Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Where Have All The Plot Lines Gone?

There should be a store for plot lines. Or at the very least a rental place. If only I could get story ideas in the mail like my Netflix DVD's. Right now I'm working on the third book in my series (now called the "Calloway Summers" series, BTW), and I'm starting to have mild panic attacks that I'll never come up with the full plot line. I sat down with the computer for almost two hours today, and I think I managed about two usable pages. Not good.

That's been a trend the last few times I've focused on the book. (If you're from my publisher, you probably shouldn't be reading this!) I know I've mentioned that infernal blinking cursor here before, and I'm getting to know it well right now. Very well. We're on a first-name basis, me and the cursor. In fact I'm beginning to curse the invention of the cursor.

But then, this happens to me with every novel I write. There's always that moment when I cannot for the life of me figure out how to get from point A to point B. That's also the moment when I entertain the idea that I may never again be able to string together 100 usable words much less 80,000. But, of course, I always do in the end.

So what to do in the meantime? There are some things that I like to try to get my brain kicked into gear. I listen to music that fits the feel of the story I'm working on. I'll watch documentaries that focus on the applicable time period. I daydream, picturing the already written scenes in my head. Whatever helps at the time. But most of all, I just stick with it. I may hop up after 45 minutes of mindless tapping at the keyboard and find something else to do, but I'll be back at it again tomorrow. That's what we do with everything, isn't it? If at first you don't succeed try, try again. Eventually, Jessilyn and Gemma will help me find the story lines I need.

They're always getting into some sort of trouble!

What about you? Writer or not, you've probably felt creatively stifled in something. What are your tricks of the trade?

11 comments:

Lori Stanley Roeleveld said...

Writing is an act of faith, just like living for Christ. Thank you for your transparency!

Jennifer Valent said...

My face is transparent, so I suppose my personality should be too. :)

Anybody have any idea why certain words in my blog (Netflix, focus) became adverstisements? Because I can assure you I'm not getting any kickbacks!

C.J. Darlington said...

I have so been in your position, Jennifer. And I have to remind myself that I always do manage to discover the plot ... eventually. One thing that sometimes helps me is to take a day off and do something completely unrelated to writing. Sometimes clearing the brain like that helps. :)

Ethan M. said...

Yeah those weird ad things. Don't ask me where they come from. Looks like you got rid of em thought.

Jennifer Valent said...

Ethan - I didn't get rid of them. I only saw them when I used a different browser. Strange.

CJ - Good idea. Only now I have to be creative and come up with something to do on my day off. Sigh...

C.J. Darlington said...

How about going to B&N and sipping coffee while you browse the shelves? That puts me in the mood to write sometimes. :)

Jennifer Valent said...

A coffee break sounds good, CJ. Too bad you can't meet me there!

C.J. Darlington said...

Aw, that would be fun! Someday we gotta... :) BTW--I think it's so cool you have a name for your series! Do you now feel like an official author? :)

Jennifer Valent said...

Not yet. Maybe once the second book's out it'll feel real.

C.J. Darlington said...

Know the feeling. :) You know, maybe it'll never feel real. And maybe that's a good thing. We don't want to get big heads.

Jennifer Valent said...

No worries. I'm surrounded by people who would knock my head off if it started to get too big! :)