Friday, August 14, 2009

In the Mood

Crazy lady post again.

I do feel like I've been a bit crazy these last few days. Why? Because I'm having fits with my plot. And when my writing isn't going well, it affects my mood. I feel out of sorts and lethargic, and, well, grumpy. The urge to give up, to go with every cliched plot out there, overcomes me. But I stubbornly push it away.

But when the solution to the plot finally, finally, appears? It's like magic. The mood improves. The giddiness returns. The joy explodes. I can't wait to start writing.

Of course, this is a cycle. When I'm in the midst of the novel and am having problems, that 'mood' will return again. I'll withdraw from others, grumble, groan a bit, and otherwise be a pain in my own tush.

Tell me I'm not alone in this! ;-)

10 comments:

  1. Oh yeah! There are predictable times during a novel when I get cranky and nothing goes right. Like right now. But I'll get over it, I always do!

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  2. I'm usually distracted and irritable too! Like today!

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  3. Glad to hear it's going well. I'm still trying to figure bits out in my head and zoning out of conversations, which is rather rude.

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  4. I've had a couple of novel-writing attempts, Mel, and both times I've run out of steam early on. I've experienced a similar kind of frustration when writing shorts - but novel-frustration must be in a different league. I admire you for having the stamina to just keep on going.

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  5. Anonymous1:37 PM

    Totally with you. I get irritable and then go in denial and refuse to write and just watch TV instead and won't talk about it for a couple of days. My husband doesn't ask why I'm not writing, he knows this too will pass. Plus I think he enjoys the fact that I'm giving him more attention! LOL

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  6. You are SOOOOO not alone! I do this in mini cycles and huge cycles. So, during the day I'll go through several small cycles, then over the course of several months I'll go through a bigger dip and hill. Just roll with it. That's all I can do. Try and keep a positive attitude!

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  7. No dear, you're not alone. My grumpy withdrawal phases happen mostly when I can't work on my WIP...but I'm fixing to run away for a few days to take care of that!

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  8. I love that you wrote this as I've felt the exact same way.And when you said you almost feel like giving up and writing something cliche, I said "NO!" and was glad to see you pushed on and it will be worth it!

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  9. Push on and push through. That's the solution, and you nailed it. I just wish we could dispense with the whole unhappy bit that comes before the pieces finally click...it does seem to be required, though. *sigh*

    It's always reassuring to know others go through the same process. While in the middle of it, I always imagine other writers humming happily as whole chapters fall from their fingers onto their hard drives...

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  10. I'm so glad I'm not alone. Sometimes, I think I'm the only one that goes through this misery. I guess it's all part of the process, but I really wish it wasn't.

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