book, maybe someday I'll get to that surprise book idea.
Love this - "Bring on the words!"
ReplyDeleteHope you're enjoying your time off work. :)
If my teenage self could see the books I write today, she would be horrified. Cozy mysteries - how boring!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your time off work and I hope the words flow easily and freely for you.
Cheers - Ellen
Sounds like a break from work is exactly what you needed to get the creativity flowing! Chapter 27 will happen. Usually when you walk away for a time, the words start to flow.
ReplyDeleteLove when the story twists in unexpected directions!
ReplyDeleteMy teenage self would be surprised as well!
Lots of surprises for you.
ReplyDeleteTrust me, your husband has forgotten...
Lines do surprise me sometimes.
ReplyDeleteWriting is much like role-playing. Once it begins, who knows where it will lead. ;-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
Hey! I'm staring down chapter 27 in my story, too. Sometimes I think knowing exactly what's going to happen actually stymies me more - like, there's nothing exciting or new to look forward to. But I bet your characters will manage to surprise you along the way of getting those words out. Good luck writing TOMORROW!
ReplyDeleteI've had lines characters say surprise me.
ReplyDeleteI've currently got one of those chapters that I just need to get done. Nothing really challenging about doing it, other than just DOING IT.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a productive writing time and good vacation!
It's always an adventure to be a pantser. :D
ReplyDeleteI love it when my characters are clever like that! @samanthabwriter from
ReplyDeleteBalancing Act
I love those surprise book ideas. And those surprise lines that just come out of my characters' mouths that make even my jaw drop.
ReplyDeleteI'm super secretive about my Book Three too.
Enjoy your vacation!
It's amazing what comes out of our heads. A constant surprise :)
ReplyDeleteI think we keep those ideas secret because letting them out in the world might dilute them. Others will chime in with opinions and reactions, and these still-to-be-born creatures are rather fragile.
ReplyDeleteThat's great that you have good (and secret) surprises. Good luck with your next chapter. Knowing what you want to happen is a big help when you sit down to work on it. It always helps me to write new chapters.
ReplyDeleteHmm, do male body parts float? Sounds like a delicious secret for book three!
ReplyDeleteThe surprises make it all the more fun, don't they?
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you have a surprise book idea! Exciting!
ReplyDeleteNow you have to write it because we/I want to know your surprise.
ReplyDeleteYes! Vacation is the best time for writing!
ReplyDeleteI love it when my writing surprises me.
We'll all be eager for the surprise!
ReplyDeleteDon't you love it when imagination spontaneously combusts!? Characters say and do the darnedest things with or without your help. Sometimes it feels like you're just along for the ride.
ReplyDeleteI hope you're able to write up a storm during your vacation!
ReplyDeleteThat's cool to have the idea way ahead of time. Hope your time off helps you get there.
ReplyDeleteHappy Writing, Happy Vacation and Happy IWSG! LOL
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with your vacation writing.
ReplyDeleteI wish I'd written a bunch of books before publishing the first one.
I will wait but it better be a really good surprise.
ReplyDeleteI spent the last three nights trying to write the final three chapters. I would stare at the screen and wait for some impressive words to enter my brain. I mean, I can see in my brain how it ends, but I needed the words. Words that didn't want to show up. So, I just started writing it out without worrying about it being prosy or impressive- hell, it might be as awful as a kindergartener's masterpiece, but it's on the page. In a few days, I'll that that crap and see if it can grow something better. I'll say it again- write the crap. Crap is good fertilizer.
ReplyDeleteI've found that too - with a series, it's really hard to predict what'll happen in later books, despite trying to plan. Hope the writing is going well!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great feeling to know where your series is going--to have that secret that nobody knows...or will guess. Sort of like how J.K. Rowling wrote Snape. She did such a great job keeping his real role secret. Have a great month writing.
ReplyDeleteSince my writing muse is not speaking to me, I'm just taking all my frustrations out on the weeds. Hopefully I can settle down and get back to writing when the kids go back to school. That's the plan, anyway.
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