Wednesday, June 1, 2016

#IWSG: Slumping Towards Publication Day



I've had a rough few months in terms of creating new writing. There are a lot of reasons, all legit, but they didn't matter at the heart of it. All I felt was disappointed and frustrated. Drafting is normally my favorite part--where I get to play in the new ideas and see where they take me.

At a deeply honest level, where you admit what you really believe even when you know you're believing something irrational, I was worried that the fact I was struggling meant I wasn't good enough to do this. If I was "a real writer" I'd be able to juggle marketing, family life, and the day job, while still making progress on the next story.

But after NaNoWriMo, where I made a good start, I was stuck until about two weeks ago. I kept fiddling with the project (the third book in this series), but I couldn't figure out what was wrong and how to move it forward. Even my critique group, which normally has laser-sharp insight that finds the problem for me, wasn't that helpful. They told me what they liked and what wasn't working, but I was still stuck on what to do about the parts that weren't working. I was in a slump.

http://organicsunshine.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/DrSeuss.png.png
I can be a very patient woman, but not with myself. Even with all the evidence to the contrary, in my irrational heart, I believe in the power of hard work and pulling yourself up by your bootstraps. So, when I was working hard and not getting anywhere, I felt broken. My confidence (normally higher than is probably actually warranted) was shaken.

Then, it came about two weeks ago in a flash of insight. In the end, it *was* one of my critique partners who helped, but it was in a comment she gave me in writing, rather than what she said at the meeting (Thanks you, Sarah!).  Without spoilers: my villain had just made a surprising move, and Sarah said that she didn't buy it, that not enough had happened to Cindy yet to justify the action she was taking. 


And I heard the angels sing and the trumpets play! That's what I was missing: I needed to back up and give Cindy's thread from beginning to end, instead of jumping her in so far along the line. I needed to let her struggle more and have more reason to become afraid so that there was more impact when we get to her surprising move. It's one of those realizations that seems so obvious now that I wonder what the heck was wrong with me that I couldn't see it earlier. 

So, my lesson in all this is to be patient with myself, that sometimes you can't un-slump yourself through hard work and stubborn perseverance. Sometimes the creative process just needs time.

What works for you when you hit a slump?

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This posting is part of the Insecure Writers Support Group blog hop. To check out other posts by writers in a variety of places in their careers, check out the participant list. This group is one of the most open and supportive groups of people I have ever been associated with. If you write, you should check them out!


If you want to check out my superhero stories, click the covers below. Change of Life, book two of my Menopausal Superheroes series just came out a month ago!







26 comments:

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  2. I've done similar things (neglecting the villain's thread) in other stories. Both sides need to act so they can react to each other. Hope you make more progress now!

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    1. Thanks! It's definitely clocking along better now that I've figured out what the problem was.

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  3. Do be patient with yourself, Samantha. Better days are ahead. Sometimes it may feel like you're banging against a brick wall, but deep down, I know your characters will see you through this slump. They are superheroes after all.

    Elizabeth Hein - Scribbling in the Storage Room

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    1. Thanks. I know my superwomen won't let me down . . .the question is whether they can meet my deadline!

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  4. We have to be patient with ourselves. It is all a learning process and we are different people each day to the next.

    @Kathleen01930 Blog

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  5. I was going to say that what works for me is to let it marinate for a wee while and get on with something else, but I suppose that will feel a bit panicky if you're up against a deadline.

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    1. Really, that probably would have been more productive. But it's hard to know that when you're in the thick of it.

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  6. I've been stuck and sometimes I just walk away. My hubby says our brains tend to work on things in the background, and honestly, I believe it. I'll go some time without thinking about a writing problem and out of the blue I'll realize the solution.

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    1. Yes. That has worked for me too--when I can get my inner bulldog to drop it!

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  7. Sometimes I think when you hit a slump, it's usually your instincts telling you something is wrong. I've had similar things happen to me. I'm not sure what's wrong, but I can't move forward. It's not until I have that ah-hah moment and change something that's not working that I can write again.
    Kudos to you for figuring it out and getting back into your grove!

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    1. Thanks. It really was a Hallelujah moment this time.

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  8. My usual technique with slumps is to panic, beat myself up for being a fraud and no writer, and avoid my work for as long as possible. Then when I feel completely rotten I get a brilliant insight while working out, get re-energized, but can't remember anything about it when I get back to the computer (or find that it really makes no sense). Eventually I get around to writing again and slowly pull my way out of it.

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    1. That sounds all too familiar. But they always say to respect your process! :-)

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  9. Nice, I love it when a simple comment can suddenly make you see exactly what needs to be done. I'm glad you have such an insightful critique partner. Isn't it exciting to find that spark of excitement all over again and get back to writing? :-)

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  10. Isn't it amazing how one comment can change your whole attitude toward a story? My ah-ha moment came during my writing chapter's retreat. One thing our speaker said told me what was wrong with my story. I felt like singing, too. :-)

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    1. Yes. It's good to talk with folks and seek advice sometimes, just for that reason. The catalyst for your a-ha could be anywhere!

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  11. Hurrah for finding a solution. It can take a long time for our brains to reach solutions, but it feels great when they finally do. Eureka!

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  12. Sometimes it does help me to step away and come back to it. Critique partners can be great for pointing out those ideas, though!

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    1. A good critique partner is worth her weight in gold.

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  13. Brainstorming with writer friends always helps...as does taking breaks when necessary.

    I'm glad you broke through your slump! Buy your friend a drink. ;)

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    1. We're going on a retreat in a few weeks. I think I'll buy her dinner!

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