With multiple stories in the works, it is always difficult to decide which one to focus on. I’ve done everything from story hop to forcing myself to concentrating on one project regardless of whether or not I was ‘feeling’ it. The latter is not my recommended way of doing things, but then again neither is the former. Hopping from story to story tends to lend itself well towards leaving a writer (or at least this writer) with the feeling that they never finish anything. On the other hand, if you force yourself to write a story that you are not feeling at the moment, it will show in the end result because it will undoubtedly be lacking the writers passion and excitement…at least on that first draft.
So, I TRY to focus on no more than two stories at any given time. My intentions usually fall short because my muse is a finicky little wench who usually decides that we should work on a project that I had previously relegated into the idea folder. See how she is? Can you blame a girl for hogging the ice cream after such an atrocity?
Anyhow, now I find myself without my muse. Maybe I need to find a new one? Or possibly a spare? A male perhaps. One with dark hair and a nice accent since that always seems to do the trick for me. Maybe he could help me tame my more fickle female muse, though I will not hold my breath on that one. She tends to be far too much like me, which only makes me both understand and loather her all at the same time. Of course if she should return, I will welcome her back with open arms. I can be a heartless and cruel bitch at times, but a good muse is hard to find. So please, if you see her, let her know that I am willing to bend…. a little.
This is why I stick with Little Things. Pieces of flash fiction that are over in a heartbeat in conjunction with The Big Thing, which is often shortened to The Thing. The Thing is my manuscript and fittingly enough a big thing comprised of linked little things. The Thing’s muse was temporarily on vacation, so I had to revert to unrelated Little Things. I was worried that she may not return, but she did in fact return, today. I hope she sticks around for a while or the next 50,000 words are going to be a bitch to complete. Good luck with yours.
Comment by Libby Walkup — June 13, 2009 @ 6:19 pm