WRITING IN THE DARK
I’m working on a story that seems destined to be written entirely in the dark. First, I couldn’t find the story but I pushed on ahead and created a synopsis. Of sorts. I wrote over 100 pages but every day it felt wrong, stilted, and worse, I dreaded facing the keyboard the next day and trying to figure out what next??? So Dec. 23, I gave up and threw it all out and started again. This time I did two things I know I need to ALWAYS do. I made sure I had a clearly definable conflict and one that put the characters in opposition. Duh. How basic is that?
Still, the story is being stubborn. I can blame the holiday season when it’s hard to pull my thoughts into the office and force them to remain on the words appearing on the screen. Or I could blame it on a touch of the flu. No brain power.
But the last couple of days something miraculous and odd has occurred. When I go to bed, my story becomes a living organism in my head. I see the characters moving, talking, laughing. Like a mixed up dream, I see bits from different scenes. I have to jot things down. Last night I ended up with four pages of notes that will translate into 20 pages or more in my story. I could complain about missing my sleep but after agonizing over this story, I am not about to whine about that, though I might steal a nap during the day. In fact, I intend to do all I can to nurture this particular event.
It’s like I have fallen back into my childhood when I always made up stories to put myself to sleep. (One big difference—this is NOT putting me to sleep.) It just goes to prove that I can nurture the creative process but I can’t control it. Not that I intend to trust my future to this method. In fact, I strive always to prepare well for writing a story. I don’t know all the details (in this case it seems I know none of them) but I need to know the major turning points, the emotional journey, and have a feel for the theme (which often changes and develops as I write). I need to have understandable motivation, and clearly definable conflict. I have learned the horrible frustration of trying to write a story without these and vow every time it won’t happen again. Oh yes, a pen with a light in the tip or a little book light at the bedside are absolutely essential as well.
I have a book out this month with Love Inspired Historicals, The Path to Her Heart.
I’d love for you to pick it up.