Author: I. Sphinx

Sh*tty Draft Weekend: The Sequel

I am supposed to be working on one project. Laser focused on getting one thing ready for rejection.

My muse has ADD.

My muse is both the cat and the a$$hole holding the laser pointer.

I’m stuck on a pivotal scene: the meet-cute. I’ve been stuck on this scene for a week. My muse has provided me with the following interesting, but not-particularly-helpful-at-this-moment information:

  • Josie is a good character name. (Not for the story I’m working on, but just in general.)
  • Ooh, how about a murder mystery where one of the scenes involves a snake? (I’m terrified of snakes, but I admit, it’s a good scene.)
  • Aren’t the fall colors gorgeous? Don’t you have a story that takes place in the fall? How’s that one going?

The meet-cute scene is still unwritten.

I know that these thoughts and ideas are coming up because my creative energy is growing and strengthening. So I write the notes in the story files and try to keep moving.

But boy, oh boy, do I need to write this meet-cute scene!

In the midst of all of that, there were still some lessons learned this weekend. Lesson #1 (or #3, if we’re counting the lessons from last weekend): Not all of my writing will be done on the computer.

My process involves a mix of long-hand writing and computer writing. And while I sometimes (read: always) wish that I could skip the long-hand part and just start typing, I write better when I follow my process. Both reveal parts of the story that I didn’t even know but I need to do both, in order to get a “finished” product that I like.

Lesson #2 (or #4): Procrastination is a form of perfectionism.

“If I’d just have had the time, this would have been good.”

This is an excuse and gives perfectionists an out.

But I don’t have time for excuses.

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Most people are afraid to start something new because they’re afraid of criticism – from others and themselves. ⠀ A fun trick to confront this fear head-on is to make something really sh*tty…on purpose. Paint the dumbest thing you can imagine, write the worst joke, record the dullest podcast episode. ⠀ And there you go, you did something that totally sucked, and you survived! Then, move on to the next draft. ⠀ Or, this exercise will take the pressure off and help you get out of your head, and you might actually create something you like more than you thought you would. ⠀ You can sign up to receive more tips for battling perfectionism at delaniefischer.com.

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You all know how I feel about the Self-Helpless women!

Be A Good Sphinx – Wrapped in Love

The mission of the Wrapped in Love Project is to bring comfort to bereaved parents by repurposing wedding dresses into beautiful burial gowns and pockets for babies lost before, during, or soon after birth. 

Each layette includes a handkerchief made from the same fabric as the baby’s garment.  The gowns and pockets begin as beloved wedding dresses which are donated and cleaned.  They are then patterned, stitched, & hand detailed by volunteers.  ​Layettes are added to a care package with a hand stamped “Mother and Child” necklace from the Charlotte’s Purpose Etsy Shop, a letter full of resources, “The First Days” survival guide,  a memorial baby book, a journal, pen, and “Write Your Grief” bookmark,  and special stationary for parents to write a letter to the baby.  

Get involved: Find out more by visiting the Wrapped in Love Project.

Reflections on a “Sh*tty Draft” Writing Weekend

Ugh!

In order to try to actually get my rejection project done, I have blocked off two weekends on my calendar.

Actual footage of me, blocking off my weekends for this.

So here are some reflections from my first writing weekend:

Permission to write a sh*tty draft.

Not to toot my own horn, but I’m a pretty good writer. Usually I know exactly how I want to describe a scene, craft a sentence or build a paragraph. And it is beautiful.

But then there are the other days. Dark Days.

I’ll have a general idea of what I want to say but no real idea of how to write it or even, start it. My usual practice is to just wait until the words settle.

But…..

So I have to go to Plan B. Which is writing a sh*tty draft.

Because I know (I KNOW!) that writing is the only way to get the words out. Poor writing will become good writing if I give myself the permission to just get started.

So. Much. Whining.

I had chosen this. I had specifically chosen to focus on my writing this weekend.

And yet, Saturday morning dawned and I could not keep myself in my chair. I could not keep my writing software open. I simply didn’t want to write.

So I began to whine. Like a lot.

Like..So…Much

While I know that magical elves don’t appear in the middle of night and write my stories, I was definitely expecting to at least be excited about writing, rather than dreading every moment that I was in the chair.

However, I found that you can whine and type at the same time.

And thus some writing did occur. (Accompanied by lots and lots of whining.)

Employers Interrupt-us

As I believe I might have mentioned, I’m working quite a few jobs right now so weekends right now just mean that I’m not at ALL of my jobs, instead of actually truly a day where I’m not working any job.

Some of you can probably already see where this is going but for those who haven’t seen the plot twist yet, yes, I was working during a weekend I had blocked off for writing.

Yep. I am my own worst enemy.

Even with splitting my attention between work and writing, I still managed to unearth some gold and find some plot surprises that even I didn’t know. So cheers to the freakin’ (sh*tty draft) weekend!

Virtual Day-Long Novel-Writing Retreats

Join authors Mary Amato and John Feffer and fellow colleagues for an energizing mix of lectures, facilitated discussion, and forced time to write!

Amato and Feffer are both discipline-crossing writers who are simultaneously working on novels, plays, essays, and poetry. These writing retreats will be focused on novel writing, but we welcome explorers of any genre—fiction, non-fiction, poetry, screen or stage play, etc.

Use these inspiring virtual retreat days to take a work-in-progress further or to write something completely new.

ALL TIMES ARE EASTERN (US) TIME ZONE.

10:00-10:15         Intro & Warm up Writing

10:15-11:00         Lecture #1

11:00-11:30         Facilitated Chat (or log off and get to your writing)

11:30-2:15            Writing time

2:15-3:00              Lecture #2

3:00-3:30              Facilitated Chat (or log off and get to your writing)

3:30-5:00              Writing time

5:00-5:30              Final Q/A

$40 per person per retreat. You may sign up for one retreat or as many as desired. Once you have registered, you’ll receive three Zoom links for each of your retreat days. Each retreat day will include three Zoom sessions with writing time in between.

Sun Nov 1            Voice & POV: Establish authenticity, commit to a POV or multiple POVS, and know when to come in for a close up and when to pull back. What are the various voices and POVs in your work?  

Sat Nov 21           Recurring Symbolism & Surprising Metaphors: Identify and explore symbols and metaphors and determine how and when they should repeat. What are the symbols and metaphors that are already in your work? Are you doing all you can or do you need more?

Please note that in addition to these retreats, both Amato and Feffer offer partial or full manuscript critiques on a rolling basis throughout the year. $30 per half hour. You can cap your investment at any amount. If you’re interested, contact either instructor individually.