tonithegreat expressed interest in my writing experiences. Here's an example. I'm one of those people who write things down instead of making things up. Most of the time, this is a major asset; I can count on characters showing up on my mental doorstep with tales to tell, so I rarely have to go hunting for story or poem ideas. The downside is that my different types of writing aren't really interchangeable. If I spend a lot of time on one type -- which I've done lately with nonfiction, to get Composing Magic ready for publication -- the pressure builds up to write the other kinds.
Also factor in that I work from home, in an office adjacent to the living room. My friends and family are generally quite respectful of my time when I say that I Am Working and not to be interrupted, which is vital for anyone running a home business. But they also know my entertainment tastes.
When I was finishing the author read of Composing Magic the final day went something like this:
Me: "Home at last! I shall now finish the remainder of this big project and feel very satisfied."
1st Character: "Look at me, look at me! I just bought an edible spaceship."
Me: "That's nice, but I'm busy now. Come back tomorrow."
2nd Character: "Look at me, look at me! I'm having a nervous breakdown beside a carnivorous pool!"
3rd Character: "Look at me, look at me! I ate him and now I can see in color!"
Me: "Guys, I really don't have time for this. Tell me again tomorrow."
2nd & 3rd Characters: *throw gigantic tantrum*
Me: "All right, already! I'm writing down just the outline. See, it's done. Now bug off!"
4th Character: "Do you know a word for--"
Me: "Not today!"
5th Character: "Look at me, look at me! I'm hiking to the end of the world!"
Me: *points to text on screen* "Is this fiction?"
5th Character: "Um ... no. It's nonfiction."
Me: "Then get your great, big, muddy, fictional feet OFF it."
This continues for some time, as I'm marking up the proof pages and typing corrections into an email message. Then my partner Doug walks into the office.
Doug: "Can you spare two hours to watch a movie?"
Me: *incredulous look* "NO."
Doug: "Sorry to have bothered you."
Nth Character: "Look at me, look at me! I'm --"
Me: *points virtual railgun at character*
Nth Character: "--going away now."
Funny, they left me alone for the rest of the day.
June 8 2007, 23:50:18 UTC 14 years ago
Okay, I want to hear about this one. When you have time.
June 9 2007, 05:39:08 UTC 14 years ago
June 9 2007, 01:53:21 UTC 14 years ago
June 9 2007, 05:51:19 UTC 14 years ago
Alas, working as a wordsmith tends to fill up one's schedule until it is taut as a drumhead. After much practice, I've learned to capture some ideas for later use -- sometimes with a character name, or a snippet of dialogue, etc. -- if I don't have time to write out a whole story or poem. If I'm lucky I'll be able to flesh it out later, but sometimes it won't work. Other instances, all I get are fragmentary ideas to begin with, and those I can just jot down without losing anything.
I've also trained myself to be able to hold poetry in an active loop inside my head, if I can't write it down. But that is ALL I can do -- repeat it over and over, getting longer as I add verses -- until I do write it down. I can't converse. I can't stand to have music played in earshot. Not so bad, you say? Imagine being stuck in a car with me mumbling dozens of verses, at night, for hours.
Doug pulls over without being asked now. I love him very much.
June 9 2007, 03:11:42 UTC 14 years ago
June 13 2007, 23:58:32 UTC 14 years ago
omg, the voices in your head...they are teh funny *amused muchly*