Struggle for things not to say….

On By DanicaPicheIn Creative Writing

Have you ever had writer’s overload?  This must be the yin to the yang of writer’s block.  What is the cure?  Please tell me….

I’m working on the story Sunrise at The Palace Diner and it evolved scene-by-scene so I’m continuing with that format.  It’s also blog-friendly, which is excellent because I want to continue with the blogging.

Great, so what’s the problem?

Scenes are jumping out at me and they don’t fit with the story line.  Characters are doing things that are…well…out of character!

Can we have a little discipline and order, please?

I’ve tried blocking out these scenes but when I do that I can’t focus properly on other scenes.  Should I write through these yin scenes?  It looks like I’ll have to.  Maybe they’ll fit later, or maybe they belong in another story altogether.

Tonight the moon is a mirror-ball

I’ve had to get up in the wee hours to jot down a note or two and I’m finding that overnight is the best time to write.  This schedule doesn’t fit neatly with the rest of my life, unfortunately.

Show me, baby, just what to do…

This project has caused me to re-read what I’ve written (not something I typically do) and I’m not liking what I re-visit!  When I feel like tossing it all, I listen to a bit of magic like this:

And it helps.

 

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“If You Wear that Velvet Dress,” by Bono, featuring Jools Holland and His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra.  Original release:  The Complete Solo Projects.

Video posted to youtube by user U2 Bootleg and Rare

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39 thoughts on “Struggle for things not to say….”

  4. Kevin

    Go with your “deleted scenes.” They may take your story to places you never imagined. Of course, then you have to connect the dots. That’s when the work starts – 5% inspiration, 95% perspiration (or some such ratio). The price of being creative. Also, maybe you’ll learn more about your characters as they act more uncharacteristically. They might surprise you. Good luck!

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    1. You raise very important points, Kevin, thank you. I guess there’s no rule that says the story has to develop the way I’d imagined. It’s a bit disconcerting when things veer off-course but, who knows, it may turn out to be for the better. O-m-g, by the way, about the real work not even started yet, lol. 😉

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  6. J.

    Write them down, Danica. You may cut ’em, but I think they’ll be helpful.

    PS. I’d struggle to find any focus or clarity listening to Bono… maybe you need some Afghan Whigs or Twilight Singers 😉

    Anyhoo, hope you have a great Christmas!

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    1. I’m taking your advice, thank you J!
      Haha, I love this song but don’t know much about the rest of his solo efforts. I could definitely be tempted by Afghan Whigs and have yet to discover Twilight Singers.
      Thanks very much and you as well! 🙂

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  7. With each scene, ask yourself. Is it going to be relevant to the main plot of the story? That usually works for me. FFI, you can check out a blog “Helping Writers to Become Authors.” That’s full of good advice. As for me, I just can’t motivate myself to write at the mo, maybe you can give me a push in the right direction.

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  8. I say write them out anyway. You might have another volume on your hands or some short stories. It may even reveal a new way that the plot should move forward in this particular work. Perhaps a dream from one character’s point-of-view. Of maybe you’re basically writing your own fan fiction – cool concept. Overall, I think you are telling yourself that you are happy in this particular world and that there are more stories to tell there.

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    1. Thank you for your excellent advice and insight, Jimmy! I’ll see where it takes me. I think you’re right that there are more stories to tell here. Hmm…if I were to write fan fiction I’d probably go with The Walking Dead. 🙂

      Very best wishes in your new home and for your new projects!

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  9. Best to have an “overload” than no load at all, Danica!
    Th best way to deal w such a proliferation of ideas is jot them down in a notebook
    I only develop those that still sound groovy a day later – to me, what sounds cool/funny today may seem meh tomorrow
    My medieval fiction – on the other hand – has stalled (probably cos there’s no humour in it!)
    An overload is a sign that u FEEL GOOD about your material – and ‘m happy to learn that u r feelin good!
    Happy New Year!

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    1. You are indeed right, Brad! Very good point about the load! Thanks for your wonderful advice. I’ve been making notes and I’ll be more diligent about it. Having a regular posting schedule allows for a built-in cooling off period…the idea or scene percolates for a day or more, which is new for me!
      You need to get your humor back to your medieval fiction! Maybe you need to slay a demon or two? Or just get some more rest post-holiday and post-travels? I’m looking forward to wherever your writing takes you in the new year!
      Thank you very much, Brad, and Happy New Year to you as well! 🙂

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      1. A radical overhaul of my Medievil is called for, but humour? That wld b too radical. Need to slay a demon or two – th twist? There’s actually 3 of them! When I’ve polished th drafts, I wld like to hear your views
        Cheers!

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  10. You seem to share my process – I call it ‘frustrated screenwriter’. My imagination creates ‘scenes’ not chapters in my head as I write. My interior lens is cinematic, which is where (I’m told by my dearest reader) the richness of my narrative comes from. Some of your other comments to this piece are spot on – view the extraneous scenes as ‘deleted’

    And keep everything!

    I write almost everything that comes to me for and about my characters, and the scenes that don’t fit into the story are set aside in a folder marked ‘Deleted Scenes’.
    To your suggestion of writer’s overload I’ll simply doff my hat to you with a wink and smile of respect – one writer to another – and tell ya there’s no such thing!
    Write everything. Keep everything. It’s all good. Even the bad…

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    1. Frustrated screenwriter! There’s a name for it! Yes, that’s exactly what happens. Thank you so much. Another awesome blogger asked me if I was screenwriting and it makes sense. I thought I was writing a novel, but what do I know? 😉

      I’m starting to keep everything and need to create a filing system. I’ve been saving different versions of drafts, but that’s going to become cumbersome.

      I didn’t realize how much I’ve been editing as I’m writing. I should write everything first instead. I love your “Deleted Scenes” folder and will have to try that.

      What a relief to know there’s no such thing as writer’s overload! That would be such a potentially debilitating condition.

      Thank you very much! I really appreciate your insight and advice.

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