Sometime back in March, April, May, I can’t remember, I decided to forego my travel lust and sit in front of my computer all summer and write a book. Thankfully the summer decided to help me by taking an extended leave of absence. I have thoroughly enjoyed this empty time and if this is what being a writer is all about, then you know what? I can do it. But...
I’ve got five days left, I’m so close to the end, so why does it feel like pulling teeth? I had the ending of this book planned before I even had the beginning sorted out. I know exactly what’s going to happen, but it just won’t come out. I write a bit, I delete a lot. Over the last few weeks these sticky bits as I have come to call them have occurred when there was something wrong. When I took a wrong turning with the plot, or the characters did something wrong, or the characters were just plain wrong. So either the ending is all wrong, or could it possibly be some massive delaying tactic to put off adding that final full stop?
It’s stupid, I’m even beginning to have ideas for other books. I have an idea for a sequel to the one I’m writing, they're dying to get out there, so OUT damn words. Get out of my head and onto the laptop. Right I’m off to fetch the pliers.
12 comments:
You've heard this a million times, probably, but it still is true: just write the ending, no matter how made you think it is. Just get it down. remove the delete and backspace keys from your keyboard if you have to!
Good luck!
Yep...cos then you'll realise that the middles a bit...'saggy.' And then you'll think, 'Actually I'll just shore up the beginning' which makes the end seem wrong. Like a jelly that hasn't set...
Cor that wasn't very 'half full' was it? I've decided that pretty soon I'm going to stop fiddling with mine...that sounds wrong. Just go for it!
Having a wee break as I have a kitten rather painfully attached to my knee. Oh great now he's knocked all the crap off the chair! Anyway, thank you Struggling writer and jon, it's half twelve and this chapter is coming out one way or another. It's not the last chapter, but it's the crunch chapter. Oh and SW I don't know how to remove the keys but I do know how to put them back after Tibo knocked a couple off the other day when he was having a creative period!
Oh yes, I know this feeling all too well. Only difference is I never have any idea where I'm going with my stories and certainly no clue as to the end. I find I gallop along and then with three or four chapters to go the muse decides to take a break. Frankly, I've learned the best thing to do is leave it, do something else and come back when the pressure is off - because I think that's what it boils down to, the pressure of the "final performance" as it were. Go write those other things and come back to this. There's nothing worse than writing when the words just won't come - and trust me, trying to force them seldom helps. Otherwise do what Struggling Writer suggests - just write flat out - you can always fix it later.
Here endeth Aunty Vanilla's lesson for the day. Amen.
Eh hello there Aunty Vanilla, I followed SW's advice. As the Queen of Procrastination I kind of knew where this was coming from really. Anyway, I wrote flat out, until 2 this morning and then again this afternoon ... and ... I'VE FINISHED. Now I'm going for a big jug of Sangria and I'll see you manana as the hangover wears off!
wow, good for you!
Finished.
Hooooorah!
Whoooohoooo!!!! Well done you! Hope the head's not to sore this morning!
Big hug!
Crying here - I hate finishing. I now call it 'end grief' and have invented all sorts of ways to avoid writing that last sen.......
ah....my 'advice' is moot as you are FINISHED....YEAH CONGRATULATIONS!!! wish I was there to help you finish off a pitcher of sangrai....but now you can take my 'advice' as a reward it was to get a bit of distance and go off on a wee holiday - for me my 'muse' often returns when I exit out for a bit! virtual fireworks are being set for you! good job!!
Right try that again. Today Tibo has woken up and decided a really good place to sit is on the keyboard! Right he's gone off to be bonkers elsewhere now. So Thanks Taffiny and Jon. Vanilla, there was no sore head the Sangria was crap, but that's what you get when you pay 2€ for it! And Minx, I think that's definitely what I was doi... Ah and Kimy, well that makes you and Vanilla and Robert Masello who say that now. Unfortunately my break is to go back to work! Ugh!
PLIERS!!! *GASP*
I hadn't thought of that.
I have a hammer... think that will do? Hmmm or super glue (no wait, they're already stuck...) I'll keep looking.
Nothing else has worked to get the words to come out like I'd like.
I'll give this a whack.
Stand back a bit there, hmm? Don't want shards of paragraph going all over.
Scarlett & Viaggiatore
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