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In this issue:
Trusting the Creative Voice
Writing Prompt
WWT Tool Kit Craft Card
Trusting the Creative Voice
So I don’t know if you remember, but I started the current project I’m working on with a random detail I pointed at on a random page from a random book I pulled from my shelf. It was an odd detail. A brain-stumping detail. As in, a detail that did not fit in my story’s world. It didn’t even really fit in my genre.
And it wasn’t the kind of detail that I could just slip in and let fade into the background of the story. It was the kind of detail that STICKS OUT. If I mentioned it, I was going to have to use it. It was going to have to come into play. And did I mention it didn’t even fit in my genre, let alone my world?
But after thinking about all the reasons why it couldn’t work and then wondering if I should just pick something new, I heard a quiet voice say, Sure, you could toss it away… but that’s just critical mind’s fear talking. You’ll always wonder if you could’ve pulled it off.
So I went with it. I put that detail in the very first sentence and then kept going. Because it ultimately felt better to consider the detail synchronicity and to go with it than to flip to a new page and pick a new random detail. I didn’t even flip the page to see what new detail I might’ve gotten.
And ever since then, a piece of my brain has been wondering, every single day, How’s that’s gonna pay off? How am I ever going to pay that off? I should’ve picked a new detail. Too late now, though. How am I going to pull that off?
Well, in today’s writing session, creative mind paid off that detail…. using other seemingly random, odd details she wrote around that detail back when we were writing the opening. I’m kinda shocked about it, actually. And really glad that I didn’t second-guess myself and throw the detail away. Because I really like what she came up with.
And not only was the detail paid off, but I’ve had a lot less angst about this story than the last, even though this whole time I’ve had no idea how that weird detail and these other two things that ultimately got set up were going to connect and play out. It was almost like the impossibility of it all had my critical mind saying, I don’t know how you’re going to pay that off. But, hey, whatever, don’t listen to me, write whatever you want. It’s your loser. I’m just going to sit over here, crossing my arms and shaking my head at you. I don’t want to be near this mess.
And my creative voice said, Cool, thanks.
And then she proceeded to seemingly beat critical mind over the head with the bat of her decision to use that detail while actually just prepping to knock that detail out of the park.
The story’s not done yet. I’ve got about the last 25% to go. But I’m pretty sure it’s going to turn out okay.
Writing Prompt
Character: ARTIST: RECLUSE
Light Attribute: Creativity based on an inner world of imagination. The ability to find beauty in solitude.
Shadow Attributes: Isolation that prevents growth and understanding of others. An inability to share their work with the outside world.Setting: An attic studio filled with dust and forgotten things.
Object: A blank canvas, a single paintbrush, a half-finished sculpture.
Emotion: LONELINESS. Alienation, solitude, disconnection.
WWT Tool Kit Craft Card
As mentioned before, I’m making a deck of craft cards to quickly remind myself of techniques while also having a convenient place to keep track of elements like character, conflict, and theme specific to each story. This week’s card is a reminder that even though you may be venturing off into the dark, you can still carry your tools:
Thank you for reading!
I hope this helped you, and I hope your writing goes well this week.
Keep at it,
Megan
WritesWithTools
site: writeswithtools.com
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