I spent 2 days being stuck on Alpha Female. I knew what would happen in the climax, but not how to get from where I was to that. I needed more to happen before that. And I’m still unsure of when the physical intimacy between Natasha and Luke is going to take place.
But…..I got 1,167 words and I’m almost to 18k, the point where I was when I restarted. I estimate I’ll need another week to finish, putting me at mid-September and giving me two extra weeks to revise. It has to go out to beta readers first, though.
How did I get unstuck? That’s a damn good question. I thought about it alot. I played out different scenarios in my head. I let my subconscious mull it over. But I was in the shower when it came together. The shower is the best place for getting ideas. At least for me.
I was considering doing some freewriting if nothing tore loose. Since I’m on a tight deadline, I couldn’t afford to lose another day. Luckily, I wrote over 2k and then got stuck, and today I wrote over quota (800 words) so I’m about where I should be.
This is the dark side of pantsing. While it’s fantastic when it works, it can be really difficult when it doesn’t. But I’ve learned over time to not force it. To let it percolate and gel and come together inside my head. Some of it I can see in my head or hear like overheard conversation. I just had to wait it out. And I was rewarded.
If I hadn’t, then I would have started poking at it. But luckily, it never got to that point. Crisis averted.
I’m still a bit foggy on a few things, but I know enough to move forward.
On the website front (yeah, I’m redesigning it yet again to coincide with the launch of Life as a Moving Target), I’m looking at some new options that will make life a bit easier for me. I’m self-taught and my skills are basically obsolete. So it’s been fun trying to get my head around newer ideas. But it is coming along.
Also took some pictures the other day at a lake. First time in I don’t know how long. I’m proud of myself. Naturally, it all came back, and I used my black&white mode, too (even though generally I shoot true b&w — that is, film) and I think I might have a few contenders for the cover for the chapbook. I would like to use one of my own pictures if possible.
So things are coming along, if slowly. I’ve been incredibly tired lately, which I suspect is the fibromyalgia, and that’s been a bit of a problem. But I persevere. Hopefully I’ll have more things to share soon.
Weaver of Words 