I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that writers--being the crazy people we are--are chalk full of superstitious beliefs. If writing went well sitting at THAT cafe table, you better believe you'll be back, or if you wrote the most amazing scene while eating only the green M&Ms then you will always keep a bowl of green M&Ms by your side (can you buy just green M&Ms? Like on St. Patrick's Day, or do you have to wait for Christmas and sort out all the red? I seriously don't know these things, I'm vegan....).
Anyway, the point of this post is to tell you about one of my superstitions. Except I'd like to believe it's not a supersition, because both times I attempted this, IT WORKED!
Also...James McAvoy.
So here's the deal, way back in June 2009 I was having a MAJAH Writing Crisis. Something was wrong with my story and I had NO idea what! And it was killing me.
I figured I needed a break, so I called a few friends to come over and watch a movie with me. But...being the obsessive workaholic I am (I'm trying to be better and more zen) I had to watch a writing movie. And what better movie to watch then one about Jane Austen...Jane FREAKING Austen struggling with her writing.
Also....James McAvoy.
"James, you can widen my horizons anytime."
Well... as soon as the movie was over my mind was buzzing and I had a billion ideas--awesome ideas, really fun ideas....ideas that led me to rewrite my story in a brand new way over the course of 6 weeks and become the novel that would land me Agent Laura. Hurray!
Fast forward to Thursday night--I found myself once again in the middle of a MAJAH writing crisis--I knew what was wrong, but I had NO idea how to fix it. So...I popped in Becoming Jane.
And you know what!?!?!
ALL of my problems are solved! ALL of them!
Though this time I also got some amazing help from FNC Donna and Agent Laura.
But...both times, these major epiphanies came after watching Becoming Jane. So now, I'm convinced that movie is magic and will solve all of my revision problems.
And...I get some James McAvoy!
Don't even tell me that this scene doesn't make you swoon 1,000 times over!
What about you guys? What writing superstitions have you tried/do you have? Do they work?
If I'm stuck, I listen to certain songs that inspired that WiP and I seem to slip back into character. It works every time. My kids are a little sick Silversun Pickups and Muse, but that seems to help me work back through the problem spots.
ReplyDeleteAlso, a shower. I know weird, but my mind wanders there and I can come up with the best scenes or work through problem areas in the WiP.
I just have to get some water proof paper.
Have a great weekend!
If I'm stuck I listen to music or watch movies. I don't have a certain one that I watch, though it seems to work so well for you maybe I should give it a try!
ReplyDeleteI don't have any writing superstitions. I do find certain movies about writers and writing inspiring, though! I always have to sit down and write after watching "Little Women" (the 1994 version).
ReplyDeleteAlright, that does it! I am renting and watching that movie. :-)
ReplyDeleteOMG, I was JUST thinking about this movie earlier today! It always manages to inspire me and get me in the writing mood! And OMG, that clip...*SWOON* :D <3
ReplyDelete~Ella
I'm with you, sista! Love the movie and McAvoy! Great inspiration! I'm using too many exclamation marks, but hey, they are necessary. ;)
ReplyDeleteOh, James McAvoy - definitely, yes. Wasn't he also in Atonement? He was wonderful in that.
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm stuck, I get in the shower. Or the tub. (They're the same place - my tub doubles as a place to take a shower.) It doesn't seem to make a difference whether I'm sitting or standing. I think it's just the being in water that must make the difference, or something. But my muse lives there. I always have "eureka" moments in which I work out difficult plotlines or character arcs in there. And it helps maintain good personal hygiene, too. ;-)