The moon must be waxing, the animals must be uneasy, the tides must be high, the ley lines must be humming, and the planets must have aligned…
I’m writing like a fiend again.
As I’m burning up my keyboard, the bags are getting heavy under my restless eyes. I can’t sleep with so much story swirling and synopses firing. I’m talking has-to-grab-for-a-pen-at-the-red-light-to-write-on-the-back-of-a-grocery-store-receipt sort of writing mojo. I’m talking repeat-the-line-over-and-over-again-until-I-can-get-out-of-the-shower surge. I’m talking pretend-to-be-listening-while-making-eye-contact-but-secretly-planning-my-next-scene stream.
I’m not complaining.
Actually, I was wondering if maybe I lost my touch. But now I have to battle the horrible feeling of STOPPING!
You’re damned if you do, and damned if you don’t when it comes to writing. Before it was hard to sit down and get into the flow of my series, but it sure was easy to live the day away with my kids and get my chores done (well, half-done). Now that the writing bug has returned, the words are streaming, but now it means left-overs, delayed playground trips, and early bedtimes 🙂
My poor husband and kids, but HALLELUJAH! I needed this 🙂
How is your writing coming these days? Do you have times where you’re obsessed with your writing? Do those around you run and hide?
laurenwaters 
i can’t wait to read your first draft.
Dad
Thanks, Dad! Hopefully it will be ready soon 🙂
I’ve felt like shouting publicly too, ideas are coming back! Will transcribe soon. It’s been so long since I added to my draft, there must be a horseshoe. ‘The muse’ isn’t said to occur UNTIL we write something. I let the story sit and got blessed… by serenity of time or God’s boot in the ass, you decide! 😉 Last week large descriptions occured in bed, bath, and specific sentences! I need more clarity in one place, then the key locations are nailed. I’ve been excited to tell you, Sara, and our readers at large. Some are note-takers, I’m able to retain. Friends know my manuscript is active when there’s a dwindling of eight-paragraph e-mails. hehehe I miss deeper dialogue with y’all but support future volumes that I for one shall read! Onward and upward Lauren.
That’s fantastic, Carolyn! Makes me think there must be something in the stars if it’s so contagious! I can’t wait to hear what you’ve been up to! Onward and upward!
YES!! This happens to me too. There are times when I can only edit, research, or push around words. And others….when I can’t stop writing, can’t eat, and have to overdo it on coffee and Claritin-D for a week just to stay up every night and get it all down.
So I totally feel you. And I’m super excited for you! I always feel like my creativity is at its peak at those times. 🙂
I’m trying to take advantage of this wave of creativity before the tide goes back out! I think that explains all the obsession, I’m so afraid it’s going to stop! Just keep writing…just keep writing…just keep writing.
That’s exciting stuff! So I guess that means this stormy weather has helped you to be depressed?! P
I’m stuck in 4 month old baby land right now. I’m lucky if I get to read a sentance of my ms and really lucky if I get the chance to chip away at the never ending edits! I can see my future… Talking to my daughter over coffee about my plot while she drools and giggles over my striped coffee mug!
Haha…you’ve just described my novel discussion with my husband :p
Ladies, glad you aren’t killing me for taking a week to answer inspiration! I do have good recall. At risk of losing a detail here, I stumbled on an occurence. It wasn’t ideal writing time at the first lightening bolt so I restrained. Active composing is best so I don’t want to say idleness got rewarded. To my surprise, a more paramount chunk built up. It’s like a bottle of sprinkles. Hold it upside down long enough and the rest will float out.
I hear a lot of editing dread. It doesn’t have to be a whole manuscript; since I’m not halfway through 1 yet. LOL I write until I don’t know what’s next. Print my progress and read the sheets. I edit in pencil: lots in the new part, a few spots niggling from previous ones. I save changes, write the next bit, print again. One spot still bugs me in chapter 1 of all things but besides new paragraphs, the rest is good. Write more and read on paper again. Page 1 finally flows, chapter 2 has a part I’m so proud of I ask my fiancé to listen, and the latest merely needs tweaking. Wouldn’t wanna wait through a whole story to start checking. http://cmriedel.wordpress.com/2012/04/09/favourite-genre-gothic-mystery/
I love hearing about everyone’s writing process. I used to dread the editing process, but once I got my hands dirty it became addictive. I can’t wait until I finish this first draft and get to slash and burn again 🙂
Hey Lauren. Glad to hear your mojo is juicing again. Ride the big wave, ma’m. Ride it right on out to the sea!
Cowabunga!
—do only Ninja Turtles say that now?
This is such good news, Lauren. 🙂 Isn’t it awesome when you can write away as the inspiration flows? Enjoy!
It is definitely one of the best feelings, especially when it’s been awhile 🙂
How great it was to hear this? I had been in the same slump and forcing myself to sit down everyday and not accomplishing much. I was panicking. Then the thoughts began, and I can so relate to your descriptions. Yay! We all must experience the same emotions as writers. Thanks Lauren, just thanks. Keep on keeping on. Wishing you the best.
Like Writerlious, I was able to make edits and small rewrites, but I wasn’t able to jump into my writing like I could before. Part of me wondered if I got too used to revising. While the other part thought I might just not be feeling the mood of the piece (I wrote a whole post on this). It seems it has nothing to do with mood and more about inspiration. I don’t think you have any control over it. It comes and goes, but when it’s here you better not twiddle your thumbs! It’s so wonderful to know that other writers face these same ebbs and flows 🙂
“Early bedtimes” lol I’m so happy for you! Can’t wait to read the story when you’re done!
Right now, I’m getting stuck in the mushy middle/murky middle whatever it’s called. I thought my story was going in one direction and now it’s going in another…so I’m trying to go with the flow but anxious because I have no idea where it’s going or how it’s going to end!
Ugh, the murky middle. It’s a great idea to follow where your story takes you and always remember not to edit as you’re writing. You will do a much better job deciding what stays and what goes after you get the whole story perspective. Lately, I’ve just been saying to myself, “Don’t worry about what you’re writing. Just write it. You can improve every sentence later.” It takes a lot of pressure off.