I’m a little late (hey, give me some leeway; I’m a professor at the start of a semester!) on my monthly insight, but you have to understand. . . I’m on my honeymoon.
Of course, I mean my writer’s honeymoon. That period where you’re just starting a novel. Maybe you’ve started writing the first draft, maybe you’re planning and outlining characters, maybe you are doing some research so you can incorporate new character traits, explore professions, or anything else. Your mind is flowing with great ideas and possible crises situations in which to throw your characters. Should I put them in the hospital, impregnate them, cause them emotional turmoil? Ahh, the twisted mind of a writer.
Even though I’m writing the second novel in a trilogy, it is a new story. The characters are like old friends now, and we’re headed on a new adventure with new twists and turns in fun and exciting ways and sometimes heartbreaking and sad ways. But now, everything is fresh and new, and like all honeymoons, it all seems wonderful: the dialogue is quick and zingy, the descriptions are fresh and clear, and the emotion is leaping off the page. It’s a virtual lovefest! I’m perpetually happy and pleased with my writing. It’s even been a great distraction from the incoming rejections of my first novel. (Related posts here.)
This will all change I know, especially when I get to the revising part. I’ve also currently got a lot of gaps in the story and I know it’s always a struggle for me to write when I can’t envision it. Everything I have right now is a scene I see in my head: it’s vivid, it’s dramatic. It’s fun. But it’s not real life. Real life involves some down time, some thinking, some planning. And in order for my characters to live in the real world; I have to write those down times in their story. That’s when the “marriage work” comes into play.
Some days I’m going to hate you, oh, characters. Sometimes I’m going to hate myself for writing you into existence. Sometimes I’m going to hate readers for not getting it. Whatever “it” is. Hopefully, by then my first novel will be published, and can have a “published novelist” honeymoon to get me through the “trials of writing” phase.
Daily Post: Moon
***
“Writing Insight” feature posts occur monthly and will focus on some part of writing inspiration, technique and process. I welcome any questions you have about the writing process (as I am also a writing professor). Please post your questions in the comments below, and I will answer them in future “Writing Insight” Posts!
In a future “Writing Insight” post, I will talk about some self-published novels that defy the stigma: well done, high caliber, engaging story. If you have a suggestion (or a review) that you would like mentioned, Fill out the form below to let me know about them!