Last week was nuts. Aimee's surgery, two forensics meets in four days (forensics: speech and drama competition--meets last about 8 hours+travel time=10-12 hour day), my mom stayed with us for the week, Aimee's folks stayed the weekend.
Whew.
I'm spent.
I managed 1,000 words a day on The House Eaters most of the week, eeking out a modest 500 on Saturday. I've crested the 24K mark, with about 10-12K left before I feel like the first draft is done. A respectable amount for a YA book, especially if I add another 2-3K in rewrites (which I am apt to do).
Short story burnout has taken over. The last time I worked on something longer (Rock Gods), I was itching to return to short stories. I don't have that feeling right now. I haven't felt this way for over a year, so it sort of scares me. Short stories used to be my oxygen.
What if all my ideas are gone, poof, into the ether?
12 comments:
You're storming along with 'The House Eaters' - and story ideas never go away. In fact, I bet you normally have more than you can handle.
Sounds like you just need some brain down-time, and then the story ideas will start buzzing around your head like gnats again. Idea gnats, which we can shorten to Ignatz.
That was funny when I thought it, anyway.
Cate - I just hope they come "home" when I need them; on the other hand, I'm really enjoying Eaters (but boy, do I need to change the title).
K.C. - I think so. I like me some Ignatz though.
Man, for a busy week, that is an incredibly productive writing streak...at least my my standards.
Jeremy - writing YA is like jotting down diary entries from my day job.
LIsten to Cqtherine. Sometimes our brains just need to recuperate longer than we want them too ; P
You are not alone in the short story doldrums. The only way I can touch a short right now is to edit or read. I can't right one to save my life right now. I will raise a glass to a productive YA piece though (and maybe even profitable) Have a good Monday.
I don't worry about the ideas running out. I just worry that I won't be able to write them the way I see them if that makes sense.
Cheers!
Natalie - good point
Jamie - profit? that would be near-miraculous
Bobbie - that makes perfect sense--if I could only paint in words the images my brain conjures.
I rewrote a little piece back in December which ended up being accepted at 52 Stitches. I then began work on Newland.
I didn't have a single short idea for about seven weeks and then I had three at once. Two have gone out the door and I'm still wrestling with the last. A week ago, another idea popped up which is still circling in my head and won't go away.
Point is, the harder you strive for a short, and the more you worry at it, the less likely you'll find something.
Work on Eaters (personally I love the name), and when you're ready, relax, read, go for a walk, take the wife out to dinner and a dirty weekend at a secluded hotel.
The ideas will suddenly poke their collective heads up. If not, you'll be relaxed and have a dirty weekend to think about - maybe you can turn to writing erotica...or not, but things will get better. I've read some of your past shorts, you're too good not to keep writing them.
I'm the exact opposite right now...want to work on one of these 2 novels but haver short story fever! (It's funny if you imagibne Christopher Walken saying it, as if mentioning "cow bell fevah).
Thanks, BT - I like the dirty weekend idea...now to convince the wife.
Barry - it is like a "fevah" when it takes hold.
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