Take a day off, why not?
Saturday, April 11th, 2009 06:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rolanniI sat down this morning to lay the bones of the next chapter and just...couldn't get interested. I did the dishes; I did some needed but mostly invisible straightening up. I went back to the computer and forced myself to outline the scene, getting more and more antsy and disinterested as I went. I took a break and proofread the new SRM chapbook. I glared at the chapter outline and thought about taking a nap. I messed around on Live Journal. I joined Steve for lunch. I combed Hexapuma. I thought about sending the day-job bosses links to the YouTube interview, but decided...probably not. I glared at the chapter outline and disliked it intensely. I opened a file and tried to find my lead anydamnway. Found three; hated them all. Closed the file, and stalked around the house Moodily.
Explained to myself that the first section of the book was done and what I now needed to do was to get in gear and write the story of the second section.
At which point, my brain obligingly went ping! and I realized that I had got Everything Backward and that was why the scene wasn't working, Silly Author, and if I took the one! single! element! that I actually liked from the chapter I hated and spun it this way, I suddenly felt a whole lot better.
I did not, however, immediately come back to my computer and try to lay in the bones of the next chapter, based on this insight. Instead, I declared a Let's Rest the Brain afternoon, went for a walk, and then finished reading my book.
Steve has just wrapped up his day and is suggesting a glass of wine and a relaxing evening. There may be Jackie Chan involved. Or Other Things, even more esoteric.
Tomorrow, my brain will be rested and hopefully the better for having slept on the new insight.
Some days are like that, Mrs. Miller*.
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*I wish I could remember anything else at all about the story I cribbed that from, years and years ago. I have a feeling that was the best line in the thing, though...
Explained to myself that the first section of the book was done and what I now needed to do was to get in gear and write the story of the second section.
At which point, my brain obligingly went ping! and I realized that I had got Everything Backward and that was why the scene wasn't working, Silly Author, and if I took the one! single! element! that I actually liked from the chapter I hated and spun it this way, I suddenly felt a whole lot better.
I did not, however, immediately come back to my computer and try to lay in the bones of the next chapter, based on this insight. Instead, I declared a Let's Rest the Brain afternoon, went for a walk, and then finished reading my book.
Steve has just wrapped up his day and is suggesting a glass of wine and a relaxing evening. There may be Jackie Chan involved. Or Other Things, even more esoteric.
Tomorrow, my brain will be rested and hopefully the better for having slept on the new insight.
Some days are like that, Mrs. Miller*.
----------------
*I wish I could remember anything else at all about the story I cribbed that from, years and years ago. I have a feeling that was the best line in the thing, though...
Thread resurrection For The Win
Date: 2009-04-29 09:56 pm (UTC)ROBBINS, MICHAEL
* Some Days Are Like That, (ss) Little Green Men #4 1997
Found on: http://www.locusmag.com/index/t420.htm#A40415