Zeppelin Hijack
Today, I relearned the joy of writing. After yesterday's angst, today I jumped ahead and starting moving into the action of the story. And lo and behold! It became fun again. I wrote almost 600 words today. (So far, there's a chance I'll get back into it before the day is over.)
I actually wrote on the computer today as well. For the last week, I've been standing up in my kitchen writing on my Alphasmart. I don't know why I decided to write this way. Partially, I wanted to step away from the computer and the distractions from e-mail, blogs and the other things on my computer. I chose to stand up because I read that's how Hemingway used to write. (Yes, I know that's an idiot reason to do something, but it actually wasn't uncomfortable. Also, I haven't come to any decisions on the "right way" for me to write every day, so I'm trying different things.) I don't think writing this way hurt me, after all the first parts of the story were done that way too. Still, maybe it doesn't allow me to get totally into the story.
On the other hand, while I did that much writing today, I could have done more. I kept a writing file open on the computer and wrote for a while. Then I read blogs for a while. Then I wrote a little more. Then I sent out some e-mails. Then I wrote again. I do think I write in spurts, so I'm not sure this was bad, and it certainly was better than simply not writing at all. And like I said above, it was fun. So we'll see if I need to force myself to get more serious to it. I certainly think in a second draft I have put more concentration at one time on the job at hand.
I came up with a working title for the story. I just wrote for a name for the computer file, but I kind of like it. It's called "Zeppelin Hijack." It's probably too literal. Yes, the story does concern a zeppelin, at least for now it does. I keep thinking that's a bad idea since plenty of writers must now have left-over stories from their submissions to "All-Star Zeppelin Adventure Stories" being sent around. But I can't worry about that end of things yet. Right now, I just have to keep my thoughts on writing whatever story comes to me and completing it, making it worth something, regardless if anyone will buy it.
Anyway, I'm just overjoyed I've kept at this story and it feels like it's back on the tracks again.
I actually wrote on the computer today as well. For the last week, I've been standing up in my kitchen writing on my Alphasmart. I don't know why I decided to write this way. Partially, I wanted to step away from the computer and the distractions from e-mail, blogs and the other things on my computer. I chose to stand up because I read that's how Hemingway used to write. (Yes, I know that's an idiot reason to do something, but it actually wasn't uncomfortable. Also, I haven't come to any decisions on the "right way" for me to write every day, so I'm trying different things.) I don't think writing this way hurt me, after all the first parts of the story were done that way too. Still, maybe it doesn't allow me to get totally into the story.
On the other hand, while I did that much writing today, I could have done more. I kept a writing file open on the computer and wrote for a while. Then I read blogs for a while. Then I wrote a little more. Then I sent out some e-mails. Then I wrote again. I do think I write in spurts, so I'm not sure this was bad, and it certainly was better than simply not writing at all. And like I said above, it was fun. So we'll see if I need to force myself to get more serious to it. I certainly think in a second draft I have put more concentration at one time on the job at hand.
I came up with a working title for the story. I just wrote for a name for the computer file, but I kind of like it. It's called "Zeppelin Hijack." It's probably too literal. Yes, the story does concern a zeppelin, at least for now it does. I keep thinking that's a bad idea since plenty of writers must now have left-over stories from their submissions to "All-Star Zeppelin Adventure Stories" being sent around. But I can't worry about that end of things yet. Right now, I just have to keep my thoughts on writing whatever story comes to me and completing it, making it worth something, regardless if anyone will buy it.
Anyway, I'm just overjoyed I've kept at this story and it feels like it's back on the tracks again.
7 comments:
Coming up with a routine is important for writing. Some say they write when they are inspired but the real trick is to keep writing even if you don't feel inspired. This is how we grow as writers.
In my opinion:)
Christine
Thanks Christine, that's exactly what I'm trying to achieve, probably more than anything else.
My editor tells me to not worry about what I am putting down just put the words down and look at it later. The exercise is to flex your brain.
Have you flexed your brain today?
:)
...and Thomas Wolfe (who was tall) wrote standing up, on a pad of paper on the top of his refrigerator. Of course, he also dropped each page on the floor when he was done without numbering them, which is another complication altogether.
Whatever helps you get the words on the page.
Mr. Faust -- Really! I didn't know that about Thomas Wolfe (I assume we're talking about the author of Look Homeward, Angel, not the author of Bonfire of the Vanities.) From what I understand of the editing his stories went through, the part about dropping the pages unnumbered on the floor doesn't surprise me. The quirks of the creative process fascinate me. But, in the end, it is all about getting the words on paper.
How about "Airjack!" as a title? With the exclamation point of course.....
I also have a leftover story from ASZAS but I haven't sent it out to anyone. Maybe we should put out an anthology: "B-Team Zeppelin Adventure Stories!"
Oooh, I like "Airjack!" as a title, especially with the exclamation point -- it's just not the same without it. I also love "B-Team Zeppelin Adventure Stories." It's bad advertising from the getgo, but that's probably what it'd deserve. "Great stories about zeppelins, almost as good as the guys who made the first anthology."
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