Thursday, September 20, 2007

Unexpected Results

On Monday I thought that I would be lucky to get through 25 pages of revisions. I am well past that already. What happened? I wish I knew. I just seemed to get in the zone, and things started to flow. Fingers crossed that it continues. I'm always afraid that once I realize the writing is easy, it won't be any more.

Have you been able to identify what can put you in the zone? Or is it something different every time?

4 comments:

Ali said...

Hooray on getting into your groove. It's a lovely place to be.

I'm not sure what my groovy cues are, though I have noticed that once I get past a certain page count, and still know what's coming next, I tend to get into a groove. It happened a lot when I was working on Oracle. I'd hit about page three or four in the chapter and then things would start lining up just right.

I think, given that, my key is having the chapter/story mapped in my head before I start, knowing not only point A and point C, but all the points B in between. Then it gets more like transcribing what's in my head and less like figuring things out as I go.

Jenny Maloney said...

I'm with Ali. There's a certain point where you just know what has to happen and you go there. It's less like work then.

And there's that habit thing too. If you write everyday, even a little, teeny, tiny bit then it hurts more when you forget or misremember or decide to take the day off. You lose the groove. And that ain't groovy.

Shane said...

I've always written in spurts, banging out entire short stories in an afternoon, but not writing for a week before or after. I wouldn't exactly advise that system, though.

A groove signifies, for me, being decisive on where a story is going and how it should feel. Once you are certain, writing isn't really that hard. It's the distractions and internal whishy-washyness that kills a groove. Any advise on how to instantly kill those thoughts would be very helpful.

I know, just keep writing.

The One and Only John said...

I think I'm in a boat similar to Shane's. For me, I get frustrated when I have time to write, but there's no mojo, or when I don't have time, and the muse is whispering into my ear, not stopping to let me take notes. There is something to be said about continuing despite lack of inspiration, thus practically writing on command. However, once the groove kicks in, it's a beautiful thing. I think it has to do with either being able to multitask, or shutting out the outside world so soundly, all that exists is you, your imagination, your pen, and a crapload of blank paper.