Saturday, October 25, 2008

Why I think of my Story Ideas as a Writer's Germ?

I am writing a short story this weekend for a magazine contest. I am also reworking a novel for a mystery novel contest for a publishing house. And I am writing a new novel. And and ebook on book marketing plans. Although I am a quick writer, it takes a certain kick, an excitement in my gut--if you will-- to fuel my drive to complete any of these assignments, especially fiction.

I never have writer's block, but I do have
writer's waiting challenge. My term. For me it means that this story sits in my head. When I look at it its hazy and not coherent. It's like the first stages of having a cold. I'm not sure if I'm sick or is it allergies, so I wait it out and see until the cold begins to nag. I become congested and there's no point of return. Story creation is the same process for me. I have many germs of stories in my head that never make it to fruition. They fizzle out by the next morning.

The reason I decided to enter the Ebony short story contest was story germ is teetering over the the point of no return. My symptoms are very clear:

  • I have a character that haunts me.
  • Everytime I hear a certain song my story comes back to view.
  • I can't move forward until this story is purged out of me.
Whether I win the contest or not is my concern. Getting this story written is. Today my body and mind and spirit will not allow me to do anything else but talk about this story, work its issues out, then write.

I will share my process with you. But I have a favor to ask?

How do you decide when its time to take your story idea and turn it into a story?

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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I hear and understand completely!!! There's no way I can answer your question because, rarely do my stories emerge on paper or a computer screen. My mind is swirling with ideas all the time but I lack the power to produce them. Good luck on the contest!

shellifrommo on Twitter

Unknown said...

Thanks, I will find you on Twitter and get you on the good writing foot. :)

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