So, as soon as I wrote the title of this post, I thought of this song, so I'm sharing it because it's a jolly good tune, even though it has nothing to do with what I'm going to talk about.
So, on with the post: what is in my head, I hear you ask?
Well, my story, that's what. I can see it in my dreams, I can touch it until the very moment I pick up a pen, I can taste it; it's real but I can't get it down on paper.
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| Artoo |
Real life is getting in the way: we've got a new puppy which is a challenge I wasn't fully prepared for, and I've just started an NVQ course, which means a lot of work at home due to the very small number of hours I actually work.
And, when I finally get to write, all the ideas pack up and go somewhere sunny! It's not even a new piece, it's a rewrite of an 8 year old story that I always new could be better. Right now, I'm just stuck!
Have you ever had an idea which refused to budge from your head?
Cute puppy! They can be a handful. Usually when I am stuck with a story I try to keep busy with something else and a few days later, miraculously I get an idea for the story. Though, it doesn't always work, but it does mostly. I hope you get your writing mojo back soon.
ReplyDeleteI've taken some time away from this story, but I want to enter it into a competition, so I don't have forever!
DeleteI'll get a good idea but then it becomes a boring blob on paper. Enjoy the puppy and you'll have new inspiration from him. Or if those stories stink on paper, you can use them in his puppy training. Good luck
ReplyDeleteYes, Joanne, that's what I'm facing at the moment - a boring blob. I'm enjoying the puppy in small doses at the moment!
DeleteLove the pic!
ReplyDeleteI've usually got all kinds of story ideas going on in my head…but it's probably a good thing they don't all make it to the page. :)
Good luck with your story!
Madeline @ The Shellshank Redemption
Some stories are just better suited to the page than others, aren't they?
DeleteYour pup is such a little doll but I know having a puppy can be overwhelming. Love the pic with his little tongue sticking out!
ReplyDeleteI am feeling exactly the same way as far as writing - all the ideas come together in my head and then I sit down to write and just stare at the screen. Here's to both of us getting the ideas down on the page!
Overwhelmed, is definitely my feeling at the moment!
DeleteIt's so annoying, when all the words are there but refuse to budge.
That's the cutest puppy ever:) Yeah, I get those ideas a lot too. Especially at night. I then have to wake up and write it down, otherwise I won't remember. Good luck on the re-write!
ReplyDeleteThe night time ones are the worst, because I try to convince myself I can remember, and rarely do. It worked once - I had a dream, with the same paragraph repeating itself over and over, and woke up to write a 2500 word story in one sitting. Ah, good times :-)
DeleteMost of my books stay lodged in my head whenever I try to write them. Eventually I have to force them out by writing something, anything, and hoping things take shape. It usually works!
ReplyDeleteI've been trying that over the past couple of days, but found I was just editing the story rather than making the awesome changes which will make the story awesome. I shall try again!
DeleteWhat a cute pup! And, oh yeah. I have stories that are like that.You've just got to keep working at it. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteHe is very cute. And thanks, I will keep working, this story is not going to beat me!
DeleteNever let go of a story that does not let go of you :). Congratulations on the puppy!
ReplyDeleteAnd this story really isn't letting go :-)
DeleteSorry...I was distracted by the puppy. He's so cute! I want one!
ReplyDeleteI usually do what Kyra does when stories get lodged in my head and won't come out: write something, anything, and hope things eventually take shape.
I have been writing a bit again today, I think I'm slowly getting there. But the puppy means I can't get so engrossed - I have to look up occasionally and let him outside!
DeleteI use Stephen King's method. He suggests letting "the boys (or girls) in the basement"figure it out while you do something else. This often works for me, I just have to stay alert since they like to produce solutions at the most inopportune times.
ReplyDeleteI'm in love with your puppy, too! <3
Unfortunately, it's not a problem with my characters this time, because I know leaving them to it always gives the perfect result.
DeleteI quit writing a story I began about a year ago because this other story idea kept popping into my head and wouldn't go away. So far, I've been happy with my decision to jump stories.
ReplyDeleteSometimes you have to go with that gut feeling, Ken :-)
DeleteMaybe you need to record yourself talking about it, then at least the ideas won't be lost.
ReplyDeleteI actually tried that once - it did work quite well, I can't remember why I stopped now.
DeleteAww cute! You just need to keep trying, write something even if it's complete rubbish. You'll get there eventually :)
ReplyDeleteAt the moment, I'm repeating myself a lot - I will be crossing out a lot next week.
DeleteYes, eventually I find a way to use them. Not always as I first thought. :) I was stuck on my new piece until recently. All's I can say is make yourself write for 20 minutes anyway.
ReplyDeleteIt's good advice, Mary - does watching TV with my fingers poised over the keys count as writing? :-)
DeleteOH, your puppy is SO adorable!
ReplyDeleteOf course, we cheated when we got our German Shepherd, Sorcia. We got her at the age of 2, already trained.
As for ideas being stuck -- YES! I had such a Shiny New Idea in my head. Why is it all lumpish and dull when it comes out. (when it comes out at all ...)
Lumpish is a great word, and definitely suits some of what I'm writing at the moment - here's to shining ideas that stay shiny!!
DeleteYup but it's good to do other things meanwhile Annalisa. Just keep at and you will get it down.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure I will Sheena-kay, slowly but surely... :-)
DeleteThe time will come from your story. Sometimes you need to relax and stop overthinking it. Not always easy, I know!
ReplyDeleteCute pup! I've had a crash course in dogs over the past year, and although it's hard work, it's definitely worth it. :)
'Time' is actually the problem in my story at the moment - I'm having a philosophical meltdown!
DeleteArtoo's very hard work at the moment, but I think (think!) I had a breakthrough with him today. Of course, then he bit my broken toe... so, swings and roundabouts at the moment :-)
Yes, I've totally struggled with ideas that wouldn't let themselves find their way to the page. At some point, I evict with a crowbar, but those methods don't produce pretty prose. In the mean time, that puppy is absolutely adorable!
ReplyDeleteI'm not at crowbar level yet - I'm currently coaxing with fine wine :-)
DeleteYes! It's very frustrating to have a story linger in your brain, clinging to strands of grey matter, but refusing to be written. I hope you find something to trick that burger out of there.
ReplyDeleteGreat IWSG post!
Oh, a trick would be nice right now, Kim :-)
DeleteWhat is in my head seldom comes out quite the way I imagined it. For all I know about writing I learn I know nothing. I like the suggestion of speaking it into a recorder. I might try that. It has been suggest to me to try Dragon Naturally Speaking, and talk your novel onto the keyboard. That one does not work so much for me, but the recorder might. Happy Writing, and Hope Your Muse opens up soon.
ReplyDeleteJuneta at Writer's Gambit
I have used a recorder before - but even then, I found the words flowed in my head, but I was editing as I spoke!
DeleteMan, I'm having issues with embedded videos lately, where I can't unmute them. Weirdness. Cute puppy, though! They certainly take up a lot of time. Good luck to you on getting those words on paper. It will surely happen.
ReplyDeleteThanks Shannon. Yes, puppy's are worse than kids - I was not at all prepared!!
DeleteHi Annalisa - going back to an old manuscript isn't easy. I'm reworking one myself at the moment. In a way I wish I'd just moved on, but I would like this to be right. After some years have passed it can be easier to see where the improvements can be made. It's some of the threads that are missing that are difficult to place.
ReplyDeleteI love your puppy. Artoo will be hard work for a while, but think of the exercise you'll get. You'll feel set up for your day of writing after your morning walk. Our dog is old now and can also be hard work with ailments and barking me up in the middle of the night because she wants to go out. Hubby would sleep through WWIII.
I'm terrible for going back over old work, Fanny. I can't help myself - it would be like leaving delinquent teenagers in jail rather than rehabilitating them!
DeleteI am so looking forward to our first walk next week, there are so many fields to get lost in around us. And I'm already training him to play fetch with a ball, because our last dog couldn't play.
I do! I do! I have this story idea that involves intrigue, double agents, hot men, lying women, and the whole kit and caboodle...in my head the whole thing makes sense, but when I try to put it on paper...poof, it's gone...or so complicated I wonder where to start.
ReplyDeleteBut it will gel (and puppies will grow) and you'll be writing in no time!
Wow, that does sound very intricate - I sense a large sheet of paper and some marker pens in your future :-)
DeleteYes I get nagging ideas like that. I explore them in spiral notebooks and either start writing the story, or set aside for later.
ReplyDeleteYour pup is so cute! It's a lot of work. I totally underestimated it. We got our pup when my kids were 5 and 3 and it was like having 3 kids. There were days when I considered getting rid of the pup, but now I"m so glad I stuck it out. He's my best friend. :)
I've been having days like that too Pk, but today he actually laid down at my feet while I wrote - I thought that was an epic step forward!
DeleteSorry to hear of your frustrations (similar to mine this month!). I had some good advice left on my post which included allowing yourself time to do other things, in your case your course and your gorgeous pup! The story is in your head and refusing to give up on you so I believe you will get it onto paper/screen. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteThanks Suzanne, I'm sure you're right. It's there, just not quite :-)
DeleteI do understand the story stuck in the head and how it doesn't flow with pen and paper in hand. Awww on your fur baby and puppy breath! Adorable and love the sleeping pic with the tongue!
ReplyDeleteHe's completely adorable when he's asleep :-)
DeleteTo be honest, I planned on taking a break after finishing up my trilogy, but there are a lot of voices not leaving me alone . . . in the meantime, my editor is giggling at me for thinking I can stay away from the stories!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I know exactly what you're going through. My ideas and motivation went on holiday early this year and they haven't really come back.
ReplyDeleteHi human, Annalisa,
ReplyDeleteOops and apawlogies for taking so long to get to your pawst. My poor paws are struggling to keep up with all this dogging, um, blogging stuff :)
Real life getting in the way of writing? From real life and the love of your lovely puppy, inspawration is there right in front of you. Whenever my human gets stuck, or cannot be bothered to write, I take over.
Pawsitive wishes,
Penny :)
Puppies...they suck you in with their cute eyes...and then they drain you dry! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's the puppy. You'll never get it done until you submit to his will and throw that stick for him one more time. Only then will he allow you to write. ;-)
ReplyDeleteYES. It's OK though. There will come a time when it screams so loud you're running for your notebook or laptop or whatever you need and it will come. Meanwhile, enjoy that adorable puppy! Congrats on your new family member.
ReplyDeleteTina @ Life is Good
On the Open Road! @ Join us for the 4th Annual Post-Challenge Road Trip!