Wednesday, November 2, 2016

My Favorite (Writing) Thing



Hallo fine peoples! Another month gone already? Welcome to the Insecure Writer's Support Group's Monthly meeting! If you don't know what this is about, it is a LARGE group of writers dedicated to a bit of support for this process that we all do differently, yet all seem to experience many of the same things—most significantly, insecurity.

This month the question is: What is your favorite aspect of being a writer?

And let me tell you...

There is so much I love about writing. But really my FAVORITE thing is when I have a couple strands of story and a place I need to get to and I get this big swoopy moment of genius where the idea comes that will pull it all together. It doesn't happen OFTEN. Not even every book. Sometimes it happens in the planning. Or the writing. Or even the editing. But it is like this fireball to the gut—a good time—like a roller coaster almost—where this enormous weight lifts and this airy feeling of genius settles, however fleetingly.

It can't be forced, but I can give you a couple ways it might be triggered.

First: The problem needs to be sufficiently complicated or you are just not going to feel that clever solving it.

Or you could get one of these...
Second: Being naked helps. The shower is a good place for this, though it can strain memory to remember it until you are dry enough to write it down. Or likewise (also naked) that early morning not quite awake, but conscious time. (if you sleep in clothes this is never going to happen because you are too busy wrestling the strangling bindy pajama monsters that are trying to choke you)

If you can't be naked then this combo: Busy body, quiet mind. Like a swim or power walk with no music and minimal human interaction—something where your body is GOING but you don't really have to think too much.

So there. What is YOUR favorite aspect of writing?
And who is NaNo-ing?

Now go see what some of the others have to say...

23 comments:

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Hart - clearing the mind is such a great idea ... good luck with your writing ... I love creating and finishing a piece of writing - cheers Hilary

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

I think I'm like you--that moment where I write something unexpectedly clever or tie something together in a way I hadn't thought of when I was outlining it.

As usual, I'm not NaNo-ing...halfway through a project. But I'm using the time to increase my daily word count goals and move through faster!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I have those not quite awake but conscious moments all night long. I should put them to use.

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

I'm NaNo-ing!

I hear you about the naked thing, but I love me some good pajamas. :)

Patsy said...

A big swoopy moment of genius sounds a lot of fun! I haven't experiened it yet, but perhaps if I keep writing ...

Loren E. Pryce said...

Hi Hart - Wonderful post! For my very first IWSG post, I wrote that my favorite thing about writing is the shaping of words that cause a reaction in the reader. I'm trying NaNoWriMo for the first time also. Good luck to everyone participating!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I don't think I've ever had a swoopy moment. And I do sleep naked...

Diane Burton said...

Love your description: big swoopy momen. Oh, yeah! It doesn't come often, but when it does...awesome! Good luck with NaNo.

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

So, essential what you're saying is writing naked is best? Haha. Not so sure that would work here. We live on a lake with my desk facing a huge window. Not sure the ducks, loons, swans, eagles could survive me ... nah, not a pretty picture. LOL. Okay, that means busy body for me. I could do windows while I type, maybe.

Chrys Fey said...

I always gets ideas or find resolutions to problems while in the shower. It is the strangest thing. Water must be a conduit for ideas or something.

cleemckenzie said...

Being naked is very freeing, and it makes you stand up straight, especially if there's a mirror lurking nearby. I agree that when you're relaxed, the ideas seem to come easily.

Crystal Collier said...

I agree the shower is one of the best brainstorming places, but that could be because I don't have any little kids mauling me. LOL.

Andrew Leon said...

I don't think I work in that direction.
And I tend not to stay in the shower long enough to have ideas.
Maybe when the drought is over.

H. R. Sinclair said...

So being a busybody is good--I mean having a busy body is good. Gotca!

Nick Wilford said...

Those genius moments are great when they come. Not too often for me though!

Michelle Wallace said...

So do your best ideas come to you in the shower...and do you have a shower notepad thinggie like the one in the pic?
Happy IWSG Day!

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

This is why I miss my swimming pool so much in the winter. I do so much thinking in the pool. And walking always gets my mind working. Don't do either naked though.

Victoria Marie Lees said...

Ah, it sounds like an epiphany. I love it when things begin to jive and the story becomes alive. More power to you. This is my first time here. I'm meeting and connecting with so many wonderful new writers in IWSG. I've joined your blog!

Pam Lazos said...

Oh my gosh, writing in the shower! Why didn't I think of that! You're a genius!!

Tamara Narayan said...

No Nano for me. I would probably produce a mountain of useless garbage if I tried.

Jan Morrison said...

Yep! I love that puzzle figured moment. I just had one in my NaNo-ing of last year's mystery. I just figured out the big puzzle - why the person was killed. I knew sort of why but I just figured out really why. Gah! I am inarticulate suddenly. Okay - too much leftover halloween candy has turned my brains to mush.

Nicola said...

It's during those moments of having a clear and free mind that my creativity comes to life. Weeding and working in the garden usually does the trick.

J Lenni Dorner said...

Being naked can be really inspiring. Maybe the Muse likes us that way? I do love the moment when lightning strikes and it all comes together. #Nanowrimo4Ever