I have been stuck in a chapter since Monday now. Didn't write anything on Tuesday, sat staring at the monitor on Wednesday, and got myself in another bit of a hole on Thursday. Though this hole is just a personal decision one. This is the first time in the book that the hero has a choice to do something heroic. Till now if he did something heroic, it was mainly because I left him no choice.
Now, he has to make a choice. Do something heroic, or take the easy way out. Most ordinary people would take the latter, but would our heroes do that? No! They would do heroic things, jump over lakes of fire, swim icy oceans, kill fiery dragons, and in general, other dumb things.
So, I have realized one more thing. Heroes are dumb, dimwits, who have no idea what's good for them. And that there's no way out. When faced with a choice, let's say, cooking for himself, in which he has to start from picking the food, or having dinner in a fine classy restaurant, the hero will have to take the former. Otherwise, what will the writer write? The hotel menu?
I think not writing daily has other disadvantages too. I have been in a funk on Tuesday and Wednesday, which I think came from not writing on earlier days. I wrote something yesterday, though inordinately crappy, but I am feeling much better. I am not sure about not writing putting me in a blue mood, but I will keep myself under observation, and update the results.
Rashmi told me about the blog and I have to say the trials and tribulations of the writer provide food for thought.
ReplyDeleteI read the movie reference to Alex & Emma and was reminded of another brilliant movie about writers and the art of writing -- Finding Forrester. It addresses, in one scene, a trial you seem to be going through re: editing the draft -- I quote,"No thinking - that comes later.You must write your first draft with your heart. You rewrite with your head.The first key to writing is.....to write, not to think."
I hope you soldier on in your quest. tc