Writerbrain is struggling.

[brightlotusmoon]

Augh, fatigue. Oh, fatigue, Oh. I would rather have the pain.
Wait. No. Maybe. I don't know.
A secret: I am terrified. I have been writing short stories. I plan to submit them to online magazines. I have finished Chapter Twenty in the book, and now I'm struggling to make the words come out the way they need to. I want to beg every writer I know to tell me how they do it, how they make the imaginary people in their heads talk enough. Asking for help feels strange. It always feels strange.

Adam is going to be home Saturday morning, so my mind is consumed by that. Perhaps I can twist and transform that into something between Dana and Ian. It's just the words, the words. I see everything like a film in my head, but I've never written a screenplay, and novels are about words. That sounds too easy. Dear writers: Help?

I am just so tired right now.

Comments

[notadoor.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure I've heard of writers who write things as screenplays first, and then flesh them out in the second draft -- and Terry Pratchett often writes in a minimalist style reminiscent of screenplays (no description, no blocking, not even dialogue tags -- JUST dialogue.)

A lot of people recommend that you write what you can, even if it sucks, and fix it up later. I have trouble doing that if the words are too wrong; but that's also why it's taking me three years to finish a novel. Possibly if I were less careful I'd be more successful.

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

Oh, a good idea. Thanks! I, too, am so careful that it takes me too long and saps away my confidence.

[nakeddementia.livejournal.com]

when i took creative writing courses, we did a lot of stream of conscious type exercises.
maybe you can do that to get ideas out, and like the above says- clean it up later.

i am in awe of someone who can write entire novels. 20 chapters! :D wow.

i am excited for when you chose to share your writing!

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

I really do need to do more stream of consciousness exercises. :)