I had a light bulb moment today. After a week of trying to cobble together a short story idea, it came to me.
Why are you spending all this energy thinking of short story ideas when you've got another Emerson book to write?
I guess it was because this period was supposed to be my "break from writing." It didn't seem right to interrupt that with, well, writing.
But...let's just say I am, to some degree, re-inspired.
And if I've learned anything about inspiration, it's that I need to use it when it shows up, because it could disappear into the ether again pretty quickly. When the muses, those sly little pixies, show up and sprinkle a layer of fairy dust on you when you're sleeping (it totally happens that way, right?), it doesn't last forever, and you'd do well to use it ASAP.
So I did. Not only did I plot out the first 8 chapters of the book, I also wrote 800+ words--the first chapter.
It felt good, it felt natural--it felt like it took no time at all. The flow, the voice, and the celerity I'd cultivated during the last third of the first book (yeah, that's a mouthful) is still here.
I can feel it in my bones--I'm ready to do this. It's what I should be doing.
I never thought I'd be gearing up to revise Emerson 1* while writing Emerson 2*, but it's pretty clear to me that that's how it's shaking out. And you know what? I'm okay with that. It's a little crazy, sure, but what decent writer isn't a little crazy, or hell bent on doing stuff that qualifies as a wee bit nuts?
This kind of crazy feels damn good.
* Because I still haven't settled on actual titles yet.
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