I think the work with Keil Bay and going to the office last night loosened things up in relation to the novel and my recent logjam with edits. On my way home last night, once I got past the last "town" on the highway and entered the dead zone, ideas began to pop.
I had identified the "issues" out loud with my husband the night before, and I think that helped too - the editing issues that needed resolving were "out there" and yesterday's activity got me out of my head enough that the solutions could bubble up.
The first thing I did when I got in the house was write down the revelations in my little blue notebook. Then I went on to the rest of my evening, and when I got in bed, yet another revelation burst forth.
I struggled briefly - should I get up and write that one down as well? But it was a major one, and unlikely to be forgotten in the night, so I went to sleep.
Today I've done my Pilates and am hoping that the day's chores and time with horses keeps the lines open so I can work on some of these things this evening, on the page.
billie hinton’s camera-obscura:
life and lessons on November Hill Farm
8 comments:
I think that's a great way to work through the roadblocks as you write. The time spent thinking about it and not writing can be as valuable as trying to plow through it sometimes. My best ideas come while I'm mucking Silk's stall - it's a fertile creative spot for me. After I'm done mucking, I often run back into the house to write down what I've figured out. And it's only in Silk's stall, not Siete's - how weird.
I love it that Silk's stall is such a fertile spot for you.
Mucking in general does work with this kind of thing, but for some reason with this one I needed to physically leave the farm and get that rushing through the night sensation that driving brings.
I will cheerfully plow through little things, like not knowing an exact fact or the name of a character yet. But the bigger things I don't push. When I completely let go is always when it comes, almost always fully formed and like a puzzle piece that fits perfectly.
I'm glad you know that feeling - it's one of the deep pleasures of writing a novel, and I needed to share it. :)
that's so funny - mucking stalls and driving both jumpstart my creativity too! i keep a pad in the counter in my tackroom for messages, and every time i have to muck out, i find myself running in there to write stuff down before i forget it.
and my car is the other place, on my long, boring commute when my mind has time to wander. my car is a kind of meditation spot for me (assuming there is no major traffic, of course ;-) here, random breakthroughs or thoughts will occur and i've taken to keeping a kneeboard (the kind pilots use) in case i have to write while i'm driving - ideas never stay with me and if i don't get some notes on paper, they disappear as suddenly as they came...
What is a kneeboard? I feel like I have to rush out and get one!
I am going to take a notebook out to the tack room the next time I walk out there. I tend to hold things in my head until I get back inside, but this is much better.
a kneeboard is just a clipboard with a velcro strap that fastens around your leg so you can write without holding it (or having to look!) i was a student pilot for a while, so it just made sense to me to use it in my car too, until the day i get stopped by a cop and have to explain it... ;-) you can get them at any pilot shop. this is the kind i have:
http://www.pilotwear.com/store/p/2447-Zulu-Kneeboard-Ballistic-Nylon-Blue-.html
A student pilot! Wow! I like the idea - wonder if I could velcro it to my arm rest so I could write slightly to the side..?
the velcro strap is elastic, and is pretty long (it fits around my flabby thigh!) so you might be able to attach it to your arm rest...
Sounds like it will work - I checked it out on the website. My son will be impressed. :)
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