"Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration. The rest of us just get up and go to work." --Stephen KingMuch as I agree with Mr. King, I don't think any of us are opposed to those sudden moments of inspiration. We just don't rely on them, or expect them, which makes them so much greater when they happen.
I've talked about one of my (steadily-growing pile of) plots in progress here before. It's about cold places and undead and people with draconic ancestry and it's meant to read like the whole thing has a heavy metal soundtrack. It's also one of the more frustrating things I've tried to develop over the past few years because no matter what I do with it, it's never quite right.
As an aside, I have to say that this is one of the times when I'm glad to be a plotter, not a pantser. Yes, it's frustrating to have a plotting document that's fifty-six pages long and contains five different versions of my attempts to get this story and world to work. But I'd rather have that than yet another book that I tossed away once it was done. I've been there too many times already. >_<
Anyway. Despite the frustration, I'm determined to keep plugging away at this plot, as I like the ideas in it too much to just set it aside. I go back to it a few times a month, read over my notes on the latest version of the story, and see if I can figure out a little more of it. Most of the time, I add a sentence or two, or maybe delete one, and close the document while swearing.
Then, a little while ago, I saw this image, and everything fell into place.
A big part of the problem I had with the story was that it ended with the protagonists discovering the true nature of the threat, which the antagonist had been working against in his own less-than-kind way. Something about that never felt right. Seeing that image made me realize what I was missing: the story doesn't end with the protagonists discovering the true threat. The story ends with their first battle against that true threat.
The fact that I've been thinking of this story as 'metal fantasy' and the image references rock festivals going to war is not lost on me. :P
This, I think, is what inspiration is really meant to be for we writers. It's not getting the whole story at once, it's not the sudden breakthrough that solves everything. It's the moment when you realize what the story needs for it to work - what the story is missing. It's probably best not to expect inspiration, but it can come from anywhere. Hell, mine came from a message board thread about D&D Demotivational posters.
I still have a lot to do for this tale. But I have the three acts mapped out, which counts for a lot; now that I know how it starts and how it ends, I can figure out everything that happens in between. And for a plotter like me, that means a lot.
And now, once I'm done plotting the sequel that I blathered on about in my last two entries, I can get started on this plot. Again. Maybe this time, it will actually work.
I think we all have those ideas that just won't go away. They can drive you mad, which makes it all the sweeter when we finally manage to work some stuff out. I'm currently struggling with what Part 3 of my trilogy will be about; I'm reading through the first two parts and taking detailed notes, which hopefully will give me some pointers. Glad you found your inspiration!
ReplyDeleteThank you. Hope you find yours as well. I can imagine that trying to make the third book in a series work carries quite the different set of issues than the first two. >_<
DeleteDungeons and Dragons to the rescue!
ReplyDeleteWe often need that little spark of inspiration. It doesn't solve the problem, but it sets us on the right path.
True. Though finding the path often turns out to be the easier part of it all.
DeleteI love those sparks. Sometimes they solve one small problem, and sometimes they fix the whole book, but either way, they're such a joy when they arrive. So glad you got one!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I still have no idea what will ever come of this, if anything, but that's nothing new.
DeleteI am kind of stuck with a MSS right now too. It is a sad story and trying to happy it up a bit for balance isn't going that well.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with having it all come together for you. When that happens it is the best feeling ever.
Sometimes stories are just sad. I've learned over the years that if a story seems like it has to be a certain way, it's best not to fight against that. Hope you can figure out how yours is supposed to work.
DeleteCongrats on figuring how to make it work! Reading like a heavy metal album sounds pretty.. epic!
ReplyDeleteThat's the goal. ^_^ I realized a while back that this story needs to have a particular feel. The trouble has always been figuring out the story itself, though.
DeleteI agree. Those moments are the best. Seriously! I'm having a few of those as I rearrange chapters. Everything was there, it just wasn't in the right order.
ReplyDeleteOoh, interesting. I've had to do some rearranging of events myself in the past, but that was always in the plotting stages. Having to rearrange entire chapters would feel very strange to me.
DeleteI've had inspiration strike while I was doing dishes.
ReplyDeleteI don't care. I'll take it, however it comes. :)
IWSG #119 until Alex culls the list again.
I've had so many story ideas come to me in the shower that it's pretty much become a running gag. ^_^
DeleteYay Mason!
ReplyDeleteI'm thrilled to hear you figured it out :) Sometimes, if you look too closely, you won't see it. And all it takes is a picture or music to realize whatever it is you're missing.
I went through three drafts of a story and I KNEW something was off. Then I took a trip to HP world in Orlando and listened to a Slipknot song (I think it was Slipknot) and realized my characters were loosely based on characters that existed in a COMPLETE OTHER WORLD. And... wow. Not only was something missing, I'd been writing the entire story wrong! It happens. But isn't it a *great* feeling when you finally figure it out? I'm glad you did ;)
I know what you mean. There's a reason I always keep something with me that I can use to make notes - sometimes what I need for a story just hits me and I have to make sure I write it down. I went through sixteen notepads at my previous job by writing down those ideas. ^_^
DeleteI know what you mean. I do think, though, that inspiration is more likely to come when we're working on something and our minds keep mulling it over. :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure about that. Most of my ideas have come to me when I was doing something else, not even thinking about whatever story I'm working on.
DeleteYay for inspiration! From what I've seen on your blog, you haven't been sitting around and waiting. Therefore, I see the inspiration as a bit of a reward for your hard work. :D
ReplyDeleteI like that picture. Two rock festivals going to war... yeah, I could picture that. Kind of makes me think of Mad Max: Fury Road with the guitarist on the front of the vehicle. Metal music to sound the charge.
I'm glad you got things figured out. I know I've been stumped, and it's always exciting when things start clicking.
Mad Max: Fury Road was awesome on so many levels. ^_^ And the inspiration for this was more about the scale and the armies than the rock festival part, though like I said, this is meant to be metal fantasy. So it all works.
DeleteLittle sparks can be so helpful, and there are simply times where we can't force them. They just have to come. Sounds like you're doing great!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if I'd say I'm doing great - figuring this out helped, but I still have to actually put the story together. After so many stumbles, it's intimidating to even try. But at least I have a structure now, and that's better than nothing.
DeleteI love that moment when you realize YOU'VE BEEN SEEING IT WRONG. Especially when the correct way to see it is RIGHT THERE. Yes, of course. In your case, discovery doesn't make a good ending for the first book in a series (or dualogy). But a call to arms does!
ReplyDeleteExactly. I don't have anything but vague ideas for what's beyond this book, but I think this new plan will put me in a better place to see what's there.
Delete