Thursday, July 7, 2011

Writing Can Turn You Into a Monster

We go through so many phases when writing a book. I like to think we turn into several different creatures along the way. Let me illustrate...

  1. The Superhero. Yes we start out with soaring aspirations. We're sure this is it! This is the idea that's going to save the world! So many possibilities are laid out in front of us, it's like we can see a million different roads leading out from the core idea that sparked our interest in the first place. In this beginning stage (whether it be planning or just diving in) we feel invincible. 
  2. The Willow the Wisp. The willow the wisp (for those that don't know) is responsible for leading wary travelers astray, sometimes ending in drowning them. In this case, it means the murky middle. We've gotten into the story, we have an idea of where it should end up, but we feel like we're trudging through the swamp trying to get there. Have we led the story astray? We hope not.
  3. The Zombie. We can't see straight. We can't think straight either. We're so engrossed in the book that we put our pants on backwards. Hopefully this is an exaggeration. Maybe not.
  4. The Pixie. We've done it! We've made it through the first draft! Now we're full of energy, feeling like celebrating. Do pixie's eat chocolate? If they're writer pixies - you bet they do!
  5. The Werewolf. Revision. For the most part you are ready. You feel you can handle it. But then you have those moments - perhaps when the moon is full? - where you turn into an irrational beast. You want to tear the manuscript apart (so it's a good thing we mostly use computers now). The best thing to do is understand that you will get through this, and get rid of some of that negative energy in a positive way, like running/exercise. Preferably not by biting anyone.
  6. The Unicorn. Critiquers and beta readers have their say. We feel like a hunted beast - a dying breed. Well, hopefully not. Hopefully we ignore that sense of vulnerability enough to take the bullet. After all, bullets can't really kill unicorns. In the case of this metaphor they only make them stronger. 
  7. The Vampire. We've finished! We're ready to query or submit. We are hungry for positive responses, but know we will face much rejection, so we have to be tough. So tough that we keep our eye on the prize, and remain strong, clever, and stealthy. Okay, I just like that word. Stealthy. But you get the idea.
So how'd I do? Did I miss a monster? 

31 comments:

  1. Oh, haha. This shows where my mind is: when I saw "the unicorn" next to the words "beta readers", I thought it was going to say "you want to go on a rampage and impale ..." Yeah. Your use of the unicorn image was much more appropriate. Great and creative post, as always.

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  2. LOL, you nailed me, especially with the superhero at the beginning, which is where I am right now. I just started a new story, and at this stage am loving everything about it. Later, I'll see all its warts and pimples.

    I kind of think the vampire goes up earlier, when you're feverishly writing through the night and crashing in the morning. :-)

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  3. Awesome! I'd add in a swamp monster for dealing with rejection! :) I try and stick with being a superhero!

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  4. My first thought when reading the title of this post was, "You've been talking to my husband, haven't you?! HAVEN'T YOU?!" *turns green and tears shirt with now-bulging muscles*
    :D
    Love this post, though. So true. I'm a magical blend of all of them right now. Hopefully I'll be at the vampire stage very soon (and not only because I, too, like the word 'stealthy'). :)

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  5. Love this, Lisa! I just left my pixie behind...helllllooooo werewolf!! Though I'm a nice werewolf, I think. The hubby might disagree, though. LOL!

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  6. I love this!

    You know...I felt like a Unicorn for a bit. Unfortunately for me, the creature that followed was a wraith. I no longer feel, I exist in the shadows, and I'm controlled by a much stronger power called My Story.

    Oh dear.

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  7. Absolutely LOVE this post! :) I'm still at the beginning, but one more plot point will turn me into The Willow The Wisp phase. Eek!

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  8. LOL! You did awesome. I have totally been each of those creatures during the writing process. Love it!

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  9. Love it, Lisa! But how about the BUTTERFLY. The one that keeps flapping its wings, hoping against hope as the rejections come in?

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  10. Ha! What great associations! I've done all of them, and I think each is spot on. Thanks for the post and the laugh!

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  11. I love it! And I'm most definitely the Werewolf right now. Do you hear my howling at night? Yep, that's me. Trying to turn the pile of words into something readable.

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  12. This is AWESOME! And very,very true of me : ) And, like Julie, I am in a werewold stage with manuscript. In antoher,total superhero. So..I'm a SuperWolf?

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  13. You guys are awesome!! I love these comments - all the suggestions for other creatures and hearing where you are! <33 I will get to all of your blogs, I promise, unfortunately today is a little hectic so it may take me a tad longer than usual!

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  14. I am the pixie right now because I am almost done my rewrite but can't eat chocolate dieting for the (will not mention number)=)

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  15. Hahahaha, not only are you not missing anything (from my perspective), you've hit several I would have missed had it occurred to me to write something like this! Such an excellent post, and well timed, too.

    I took a break from writing in June. I intended to come back and start editing already written stuff, with an occasional dash of writing in my WIP. Before I started writing, I felt like I was in #2. After I read the last 20 pages, I was invigorated and skipped backward to #1. I hope I can stay there for the next month or so it'll hopefully to take to hash out the draft. I'm already battling #3.

    I'm really looking forward to the pixie stage, although I'll jump so quickly back to editing another work I won't be able to savor it too long! ;)

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  16. Hee hee! Loved it :)

    As for the paper ripping...I did that once...but then had to walk 30 minutes into my office to reprint. Which gave me plenty of time to cool down!

    Nice post Lisa :)

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  17. Haha, this is great. You are very creative. :) Thanks for the enjoyable post!

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  18. Lol! Love it! And then the cycle starts all over after you sign with your agent. And I imagine after you sign a contract with your editor. I'm in my second round of "Werewolf".

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  19. Okay, so I finally figured it out. I'm more of the "House Elf", like Dobie in Harry Potter. All these new rules, being told what to do, never being able to get out on my own. Creative ideas shot down my 18 different blogs from "experts" telling me how wrong and pitiful I am.

    Guess I'm just lookin' for someone to hand me a dirty sock, (in the form of a contract) to make me feel free!

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  20. I think I'm in the Zombie phase.

    Did I mention I'm also a paranoid zombie?

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  21. Brilliant analogy of the writer's path Lisa!

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  22. Ha this is great. I'm at the willow wisp stage where I don't know where the heck I'm going! Hoping to get to the next stage soon. :-)

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  23. Love this. Right now I'm a pixie about to become a zombie. Ha :)

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  24. Awesome! I think I'm a zombie right now. :) Either that or I've already been drowned by the Wisp and I just haven't figured it out.

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  25. I shouldn't have read this post at night in the dark woods. It reminded me of what might be lurking outside the insubstantial glass paneled front door. I'd like to tip my hat to THE GHOST when we feel our story is unsubstantial and so flimsy we can shove our hand right through it.

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  26. Hi there,


    Just wondering if you accidentally have some of my "add this" code on your site. Your blog address is coming up in my "stats site" it means that i can see the stats for your shares and things.

    I assume you will need to replace the part of the code that points to the blog you are trying to trace. You many have got the code from the add this help forum, as i posted it there to get some help on how to do things.

    Sorry i can't be more help,

    Many thanks and happy blogging

    sarah

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  27. Hi again,

    Sorry i just sent you some code that i now don't think will work. sorry, i just realised that they sent me two pieces of code that are NOT the same. I now can't figure out if they will give the same results or not. Sorry what a pain

    sarah

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  28. This made my day! Stealthy is a great word and of course pixies eat chocolate and I tell you I have put my shirts on backwards a time or two. I would have put my pants on backwards too if it weren't so uncomfortable! I loved your addition of the will o'the wisp and the werewolf too!! Tweeting this!

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  29. Haha! Lisa, this is so clever an well done. I enjoyed all of it. Thanks for the follow!

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  30. I love this! I've definitely been each of these monsters and repeatedly. Ack! You've nailed the process, thanks for the great post! : )

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