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Thursday, May 7, 2009

Confessions of a Plot Whore

I've always admired the dedication of monogamous writers.

Those brave people who can solemnly resist the temptation to wander when they hit a rough patch. Those morally upright souls who love their work through thick and thin. Those who finish one project from rough draft to final query letter without even glancing at the outline of a new story.

Sadly, I lack the moral fiber of a monogamous writer. I'm a plot whore.

No sooner do I hit a rough patch in my WIP than I find myself listening to the siren song of another book.

"Remember when I wouldn't tell you about my life?" one tactiturn character whispers seductively in my ear. "Come write about me and I'll give you a tour of my city. The one I wouldn't show you. The one you *need* for my opening chapter."

His offer dangles in front of me like a 14-carat diamond tennis bracelet.

Another character grabs my arm. "You love me better," he avers. "Think back to that dazzling battle scene. I'll give you all the other chapters. Battles. Explosions. Crazed dictators and cyborgs. Isn't that what you really want?"

It's like offering me a trip to Cancun!

How is a girl supposed to resist?
Seductive as ever a third character slinks into the conversation. "I was your first love." Her voice shames me. "Your very first novel. Why don't you come back to me? I have everything you love..."


Just behind me, looking terribly disappointed, stands my current lover. Eighteen chapters of pure passion, you have the ending, and an outline, that look seems to say. Yes, Gap Chapters are hard. We know the writing is rough. But with a little love we can be everything you ever dreamed of.

A monogamous writer wouldn't even consider running in fear for her sanity at this point. She'd tough it out.

Me, I've done everything possible to avoid making a decision this week. I've written a few hundred words here and there like the mandatory kiss-off dinner before you break up.

I've given myself a chore list a mile long, run errands, gone to meetings... and now find myself staring at the last 600 words of chapter 18 not sure if I can finish Under a Dark Star.

I know I NEED to finish this project. I know that it has the potential to be my debut novel. But it's so hard right now! I can't get the scene to form in my head the way I want. I think it lacks tension. I'm torn by wanting to rewrite the opening chapters again, or charging on, or running away.

So, like the proverbial gun to the head, I'm pulling out my Playlist and Write-or-Die, my good ol' NANO stand-bys. Because when moral fiber fails there is always the threat of Hanson.

15 comments:

  1. LOL! I totally understand...and am EXACTLY the same way!!!

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  2. I totally understand this too!!! It's so easy to stray when you hit hard times with your current WIP.

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  3. Indeed, you speak for me as well.

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  4. Heck, you even change your socks too! I must admit to wanting to wander, but I know for myself I must stay with my current WIP or I will NEVER finish anything!

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  5. 0.0

    Who said those were my socks? Er... fish net stockings... legs... whatever?

    I'm trying not to wander. Really. I'm just so tempted.

    *eyes pretty books calling her away*

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  6. OMG I'm a plot whore too. I must go and dwell on this new revelation....

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  7. OMG! I am so in that boat! LOL

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  8. I need a cold shower after reading this post! lol

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  9. Charge on! Finish the project!

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  10. I only switch to another wip if its necessary - I try to stick to one and write the draft. A few exceptions. Ok quite a few, but now I'm working on sticking with one. :)

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  11. I'm monogamous. Yep. I'm with Marty. I have to finish or I'll never finish, if that makes sense. :)

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  12. My name is Traci, and I am a plot whore.

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  13. I think I must run an entire brothel of plot whores. :P Which is evidenced by all the partial, unfinished drafts lounging around, smoking and being suggestive. *grumbles*

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  14. Oh my gosh. I'm a plot whore and I didn't even know it! I work on different plots at the same time--all the time. I 'take a break' from one and turn to another and its fresh appeal. When things get tough, I slug it out for awhile, but sometimes...well, you just need to see what else is out there. It's not wrong, really. It's not like me and my WIP are married or anything. I mean, they know I like to work the room and keep my options open.

    Oh, boy. I'm such a plot whore. Is there a support group for this?

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  15. I've found my people! I am definitely a plot whore--I've have stacks of notebooks each partially filled with an idea that didn't seem to be going anywhere easily, so it was set aside "for now".

    Apparently we need a support group or some sort of ten step program.

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