Sometimes I have so much fun I really don't know how I contain myself. Take yesterday for example. I managed to finish getting my snowthrower a tune-up and 'shocked' my brand new well. The tune-up only took as long as changing a spark plug, because everything else had been done the day before. The well on the other hand took hours. Not so long actually putting the bleach in it, but to flush it out of the system was time consuming. I still refuse to wash a load of clothes with any color in them. Then last night while the boy played in the tub I managed to get another 500 words down in a story/book. I don't know where this one is heading. It depends on how many subplots I can throw at it. I think I could throw a lot at it, it is making them stick that is the problem.
I noticed Aaron describing his linear way of thinking being more conducive to short story writing than novel writing earlier this week. I have the same problem. For 15 years of my writing I never thought past the short story. I didn't have to. I had a story, I told it, I was done with it. Now I want to move on, not completely away from the short story. I like them. They are like childhood friends. You never really want to say goodbye to them.
Sadly, while I was trying to introduce myself to the novel I seem to have lost touch with my old friend the short story. He doesn't stop by to play anymore it seems. What is really pissing me off is that my new friend, the novel, doesn't want to come over to play right now either.
Maybe when it is warmer we can all get together and have a barbecue, have a few beers.
I wonder what poetry is doing this time of the year?
More Little boats: Poleacre and America's
4 weeks ago
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12 comments:
Poetry has come in and stolen all of your beer so that you can not have your planned get together with your friends. Then it hides for weeks, drinking your beer, and comes to you with a hangover, asking to borrow money.
Trust me.
good to know. I have always enjoyed him but never really trusted him.
I really think that beer is the answer. Hook them all up with a case of Sam Adams and it's on.
No truly, I understand. I went the other way-- I really have to work to get a short story to function even now, and I've been trying for a few years. But when it works, it's worth the pain in the ass.
And the beer.
Katey, beer is always the answer. It doesn't matter what the question is. Okay, sometimes it isn't, but I would like to think so. :)
Katey's right about short stories being a pain in the ass. But I still write them. I can churn out a bigger word count on a novel (not an amazing number either way), but every short story is a grind.
I still prefer them.
I find it almost impossible to work on both shorts and a novel at the same time. Scientists should study our brains to find out why that is.
I heard poetry is in the islands. Although Barry might be right - you know how people lie about going on vacation. Better keep an eye on that beer ; )
I love writing both short stories and novels but am just no good at poetry.
Wow, Poetry sounds like a real jerk.
I've been told that novels are just long short stories, but I don't think that I believe that. They seem like very different beasts, but they're beautiful beasts. :)
-Mercedes
Aaron, I know what you mean.
Cate, I usually end up writing shorts somewhere in the middle of a book and again at the end. I don't know why.
Nat, sadly all of my beer is gone. Lucky for me it is grocery night.
Danielle, my attempts at poetry are laughable at best.
Mercedes, I don't believe that whole novel is a long short story thing either. A short story is a scene in a novel, maybe.
K.C., that okay, we play both kinds of music here. Country and Western. (sorry, I couldn't resist the chance to use a line from the Blues Brothers.)
Can I invite myself to your barbecue?
I'm so pushy.
It IS such a balance! But you seem to be finding that balance all right...
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