Yeah. That was me a couple of days ago. The magic was gone.
Then I thought...I could start back at the beginning and maybe see where the magic went away. Then maybe I can find a way to get it back. The trouble is I don't like going back to the beginning before I've completed a first draft because that's how stuff languishes and never gets finished. However, I reluctantly broke my rule and read chapters one and three again (these are Peace's chapters and I wanted to make sure one followed the other even though there was another pov chapter between them). Then I read chapters two and four (Mal's chapters) to see how they stood up to the magic test.
The good news? There's magic there and that makes me happy. Further, sometimes it's okay to break those arbitrary rules we make for ourselves.
Better news? Winter is finally going to end on the 20th whether it wants to or not!
So, how's your writing going?
When I get stuck , writing in long hand helps me to plow through. Regarding winter, I love it but this time it has overstayed its welcome
ReplyDeleteAs long as you don't get sucked into edits, that's a great way to get unstuck. Good for you!
ReplyDeleteAnd we actually had spring the weekend.
So glad you found the magic again - well I think it never left it was just having a lie down! Yay!! Oh please let's hope that spring is finally here!! Take care
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sister Marcy, methinks you should push the cover of your book to the top of your sidebar. The place it is in now doesn't make it noticed enough :)
ReplyDeleteLately, I've felt as though I've lived in that place. But I'll figure it out eventually. Probably.
ReplyDeleteAnd YAY for spring.
Glad you found the magic again. I hope Spring does get here. I think it's lost.
ReplyDeleteNo, I can't say I've had that problem. Of course, when one story is bugging me, I just switch over to another until I'm ready to go back to the first.
ReplyDeleteWinter? Is it still winter? Oh, right... Sorry, I forgot.
I have been in that position. Usually I find taking a break for a day or two works, but I've gone back to the start like you did. I guess there are really no rules other than what we decide works for us. Glad you got your muse back!
ReplyDeleteI've had to go back to the beginning too, to find the magic again! Glad it worked out for you :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you found the magic again! :) I've had to do that, and then I've also gotten all the way through a rough draft, and then gone back and chopped out the middle third of the whole book while revising/rewriting -that's actually what's taking me so long to get through draft #3 of Champion in Flight. So . . . if you can figure it out midway through the first draft - way to go!
ReplyDeleteWhatever works to get the magic flowing again!
ReplyDeleteI don't believe in muses or use them. Nor do I care for rules that other writers demand we should stick too. For me, I do what works and it sounds like you did just that as well. Good on you.
ReplyDeleteI've gotten blocked like that a few times and found that taking a breather can bring the magic back. :)
ReplyDeleteI would love to get to that place. I can't seem to find the time to work on them, or even one.
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