Where have I been?
I’d like to say that I’ve been away writing up a storm. Instead, I’ve been bucking the waves of emotional turbulence. Things are much better now, but as I journey through the choppy rapids of writing I learn more and more about my process.
I believe some writers can work through anything. I can work through busy periods, making sure that I do my allotted words a day. I can work through dead zones and creative droughts, although I often have to ditch those words.
What I can not do is work during extreme emotion. If I get good, giddy writer news, it’s tough for me to get myself down in that chair, because I’m too busy basking. Yup, I *can* use it as a motivation to write, but the happy keeps distracting me.
During darker times, it’s nigh impossible. I gotta admit, the last four days have given me some awesome characterization ideas in retrospect, just not for the troll piece. It’s hard to focus on anything when what you’re doing is spending 24/7 being unhappy.
I’m not writing this entry to get patted on the head. The problems we were having took a bit to resolve, and we’ve come out the other side, perhaps a bit stronger and more knowledgeable. But I’m writing because I wonder if you ever get stoppered, and what makes you get stoppered.
And because, since I haven’t been writing, and I haven’t been posting, if I don’t write about something, you’ll think I was dead.
***
Back in the writerly saddle, I sent submissions out to Cabinet des Fees, Pseudopod, and Clarkesworld tonight. Gotta love Clarkesworld. My rejection will be here in a day and a half.
Catherine
Some people would say that writing in the time of strong emotion is easier and leads to better work. I think your and mine definitions of strong emotions might be different than most people’s definition. Yeah, it’s damn hard to write when the chandeliers keep crashing to the floor. And it’s definitely worse when all the emotions have gone into hibernation.
And good luck with Cabinet, Pseudopod and Clarkesworld.
Or when the emotions hid themselves from pain behind an impregnable teflon wall.
As expected, I’ve got my Clarkesworld rejection! One of these days, they’re going to come begging! Begging! And then I’ll…write them a story. *sheepish*