Organic Writing

Not entirely certain I can express what I mean when I talk about organic writing, other than the cliche that it comes from the heart. Sorry about that.

But what I've learned as I've carved a major plot point out of my current WIP is that if I can keep my characters intact, the action can still emerge from who they are without the plot entirely self-destructing. I'm making no guarantees that the plot is better for having a pillar removed, but as I fill in the missing scenes, new pillars are forming. It's quite fascinating, actually. It's as if my subconscious notes a scene is missing proper support and simply creates one out of the threads that are already there. I'm hoping once I go back to weave the final threads that I'll discover these new supports are as strong as the old ones.

So maybe I didn't slit my wrists today. Progress!

Have a lovely weekend.

Stalling Tactics and Office Chairs

Nina asks: >> but I can't seem to put two words together? Does this happen to you? If so, what do you do about it?<<

There are only so many hours in a day that my brain can process new words onto a page. I can have an entire book outlined and know every scene in it, but after 4-5 hours of spilling blood and guts across the keyboard, I'm drained. Is this what's happening to you? Once I reach that point, I find something else to do. I can research the next book, edit or revise an old one, work on promo (which is why I do my blogs this time of day), anything to change gears. The creative brain simply needs a break.

I'm pretty sure it was Sherrie who mentioned she dreams of those fancy office chairs in the office store ads. I've been meaning to jump up and down here and warn her that those chairs can be harmful to your health!! It's like choosing a mattress to choose a chair you'll spend the day in. I think over the years I've bought one of every kind, big ones, small ones, adjustable ones, the works. I can't sit in any of them for more than a few hours. Right now, I'm using one of the cheapest chairs available, one that will lean back slightly. I've had to add a foam cushion from some place like Brookstone. And I can only get away with this because I've moved my desk into a small room where I can put a stool against the wall where it can't slide away, and use it as my footstool. The stool isn't the best height and I need to find something else, but I've been able to use the chair all day this way.

Maybe we need chair-fitters like we need bra-fitters? Personally, I want a recliner with wheels.

Today's writing schedule--more blood on the keyboards, but I think I'm learning something about organic writing that I may share if I can get it straight in my head.

Killing books, killing time

If nothing warns you about the dreariness of a writer's life, this blog should! Continuing to rip and rewrite. No clue if the result is readable. No exciting news anywhere, which is probably a Good Thing if one thinks about it hard enough. I really want to do something new. Maybe I should start researching that Aztec book...

American historicals

Since I spent another day ripping my guts out, it's too boring to talk about. I'd rather stick with the discussion on why we no longer read historicals with American settings. I've heard people say they can't read anything set before the Civil War because they hate to think of the characters caught up in that conflict. But why did we fawn over all those Civil War historicals a few decades ago and can't read them now? My theory on westerns is that they were popular when TV and movies made them popular, just as paranormals are the genre du jour now because of the entertainment industry. Does this mean we need to have TV shows and movies of Little House on the Prairie before we can write these books again? That's depressing.

I wonder if a vampire John Wayne would sell?