Dying and itching, whispering and singing

[pjthompson]

I’m dying to write something new, itching for it, and I know just what novel I want to work on next. It’s been plumping in my mind for weeks now while I work on other things.

All of which is a good thing, except I can’t work on anything new because I’ve got to finish revisions on Blood Geek first. Then there’s the question of when to finish the next round of revisions on Venus in Transit. I wasn’t entirely happy with it when I got through with that last hard slog. I’m not talking about perfectionism here. I’ve long since given that up. I’m talking about having a workable draft, something I can polish and start sending out.

Yet if I diddle around too long with old ideas, I’m afraid the new idea will die on the vine. It might anyway, because as I’ve said before, my writing time is extremely limited these days. I’m determined to chip out time every day, but weekends have become very difficult, and mostly the default has become my lunch hour at work. That’s always been somewhat sacrosanct, but last week, even that got eroded away. I had to run errands at lunch every day last week. It made me despair a little. Or more.

But this week I’m back on track with my revisions and feeling generally better about a lot of things. I think Venus will have to wait, though she’s notoriously impatient. I really do believe I need to balance the old with the new, the revisions with the creation. Carmina has been talking to me consistently lately: low whispers while I sleep, a sudden bright snatch of song as the sun dapples the leaves while I’m driving to work, shared shadowy confidences while I move down a hallway and turn a corner.

She’s there. She’s waiting for me to be ready for her. I really think I have to follow her lead.

Mirrored from Better Than Dead.

Comments

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Yet if I diddle around too long with old ideas, I’m afraid the new idea will die on the vine

This is always my greatest push to start on a new project, that fear that if I don't seize it while it is hot, it will quickly lose its luster, taking the heat of inspiration with it forever...

[pjthompson.livejournal.com]

And it does happen. It has happened. That's why, even though I'm cringing at some of the Estella chapters, I'm pushing forward with BG. I have to get this done so I can move on.

[bogwitch64.livejournal.com]

When I get a "new" idea while still working on an old one, I write tell myself the story on paper. It's just a running dialog with myself, complete with squees and silly quips, kind of...what's it called that Jack Kerouac did?? Stream of consciousness! Yeah, that.

This way, I get all the enthusiasm for the new project recorded, ready to be picked up again with all the new-love excitement I first felt.

[pjthompson.livejournal.com]

I do something similar and usually that's enough to tide me over, but it's been awhile since I've written anything new. I had a long revision on one novel and went right into revisions on another, so I'm really itching this time. It'll be okay. I'll get this revision done, then move on to the new one.

[kmkibble75.livejournal.com]

I would say work on what you want to. Go where the current carries you. Trying to swim against it will only tire your arms out and you may not end up getting anywhere anyway.

[pjthompson.livejournal.com]

I do have to finish Blood Geek first. If I flit from idea to idea too much I get nothing done. After that, I'll see how I feel, see if Carmina still beckons.

[kmkibble75.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a plan to me.