Tuesday: One Damn Scene
I spent the whole day trying to fix that first scene. Lani and Krissie were kind enough to say I got it, but you know, at this point, the whole scene reads “blah blah blah” to me. Forget beats, the words don’t make sense. I think the window on this book is closing for me which is a panic-making time. If I don’t get Shar and Sam right pretty soon, I’ll never get them. Then I’ll have to eat worms and die.
Other than that, we had a lovely day at home in front of the fire trying to hammer out the first act. We’re hoping it’s the time intensive act and the rest will just be polishes, which I think is true except I have to fix my act three romance so . . .
Kill me now.
The other thing I have to do is clean this house. We’ve got yarn and cookie crumbs everywhere. But we are having such a good time, it’s worth it. Tomorrow it’s quilt stores for Krissie and then back here to finish Act One after lunch at Steak and Shake. It’s a plan.
Well, Vogler does say in The Writer’s Journey, “A beginning is, indeed, a delicate time.”
I’ve got the pom-pom’s out, giving a big Cherry cheer for wonderful beginnings.
What do you mean, “The window is closing”? This sounds like the old NASA “window” during which rockets could be launched. The old windows were narrow. Now, it’s like, “Hey, if you’re not busy after lunch we could put up a few astronauts. Want some coffee?”
Here’s another question: does the blog (which we all love) take energy from the work, or add to it, or what? You don’t have to sacrifice your writing career to entertain us on a daily basis, if the blog is a drag. Just saying.
Take care of yourself.
*cheer cheer*
yeah, i know, that was pretty pathetic. i’m having a loooooong day.
good luck with your scene (maybe focus on something else so it stops reading as “blah blah blah” and starts to have actual words?)
I’m reading Manhunting for the first time, and it’s so much fun. Just remember that you have It. Have a good time with It.
“It” being an amazing storytelling gift that you had WAY before you even knew what structure, craft, etc. were! You were probably telling stories when you were a little kid. I’d like to hear more about that someday…your first story, maybe not the first you wrote down but the first memory you have of you creating stories.
I wanted to mention that the condo you stayed in at our retreat–the condo that almost fell into the ocean while you slept–is now officially being rescued with beach renourishment. Yay!
Cookie crumbs? What the hell have the dogs been doing? Make them earn their keep!
We have faith, Jenny. You’ll get them and the window will not close until you are ready. You’ll be fine. Take a deep breath and eat some chocolate.
My question exactly-what kind of dachshunds don’t deal with the cookie crumb problem for you?! And isn’t the cat playing with the yarn (or does she just like the yarn you are trying to use?).
It must suck to say, “I’m not sure I can do this!” and have everyone roll their eyes and say, “Sure you can, you’re the best”.
I can’t imagine how you do what you do. You’ve made it abundantly clear how difficult it is, and how it is a discipline, and a craft, and an art, and how it draws on everything you have. And some days you don’t have any left.
I’m sure at this point, even the words themselves and the letters they’re made of, are wiggling around on the page with no meaning or purpose.
You’ll have to make new ones. Tomorrow, after you’ve gotten some rest, and some distance.
Wishing you best of luck, and inspiration from Wherever it comes.
I think everyone is being waaaaay too nice to Jenny. Maybe she needs to show us up
I suggest she posts it, and we all vote…
Just kidding. We’re rooting for you!
Cookie crumbs? What the hell have the dogs been doing?
Hee hee, that’s what I wanted to know!
Sometimes you have to take a step back to take two forward, you know? Have another cookie, a few belly laughs and clear your head. It’ll come to you.
PS - that wasn’t so much a “rah, rah” with pom-poms but I guess that’s why I never was a cheerleader…
Kill me now.
Not quite yet.