little lost flail

[rispacooper]

So I was ranting to Kittie to leave me alone about writing ideas because I don't have time, which, yeah, is a little true, but it's not all true. (Like being mostly dead, I suppose) I have a small amount of time and a great desire to write something, but I feel sort of...aimless.

I have several (hundred) WIPs in need of finishing. But lately, when I look at my writing, when I think about it, I feel like they've all lost their focus. Or I have. By which I mean, I used to write short stories, and pretty tightly structured ones. Or maybe they were just simple, I don't know. Now it feels like I can't stop babbling in what few stories I write and instead of following a clear narrative they're just...a collection of random images. And certain people write that way and I love it but I feel like it's not me. Or what I do. Or just..maybe it's a good thing. Maybe it's a sign of better writing, or more involved, or relaxed. But it's just feels...not as good at all to me. It feels worse. Less. Like someone else wrote it.

Or I'm just angsting over nothing. Or maybe I'm just flailing because I have no Rene anymore.

Comments

[pir8fancier.livejournal.com]

Maybe you're on a trajectory. That this little period is what you need to suffer through and work through to get to the next stage of your writing. Two things. I think we grow as writers (or we should TRY to grow and keep changing and reworking it), and I think it's hard to let go of what we know and what we do well. Because, hey, praise whores, yes? So don't beat yourself up over it. Go with it a little and see where it takes you.

Regarding Rene. I actually agree with you and you need to come up wtih another character that you love as much. I get the sense you're in mourning for him. Which I totally get because I didn't write him and I'm in mourning for him too.

[rispacooper.livejournal.com]

This brings up all sorts of thinky thoughts about writing and writing for fun versus writing as art.

And thinky thoughts are exactly the sort of thing to get me mired in a gloom for weeks on end.

On the other hand, I've also been wondering if it's some sort of reflection of my personal life. I'm sure it is. It always is to some degree.

And then I think about the end of the movie "Infamous" in which Harper Lee is musing on how much writing takes out of you and how there's always this expectation of more from people.

See? Damn thinky thoughts.

[pir8fancier.livejournal.com]

writing for fun versus writing as art

I think, given that you're in thinky thought land, why not just write for fun for a bit? Also, when I finished my first book (not that it was along the fantabulous lines of IOS but it took that long to write it), I went into a sort of mourning for it. I think you're mourning Rene, so cut yourself some slack and let the words amuse you for a bit. Play. You've earned yourself some time at the monkeybars.

[rispacooper.livejournal.com]

Speaking of monkeybars. I had to go vote at my old elementary school. That was just weird.

Plus, I'm 5'2" but it made me feel like a GIANT.

I rocked at monkeybars.