Round 68, Hour 19

[evelyn-b.livejournal.com]

The aforementioned book of Meditations for Writers keeps trying to get me to cut up a manuscript and throw the pieces in the air, in order to "let serendipity decide" the shape of my never-to-be-finished WIP. I tried this tactic once; it was ok. But I am too easily tempted by gimmicks, and will spend all my days drawing maps and cutting things up and making character sheets and never finishing anything if I don't put a pretty decisive lid on that sort of thing.

What good and bad creative advice have you heard over the years? What's the one lesson you wish you could learn once and for all? Most importantly -- how's it going?

This is my last post for Round 68; after this, I have to go back to work and Day-Quil. Happy fic_rushing to all of you!

Comments

[xandromedovna.livejournal.com]

I'm finally here! I get no time for fic stuff this weekend, which is tragic, but I'm ready to facilitate the Things for others! Good luck with the working and the not-being-sick :)

[evelyn-b.livejournal.com]

Welcome! And thanks!

[justice-turtle.livejournal.com]

I napped! :D And then I cut my bangs (I'm trying to grow out my hair and it's at the point where it gets in my face all the time but isn't long enough to tie back yet), and now I'm gonna take a shower and see what happens when they go floof. XD

Maybe the Shower Muse will visit me, I don't know. :D

[rosiedlotrfan.livejournal.com]

Shower Muse, huh? I wonder what the Hot Bath With Radox Pine In It Muse will do for me?

[rosiedlotrfan.livejournal.com]

Fic is at 507 words and there are two more scenes to write - so much for the 500 word whatever-it-was. I'm hoping it will top out around 100 words - that would make me a lot less worried about whether I'll make my Yule tide word count - I mean, if I can write ~1000 words when I'm trying to be brief - how hard can it be?

The two scenes I have left to write are the beginning of the fic and one of the middle sense. I suck at writing in chronological order. Maybe I should try your throwing pieces in the air idea!

But-but-but drawing maps and cutting things up and making character lists are so much fun!

[rosiedlotrfan.livejournal.com]

I swear LJ is going nuts - that first 100 was definitely 1000 before I edited the second 1000 to 1000 from 100! Also I always spell Yule tide Yuletide. I've noticed a lot of stupid little things like that happening lately, and they can't ALL be brain farts.

[feralletters.livejournal.com]

Left the house and wound up at my mother's for a late breakfast. Now I am at her place using her desk and considering what I am going to do for the next few hours.

As for creative advice, I do like the one where you are supposed to , when you are blocked, do something else. I find it works wonderfully for me and I usually wind up cleaning or something that requires me to move which is both good for my brain and my body.

[prisca1960.livejournal.com]

I'm here. Work: done. Friends are finally gone (which is sad because it's fun to have them around and good because now I can start with the writing fun ;) )

There is lot to do:
- a little ficlet I've started to write some days ago wants to be finished
- the next chapter of a much too long neglected WIP
- a Halloween challenge
- another Halloween story which refuses to leave my mind
- editing stories and posting them at AO3

But one step after the other. I guess I should think about it where to start.;)

[rosiedlotrfan.livejournal.com]

So much to do, so little time to do it!