By George I think I've got it

I really should make a logo or some such do-hickey for when I start rambling on about my writing process, kinda warn everyone that , here goes Paddy, musing on the muse again. Just a gentle hey, look out, the dude is off his rocker again and is explaining in painful detail, in almost diary form, the weird machinations of his mind. I think I will forgo that and sink right in.

Writing in the blog about the process helps the process, for me. This actually helps clarify things and well, once it is out there, it stays there, as ugly as it can be at times. I can live with that. Once I get these kind of things out of the way, I move on and that, my fellow wanderers, is freeing.

Any who.. Last night I had what I have been calling, an eureka moment. No, not a television show or cool band name, an epiphany if you will. Actually it was an oh my, oh really? oh yeah, then what about, and well then what about, quick where is the paper and pen. It was a panicky I need to get this down moment. Scribble, scribble, dab, cross out, slow down and write legibly moment. But when it comes fast and furious you can't slow down, bad hand writing or no.

The idea was a lightning bolt, too hot even for the keyboard, and I had no time to boot anything but a pen. Scribble scribble, that is good, but oh wait, about that part, and if I did this then that falls in to place, oh crap boot the novel outline you idiot! Start the notes section and get it running. Whatever you do, don't let the idea slip through your fingers, move move move.

Oh the agony.. the must get it down before it slips away. But as it formed out in notes of the pen, ramblings from the keyboard, it stuck, it cemented into the brain. Oh joy, it is worthy, it will work, its gonna fit and.. oh yeah. It came out and was saved. Then I went to bed and let it percolate over night. In the light of day, it is even better, phew.

All of this was very simple really, probably so simple you will laugh. I am laughing right now, thinking, silly boy, of course this is the answer, you didn't know that? It is all about point of view. Yep, I have a POV problem that has plagued me on the..Project from day one. So I ignored it as best I could and slogged around it, kept on, pushing ahead. I am at the point that I can't ignore it, and it slowed me down.. I have the draft sitting there, looking rather ugly, even if there are some bright spots. How distressing, disappointing and frankly depressing. I was feeling rather bummed, questioning everything.

Then I solved the problem in one quick moment of clarity. I now know what to do. That is the good news. The less then good news is it is time to start hacking away. Move this here, like so, re-write this, like so, what the?? pitch that, oh and add this bit I thought would never go anywhere, oooh but I need this, and, and..

I may have caught a glimpse of a light at the end of the long creepy tunnel, just maybe. I am off to tinker, today is a good day to write.

The end is just the beginning..

Comments

[Jenny Hudock]

One thing I found that helps me with POV is reading passages out loud and listening to how it sounds. Podcasting has confirmed that 100% because as I'm recording an episode, I find myself stumbling over things that don't make sense. POV shifts, word repetition... the list goes on and on. Even if you're not ready to podcast it, maybe reading it out loud to your wife or even just yourself will help you hear those things too. Just my thoughts and two cents on it. Otherwise, I'm excited you found a solution.

[Patrick]

I caught the problem on a read through, early on, I just was ignoring it until later. Now, it is later. But its fine really. Reading out loud helps. I have a word repetition problem as well and that is what I was catching a lot of, too much really. See? Really, I did not mean to say that word again, it is like 'so'. So back to playing with words and phrases and ferreting out the oops.