I’m learning that the writing process, for me, involves a lot of thinking, but not a lot of writing. I imagine ideas cooking in my head. Sometimes I feel like the pot will boil over.

I’m also finding inspiration in unexpected places. It’s not a new phenomenon to me, but it’s always enjoyable. Little insignificant details are popping up in my characters’ personalities. Although I care about them, I can’t imagine anyone else would.

I wonder if I’m overthinking things, if I’m cooking things too long. I get new ideas daily. Usually, they’re very small ideas, but I always feel like I’ve found something big. Maybe my addiction to those eureka moments are preventing me from taking the next step. Or maybe all this thinking is a good thing.

Or maybe all this thinking and writing about thinking and writing is exhausting.

I’m writing. It started with an imaginary land I used to visit as a child in the forests behind my house. Ten years ago, I mapped the land from my childhood memories and invented new creatures and cities. Last week, I dusted off my old notes and filled the world with people. I imagined scenes with each of my people, but no stories. The past ten years have been filled with experiences that helped me create characters who have depth, and color, and who are very real to me. The people were so real they guided themselves. I didn’t invent their stories.

Since admitting five days ago I am writing, I have crocheted two hats and a scarf, and I’ve reworked the crocheted shrug I made so it’s now more of a sweater. Clearly, I’m finding the process of creating a plot to be more than a little challenging. It’s a lot like a puzzle. I’m guessing the puzzle analogy isn’t a new one because it fits so perfectly. I had a rough idea of a plot, but it was littered with holes. Then slowly, very slowly, I started filling in the missing pieces. Filling in the blanks is a little intoxicating when it works. Though I haven’t actually written anything other than notes yet, I feel like I’m getting really close to starting something. I seem to have a tendency of researching something to death before jumping in. I wasn’t always like this.

(Read more…)