Ideas Without Form

One of the main problems I have with writing is when I come across ideas that won't take form. These ideas press against my brain but I can't capture and mold them into coherent stories. This, I think, is part of my racing thoughts and specifically flight of ideas. I have this symptom very regularly and it gets frustrating. I want to be able to write at will and not be dragged along by my uncooperative brain.

I'm hoping that soon some of these shapeless ideas start to stick together and give me some inspiration. I feel the urge to write but I don't have the mental stamina to make it real right now.

Too Many Ideas

One problem I struggle with is that I either have no ideas or, alternately, too many at once. With time constraints and thought pattern fluctuations, I struggle to write in both settings. Finding the perfect balance of ideas and time can be very difficult.

Even with endless days and time, I still struggle to write. I know this from previous experience. I used to blame my writer's block on simple things like a lack of inspiration. Over time, however, I come to see that writer's block is a complex animal. In the end, I think it isn't something that can be completely avoided.

My one hope is to continue writing whenever I am able. Instead of becoming angry at myself during a dry spell, I just need to wait it out. The ability to write is like the tide. Either it's rolling in or out, and sometimes it's a tsunami.

Story Update: A Cluttered Mind

I've made a change to my story blogs in that I'm turing A Cluttered Mind into a collection of short stories. I have a lot of ideas that suddenly fizzle out. I was thinking I should write these into short stories at the least. Even if I never go back to them, at least I was able to practice and get my ideas out. I'm also hoping it will be easier to update instead of trying to work on a larger project.

The first story is called Another Hot Day, and I was inspired to write it based on the current news that we can expect global warming to make noticable global changes in the year 2020 in tropical regions, and by 2045 in areas such as New York. I was thinking about how that is within my lifetime, how old I would be, and how grown my boys will be by then. I was thinking about what would happen to society, the changes that would be made, and how being dependant on government and economy would make it impossible for us to migrate the way our caveman ancestors would have done.

You can read the story here.

http://aclutteredmindstory.blogspot.com/

Thanks!

Story News: Writer's block and lots of stress at work

Right now my work is going through a major overhaul of all of our educational materials. This is taking up a lot of creative energy from me. Also, this is an extremely busy time of year for us in general, so it's like a double dose of too much to do and too much stress.

I have a block on all my stories right now, but I'm starting to feel a stirring of ideas for Aftermath especially. I am hoping once the class overhaul is done things will start to go back to normal. Also, things normally slow down in the summer.

I'm sorry I have not been able to write for so long. I hate when this happens to me, but I am learning to accept it is part of my brain cycle and not to get frustrated.

Thank you!

Story New: Major Writer's Block

My manic phase has faded off. Instead, now my mind is racing but my ideas are a swirl of choas. Once again, I'm facing terrible writer's block. To add to it, work continues to be very stressful. It's actually bringing me to tears these days.

I am hoping in the next few days to the next week things will settle down. I just have to remember that writer's block always passes. But it feels like an eternity when you're in the middle of it.

Story News: Feeling Down

This weekend I feel like I've hit a wall. My mind is racing but my mood is sinking, becoming muddled and irritated. This is not a good writing space, and I've been here before. I have the idea for the next segment of Angel in Black, but the words just slip out of my hands.

I am stuck regarding Aftermath and A Cluttered Mind right now, too.

I still have my goal. I need to update something. I will try to update Aftermath as that is my project based on writing even if I can't seem to get a grasp on what I want to say.

I just feel really low right now. I know I'll come out of it. Maybe I can force myself out of it.

Story News: Feedback is Good

Today I am pleased I joined authonomy. It appears a huge section of chatper one of Angel in Black was missing. I don't know how it ended up being deleted, and maybe huge is a strange word. It isn't huge in size, but in importance. Anyway, thanks to comments there, I discovered this error and fixed it. I've updated all of chapter one here as well. (labeled One, Two, Three.)

So far things are going well over there. I'm trying to be more relaxed about the whole situation. My mantra has become "I haven't finished writing this story yet, I can't make it perfect until it is completed."

But, such a big error was something that had to be fixed.

I keep trying to write the next chapter of A Cluttered Mind. I don't know why it's so hard for me to write about things that are true. At first I was inspried and it came smoothly. Now, it's just a mess of rambling words. I think that particular project is one that I should go slowly on and only work on it with pure inspiration. Also, as I said, I think I was a bit manic when I decided to start writing it.

I think I'm still a bit more manic, but I'm coming down. My focus is running wild.

My goal for the coming week is:

Update Aftermath

Update Angel in Black

Anyway, thanks for reading! Please leave a comment if you want.

Story News: Taking a Chance

There is a site called authonomy.com. It is run by Harper Collins and the point is for the masses to upload their stories and by way of reader votes, they choose five books a month to publish. I was part of this a long time ago, but gave up due to the harsh feed-back and know it all attitudes of the readers. Also, when I finally was confronted with how many "writers" are out there, it was very disheartening. I had always believed that being a good writer was an uncommon talent, and that publishing wasn't that difficult. During my time at authonomy in 2009, I discovered that your chances of publishing a fantasy novel were 1:150,000. It broke my spirit.

Well, I've decided that I want to give it another try with Angel in Black. My screen name over there is reginna.x if you'd like to check it out. I haven't uploaded enough of Angel in Black there yet to be live. I'm going to do that this evening and will update the story blog once it is complete. I've done a basic edit of the first five chapters (or as we know them, chapter one through twenty-two,) in preparation for this. I didn't change much, however; since I want the raw feedback.

Authonomy can be overwhelming, because people want you to read an critique their stuff as well, and with my cognitive issues that doesn't work for me as often. I'll do what I can. I'm not going to drive myself over the edge with this. But, I'd like a bit more feedback on where I'm at, and I know I will get it there; positive, negative and hopefully constructive. I want to do this because I am considering looking into a full blown edit of my large, "completed" project, and to look into publishing through Amazon.

If you check it out, then you'll also see I have another project on there called Process. I haven't made that project into a story blog yet, although I am considering it. However; three stories at once is enough for now. I need to limit myself.

In other news, I'm working on the next chapter of Angel in Black. I will update again later this week. I'm still working on the next chapter of A Cluttered Mind as well.

Thank you for reading as always! Please feel free to leave a comment.

Working on an update for Aftermath

I'm writing but keep getting distracted. My thoughts are racing pretty badly today but I have some good ideas. I'm just trying to catch them as they fly by. I've gotten some very good ideas about where I'm taking the story as a whole. Also, the story has converged in my mind with another tale I was wanting to tell. That's exciting! I wasn't sure where it was going when I started. I'm still not really sure. We're traveling without a map here. All roads lead to who knows what.

Hopefully I will have this update by tomorrow sometime.

Angel in Black will be updated soon as well. I changed things a bit in my last chapter to how it had previously played in my head. I'm determining where to go next. I'm getting into the territory where I have something very important to explain but feel in the original verson I did a poor job at doing it. So, this time I'm trying to make things a bit more clear.

Also, with Angel in Black we're getting closer to the something that really excites me about the whole story. I'm not sharing any spoilers. Just know I'm very excited!

In progress

My big project is complete. Hurray! Now perhaps I can put my brain cells back to good use in creating worlds.

Today I started work on Aftermath: Chapter 5. I am hoping to have it done either tomrorow or Friday.

I haven't started on the next chapter of Angel in Black just yet, but I feel it coming.

I'm also making plans to start getting more features available on my stories. I'm working on setting up a better "home office" space for myself, and I have some new equipment but haven't set it up yet. Hopefully this will all be done in the near future. Also, as I learn to better use the blogger program, I hope to make the appearance of each story more customized.

Will update something this week!

I am still working on my project at work but the deadline has been loosened a bit. Plus, I couldn't continue at that pace any more. I burn out rather fast. I'm almost done with it! (I will have to do it again every quarter though, but next time I hope to have more time in general.)

The plan is to try to update something this week. Either Angel in Black or Aftermath or both! I have some good ideas brewing for Aftermath, and Angel in Black will just take the right kick to get that next chapter out.

Busy Schedule and Stressed

I have a very complex assignment at work and it's really stressing me out. My thoughts are racing and I am having some trouble focusing. I most likely will not be able to update either of my stories again this week.

Don't worry! I have a lot of ideas and I just need to get the words to fall into place.

Working but no update

I'm currently working on Chapter Four for Aftermath. It's going well but I don't think I will have it done today. But, I did give the Aftermath site a new skin and coloring.

I'm going to start working on chapter 21 of Angel in Black soon as well. I know what is happening but need to get the words to fall into place. I don't think it will take too log.

I feel a bit foggy today as the day goes on, so I'm hoping that I'm not falling into another mental wall. I'm thinking positively.