I’m close to finishing the second draft of my middle-grade but am writing a new chapter that’s needed (I think, anyway). The first scene went well, writing-wise, but I’m writing another scene that just doesn’t know what it wants to be when it grows up.
Numerous times today I pushed away from the keyboard and stomped around the house, scaring the furry creatures, I’m sure, as I hoped for enlightenment. When that didn’t come, I’d force myself back in the chair and write a few lines that conjured up nothing but feelings of loathing for the story and myself. More stomping. More eating. More self-loathing. Eventually I went downstairs and ran on the treadmill for twenty-five minutes. Did I find enlightenment there? No. (But I did get in a good, solid training run).
Not sure what I’m asking for here but if any of you know what I need, could you please send it along?
Tracy Abell 
write some bad, bad, bad stuff… keep going. That’s it.. push past the ugly!! : )
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write some bad, bad, bad stuff… keep going. That’s it.. push past the ugly!! : )
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Push past the ugly, push past the ugly,….
And I think I’ll dig through the ugly, too, to see what else is hidden there. That scene’s gotta be in there somewhere, right?
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write some bad, bad, bad stuff… keep going. That’s it.. push past the ugly!! : )
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I hate when this happens! I’m afraid I usually go for some form of chocolate and stuff myself while stewing 😉 But if I think about it before I go to bed, I often awake with the solution (or at least the path to the solution)…good luck!
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I hate when this happens! I’m afraid I usually go for some form of chocolate and stuff myself while stewing 😉 But if I think about it before I go to bed, I often awake with the solution (or at least the path to the solution)…good luck!
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Sleeping helps sometimes so maybe tomorrow will bring a whole new attitude. Also, hot showers usually bring epiphanies but today I was racing to get done and pick up my son from school so I wasn’t concentrating on summoning the answers.
I’ll try to frame the question before I fall asleep tonight. Thanks, Robin.
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I hate when this happens! I’m afraid I usually go for some form of chocolate and stuff myself while stewing 😉 But if I think about it before I go to bed, I often awake with the solution (or at least the path to the solution)…good luck!
LikeLike
Push past the ugly, push past the ugly,….
And I think I’ll dig through the ugly, too, to see what else is hidden there. That scene’s gotta be in there somewhere, right?
LikeLike
Push past the ugly, push past the ugly,….
And I think I’ll dig through the ugly, too, to see what else is hidden there. That scene’s gotta be in there somewhere, right?
LikeLike
Push past the ugly, push past the ugly,….
And I think I’ll dig through the ugly, too, to see what else is hidden there. That scene’s gotta be in there somewhere, right?
LikeLike
Sleeping helps sometimes so maybe tomorrow will bring a whole new attitude. Also, hot showers usually bring epiphanies but today I was racing to get done and pick up my son from school so I wasn’t concentrating on summoning the answers.
I’ll try to frame the question before I fall asleep tonight. Thanks, Robin.
LikeLike
Sleeping helps sometimes so maybe tomorrow will bring a whole new attitude. Also, hot showers usually bring epiphanies but today I was racing to get done and pick up my son from school so I wasn’t concentrating on summoning the answers.
I’ll try to frame the question before I fall asleep tonight. Thanks, Robin.
LikeLike
Sleeping helps sometimes so maybe tomorrow will bring a whole new attitude. Also, hot showers usually bring epiphanies but today I was racing to get done and pick up my son from school so I wasn’t concentrating on summoning the answers.
I’ll try to frame the question before I fall asleep tonight. Thanks, Robin.
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I really like the first suggestion, to “write some bad, bad, bad stuff…keep going…push past the ugly.” I’m going to try to remember that one myself, since I’m prone to editing my thoughts even before I get them down on the page.
I can’t offer better advice than that, but I *am* offering you cyber chocolates (the nonfattening variety) and a big ol’ supportive ((HUG)).
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I really like the first suggestion, to “write some bad, bad, bad stuff…keep going…push past the ugly.” I’m going to try to remember that one myself, since I’m prone to editing my thoughts even before I get them down on the page.
I can’t offer better advice than that, but I *am* offering you cyber chocolates (the nonfattening variety) and a big ol’ supportive ((HUG)).
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Thanks for the chocolates and hug, Melodye.
And after I wrote the post, I started figuring out a few things. As if publicly airing my angst helped break through the barrier!
We shall see what tomorrow brings…..
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I really like the first suggestion, to “write some bad, bad, bad stuff…keep going…push past the ugly.” I’m going to try to remember that one myself, since I’m prone to editing my thoughts even before I get them down on the page.
I can’t offer better advice than that, but I *am* offering you cyber chocolates (the nonfattening variety) and a big ol’ supportive ((HUG)).
LikeLike
I really like the first suggestion, to “write some bad, bad, bad stuff…keep going…push past the ugly.” I’m going to try to remember that one myself, since I’m prone to editing my thoughts even before I get them down on the page.
I can’t offer better advice than that, but I *am* offering you cyber chocolates (the nonfattening variety) and a big ol’ supportive ((HUG)).
LikeLike
Thanks for the chocolates and hug, Melodye.
And after I wrote the post, I started figuring out a few things. As if publicly airing my angst helped break through the barrier!
We shall see what tomorrow brings…..
LikeLike
Thanks for the chocolates and hug, Melodye.
And after I wrote the post, I started figuring out a few things. As if publicly airing my angst helped break through the barrier!
We shall see what tomorrow brings…..
LikeLike
Thanks for the chocolates and hug, Melodye.
And after I wrote the post, I started figuring out a few things. As if publicly airing my angst helped break through the barrier!
We shall see what tomorrow brings…..
LikeLike
Oooooh, I *hate* those days. It’s so frustrating. My friends Ben & Jerry are good company when I feel like that, as is their cousin Hagen Daz.
When I get to the bottom of the pint and someone pries the spoon from my hand, I try to approach the scene from another perspective. I might make notes about what it looks like from a different character’s point of view, or freewrite a little from the main character’s perspective–asking what he/she thinks about this moment and how it effects her. When all else fails, I read something else and let my brain take a break.
Good luck!
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Oooooh, I *hate* those days. It’s so frustrating. My friends Ben & Jerry are good company when I feel like that, as is their cousin Hagen Daz.
When I get to the bottom of the pint and someone pries the spoon from my hand, I try to approach the scene from another perspective. I might make notes about what it looks like from a different character’s point of view, or freewrite a little from the main character’s perspective–asking what he/she thinks about this moment and how it effects her. When all else fails, I read something else and let my brain take a break.
Good luck!
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Oh, that made me laugh!
And I like your idea about freewriting from the MC’s POV. I did ask her a question about the earlier scene and was able to figure stuff out from there. But for some reason I didn’t do it for this scene. Duh!
Thanks, Erin.
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Oooooh, I *hate* those days. It’s so frustrating. My friends Ben & Jerry are good company when I feel like that, as is their cousin Hagen Daz.
When I get to the bottom of the pint and someone pries the spoon from my hand, I try to approach the scene from another perspective. I might make notes about what it looks like from a different character’s point of view, or freewrite a little from the main character’s perspective–asking what he/she thinks about this moment and how it effects her. When all else fails, I read something else and let my brain take a break.
Good luck!
LikeLike
Oooooh, I *hate* those days. It’s so frustrating. My friends Ben & Jerry are good company when I feel like that, as is their cousin Hagen Daz.
When I get to the bottom of the pint and someone pries the spoon from my hand, I try to approach the scene from another perspective. I might make notes about what it looks like from a different character’s point of view, or freewrite a little from the main character’s perspective–asking what he/she thinks about this moment and how it effects her. When all else fails, I read something else and let my brain take a break.
Good luck!
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Alas, Tracy. It sounds like you’re doing every right. Except for the self-loathing. That has to go!
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You’re right, I know. But when you’re down there wallowing in it, it’s so hard to stop flogging yourself. I will, though, because Laurie told me so and she’s very wise. Truly.
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Alas, Tracy. It sounds like you’re doing every right. Except for the self-loathing. That has to go!
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Oh, that made me laugh!
And I like your idea about freewriting from the MC’s POV. I did ask her a question about the earlier scene and was able to figure stuff out from there. But for some reason I didn’t do it for this scene. Duh!
Thanks, Erin.
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Oh, that made me laugh!
And I like your idea about freewriting from the MC’s POV. I did ask her a question about the earlier scene and was able to figure stuff out from there. But for some reason I didn’t do it for this scene. Duh!
Thanks, Erin.
LikeLike
You’re right, I know. But when you’re down there wallowing in it, it’s so hard to stop flogging yourself. I will, though, because Laurie told me so and she’s very wise. Truly.
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When I get stuck like that, it’s usually because the story is going the wrong way . . .
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That’s very true and it might be the case this time. I wasn’t able to work on it yesterday so don’t know if the notes I jotted two nights ago are the answer. We shall see.
But if it keeps feeling this way, I’ll definitely need another direction.
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When I get stuck like that, it’s usually because the story is going the wrong way . . .
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That’s very true and it might be the case this time. I wasn’t able to work on it yesterday so don’t know if the notes I jotted two nights ago are the answer. We shall see.
But if it keeps feeling this way, I’ll definitely need another direction.
LikeLike
That’s very true and it might be the case this time. I wasn’t able to work on it yesterday so don’t know if the notes I jotted two nights ago are the answer. We shall see.
But if it keeps feeling this way, I’ll definitely need another direction.
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