I’ve been adrift in my WIP but this morning felt a renewed sense of purpose about the book. I realized it was time for the dry erase board so I could visually map out the story. I gathered all my materials in one place and started talking aloud because that’s how I process best. I decided to start by mapping out the big ending scene because while I’ve had a general idea about it from day one, I needed more details so that I could understand characters’ motivations as I continue writing earlier scenes.
I uncapped a stinky marker and started listing the things I already knew about the big ending scene. It wasn’t a whole lot so I referred to my legal pad to check for other details I’d missed.
Oh my.
I’d completely forgotten about this. On September 20 I wrote three pages of notes, the majority of which concern the big ending scene. I wrote details out the wazoo but somehow, somehow, I’d managed to forget them.
Has this ever happened to you? Please tell me I’m not the only one. I mean, I know I’ve killed some brain cells over the years and that I’ve been under some Wildebeest-induced stress these past weeks but right now I’m feeling embarrassed and somewhat alarmed.
Tracy Abell 
Dude, time for your ginko pills.
š
Seriously, that headsmacking, absent-mindedness happens to me all the time.
LikeLike
Dude, where did I put those pills?!
I’m not alone? Good!
LikeLike
Dude, time for your ginko pills.
š
Seriously, that headsmacking, absent-mindedness happens to me all the time.
LikeLike
Nope,you’re not the only one. It happens to me more than I care to remember. lol I even tried to write each days accomplishments in my Calender section of Outlook but nine times out of ten, I would forget to post it. *sigh*
LikeLike
Yes but with all that stuff you’re accomplishing, I think you can be forgiven forgetting to post all of it.
LikeLike
God, yeah. I forget so many things that it’s scary! My husband does too. I think it’s busy brain syndrome – too many things to keep track of, both real and fictional (requiring twice the brainpower of non-writing peeps). At least I hope that’s what it is. My grandmother did actually have Alzheimer’s in her 80’s so I worry about it sometimes (until I forget to worry and start looking for my latest misplaced item again). Umm, what were we just talking about?
LikeLike
Whew, that makes me feel better. It just felt so scary to not remember I had that stuff figured out already. Talk about reinventing the wheel. Sheesh.
LikeLike
Oh, yes, I’ve done this! There are times when I’ll have an entire idea mapped out — and then forget all about it until I happen to unearth the notes, months later. you are not alone š
(And I’m glad you found your notes!)
LikeLike
But you have all those projects and mss you’re juggling. I focus on one at a time which makes it a bit scarier.
LikeLike
Oh, yes, I’ve done this! There are times when I’ll have an entire idea mapped out — and then forget all about it until I happen to unearth the notes, months later. you are not alone š
(And I’m glad you found your notes!)
LikeLike
Dude, where did I put those pills?!
I’m not alone? Good!
LikeLike
What were we talking about? š
LikeLike
Exactly!
I’ve grown accustomed to that whole thing when I walk into a room and then stand there, struggling to remember why I came into that room. But this whole plotting thing threw me for a loop.
LikeLike
Exactly!
I’ve grown accustomed to that whole thing when I walk into a room and then stand there, struggling to remember why I came into that room. But this whole plotting thing threw me for a loop.
LikeLike