Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Here's To You, Mrs. Robinson

I have been seduced.  It's true.  I have been ever so slowly (and, truth be told, willingly) drawn away from the WiP that started this whole blog back in January.  (Has it only been that long?  Really?)  So I guess it's only right to address her first:

Dear Story That Started It All,

     It's not you, it's me.  I started you with the best of intentions, after that idea simmered for a few good years in the back burners of my mind.  Somehow around the new year, it just clicked.  I plotted and planned.  You came together so nicely, it felt less like making up a story and more like relaying a story that the characters were telling me.  When they finally revealed their names to me, I knew they trusted me, and we had a bond, you and I.  We were moving along.  I did research and changed some ideas and you still worked.  I got all excited and got Handsome Hubby all into it for the first time.  
     So, what happened, you ask?  Come on, don't look at me like that.  I'm not dumping you.  I'm not leaving you permanently for some younger, faster model.  Just... um... temporarily.  The truth is, Story, you are very complicated.  You need serious thought and undivided attention and a whole lot of organization.  You are not something I can work on a few days a week, whenever I have time.  You deserve better than that, and honestly, you will be crappy if I can't devote more to you.  Which, right now, I can't.
     But all is not lost, Story.  Hang in there.  There are only 26 school days left and during this time, I will be playing around with another story.  I know, it sounds cheap and ugly, but I have to do some kind of writing while school is this busy and every weekend until school is over is filled with kiddie birthday parties and dance and recitals and swimming lessons and graduations and all manner of things fun and time consuming.  I hope you will be willing to take me when I return to you.

With love,
Lindsey

Whew.  There.  I said it.  It's been happening for a while now - I had to set aside my novel a little while back when so much was going on in work and life, and I haven't been able to slow down enough since to pick it back up.  It is a complicated and more serious story, so if I'm not attentive, the writing doesn't work.  In the past week, I've been tossing around ideas for a simpler story, a faster read, possibly a faster write.  Not because I am dying to throw something out there, but because I want to keep flexing the writing muscles, as it were, with something fun and useful.  For the YA crowd - My novel is more serious in a Hunger Games type way, with a lot of character development and dystopia shaping going on.  This new idea is more fast-paced in a Wake sort of way.  (Does that make sense?)  There is not world building to do because it is set more in regular present-day America. (I wish I had the chops of The Hunger Games or Wake, lol... ). I think I'm going to give it a go... it'll be a stress reliever from the Real Job if nothing else. :)

For those of you who don't know me that well, this message is meant in a tongue-in-cheek kind of way.  :)  It's all true, the seduction, the new idea, all of it.  But I don't kick myself for abandoning my WiP for a while.  I'm not one of those writers who sticks to rules or regimens.  Writing for me is fun, it's a release, and right now I'm cool with changing venues for a bit.  Cheers!

16 comments:

Lydia Kang said...

How perfect that you wrote a letter. Our WIPs feel like beings that need attention and love.

Good luck with the rest of school!

Jemi Fraser said...

I've got one idea running around in my head for a book that is really complex too. I need to do a ton more research before I start it. Probably won't start on it for a while yet. :)

Good luck on the final school stretch!

Unknown said...

What a wonderful idea to write a letter!!! I love that movie too!!

Good luck with the rest of school!

Old Kitty said...

Awww how could the Story that Started it All resist such a lovely letter!!

Of course Story will understand!!

Have a great time being seduced!

Take care
x

Hannah said...

Affairs are sometimes good for a relationship...so I've heard. ;)

I've been able to stick with mine for the most part...with the occasional flirting with a short or writing exercise.

I hope the end of school treats you well and you're able to get back into your complicated wip.

Wendy Ramer, Author said...

Great letter to Story, you cheap floozy ;-) (don't know if I spelled floozy right, but you get my drift) Sometimes we all need to cheat on our stories to get our head into a better place.

Amy Allgeyer Cook said...

I know how you feel!! I have exactly the same problem. You're smart to take a break. I just end up spending my writing time kicking myself for not writing. Total failure on all parts. ;)

Talli Roland said...

I love that you've written a letter to your WIP! Sometimes it does seem like a whole separate entity!

Anonymous said...

Hey, it happens. I haven't worked on my WIP in I don't even know how long. There's this thing, I think they call it "real life" or something, that keeps getting in the way of, well, my life. Weird, huh?

Good luck as you finish the last days of the school year!

Anne Gallagher said...

A very nice letter, straight forward, right to the point, amply apologetic. I don't think Story will be too upset.

Shelley Sly said...

I can relate. I think it's just that time of year. Some of us are abandoning one WIP for another, some of us haven't touched our WIPs in forever... so you're not alone. Good luck with the rest of the school year!

Anonymous said...

This made me laugh. I just abandoned a literary piece after a YA idea just kept butting in!

Clementine said...

Lol, I love this! You know, I got so sick of my novel that I HAD to put it away for several months. I tinkered with some smaller projects and just recently, I've been able to jump back in. I think it's good for creativity to do that now and again. Enjoy life for a bit, girl!

Rebecca T. said...

Hi! This has absolutely nothing to do with this post, but I have a supersecretsurprise and I would really like your mailing address so I can complete the supersecretsurprise. So if you want the supersecretsurprise you can e-mail me at sonshinemusic (at) gmail (dot) com but if you don't want to reveal your secret location that's fine and I totally won't be offended :) I would have e-mailed you, but you have no link anywheres.

notesfromnadir said...

Writing begets writing begets more writing! It's a great idea to compose that letter.

You're also right about writing being fun & a release for you. It is for me, that's for sure! :)

Rebecca T. said...

Ooh... it sounds so interesting. And I love that letter - :) looks like something I would write/have written in the past to my WIPs.