I’d had a wild day but was on-time, no…early!…for a play that my daughter’s friend was in. I parked the car, opened the door, and—“Oh shoot! We were going to pick her up a little gift for after the play.”
We climbed back in the car and drove to a nearby store. We grabbed a little something, then I checked out at the cash register and swiped my debit card. “Do you want cash back?” asked the cashier.
“No thanks,” I answered, stuffing my card back in my wallet.
I was rushing out the store with my daughter in tow when she asked, “Mama! Why? Why didn’t you?”
“Why didn’t I what?”
“Why didn’t you want cash back?”
“Oh honey. It’s not like free cash. It’s like…well, it’s Mama’s and Daddy’s money. But it’s at the bank. And so, the store just…well, they…they get the bank to send over money…”
“How?”
“Well, it’s electronic! Yes. So….well…”
Duhhhhh.
My right brain had settled into play-watching, artsy mode and my left brain didn’t have a prayer. I told her it was an excellent question, but we were in a hurry so we’d talk about it later.
And we will. Because I certainly don’t want her to think that the Target hands out free money. But that wasn’t the moment where I was going to be able to connect with her. Not in a raging hurry and with a subject I’m not very knowledgeable about in the first place.
I’m like this with my writing, too. Some days it’s really difficult for me to write particular scenes—I’m just not feeling it.
Usually I can just write my first draft straight through. But sometimes I run into a block. For me, it’s better to just open another Word document, save it under a scene description, and write the scene I’m in the mood to write.
Fortunately, most books have as many different types of scenes as there are moods.
Am I in a melancholy, thoughtful mood? I’ll work on an emotionally-moving scene. Feeling energized? An action sequence. Analytical and precise? Work on revisions.
I definitely don’t have the luxury of waiting on my Muse to inspire me. Actually, my Muse and I aren’t speaking to each other. But there’s no reason I can’t write something that I can put more enthusiasm into.
It’s cookie week at the Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen. If you pop over, you’ll find my recipe for a no-cook chocolate cookie. I’m Riley over at the Mystery Kitchen.
Your story of your daughter asking about cash back reminds me of several conversations I’ve had with my own daughter. And they always seem to happen when one’s in a hurry!
It’s funny you would mention writing different kinds of scenes and different parts of your story depending on your mood. There are days when I can’t focus on certain parts of my novel, either. When that happens, I switch scenes, too. Or I do other things (like organize upcoming chapters, etc.) to move the WIP along. I find that I just can’t force myself to write something I’m not, well, feeling. If I do, it falls flat.
Had the same problem today. I need to write a scene in my WIP with tension and drama, but it wasn’t working because I was feeling silly. So I wrote a goofy blog post to get it out of my system. I think I can work seriously now.
I’ve learned to never write when I’m in a foul mood. My characters lives are in extreme danger. I have one story that I save for just this occasion. I’ve scheduled writing time but am in a mood. I write anyway but I pull out my mood story. The protagonist of this particular story has died in every imaginable way, has had her heart broken, has been severely injured and on one particular occasion had to climb to the roof of her ex’s burning mansion to escape a flood. This story is clearly never intended to be read but it serves a purpose. Firstly, I still write. I don’t give myself an excuse because I’m in a mood. Secondly, by just letting anything happen and being really, really nasty to the characters in this story, I sometimes write a scene or a bit of dialogue that is just brilliant and I would never have thought of if I’d been writing one of my other stories. I scavenge what I can from this and use elsewhere.
Other than anger, I usually just slip into writing mode when I’m at the computer and my emotions mirror what I am working on. But once I start writing a dramatic scene I really don’t want to try to shift gears in the same sitting.
Thanks for a great post. It definitely got me thinking about my writing.
Seriously, Elizabeth, is there not a bad photo of you somewhere? I struggle to get one good photo of me every ten years. Seriously, look at you (the new photo)!
Because of my ADHD I can’t stay on one thing too long, so writing different scenes is norm for me when I am not in the mood. To me switching scenes helps me to not get bogged down in writing mire.
When I’m drafting, I write straight through regardless of mood, but when editing it’s a different story – very mood dependent!
It’s true in my stories and real life, sometimes I just don’t feel like going there. Normally I just stop and take a break, but I like your idea to move on to another scene. Makes perfect sense to write something even if it doesn’t fall directly in place with where you are in the story.
I experience the same. The Muse and me…
This is definitely timely for me. My son pops up with the most important questions at the most inopportune times. But it sounds like you handled it well! Now if we can all only remember to get back to the important questions…
I think you may have helped me with my question on my post today. Different scenes for different moods might get me over the hump!
Cookies…Yum…
Michele
SouthernCityMysteries
That old left brain/right brain conflict never leaves us. My bank statement has been sitting on my desk for two days. I’m tackling it today before I do anything creative. Then I’ll need to give my muse time to recover before she’s ready to work.
Elizabeth, this is brilliant.I never thought of categorizing my writing based on my moods. Thank you!
Karen
Another wonderful post. I’m glad to know there are others who have to be in a “mood” to write certain things. I know if I’m not in the right frame of mind when I try to write something, nothing works.
Love the photo of you with the cookies.
Thanks for a great reminder that writing can’t be forced. Very timely!
Excellent post. When time is short, write what you’re in the mood to write. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat there staring at a screen feeling sad trying to write a happy scene (or vice versa). So useless.
You and your muse just have too much going on this time of year! :)
I haven’t tried jumping ahead to writing scenes out of order. If I can’t move ahead on a WIP, I tend to go back to a scene already written and work on making it better. Sometimes that’s all it takes to spur me on to write the next chapter. After the first draft is complete, I am able to rearrange scenes and jump around from one to another.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if stores just DID hand you money? Ah well…
I try and write straight through. When I edit I may jump around, but even then I’m doing one thing at a time. Checking for words used too many times, adding detail, taking superfluous detail out…
Then there are days when I’m in a foul mood and it’s best just to leave the beast alone or I’ll edit or write things that will simply be deleted later.
Elspeth
LOL Let us know how the explanation of ‘cash back’ goes with your daughter!
I’m a scene jumper. That’s why I never get stuck. I just skip ahead to the next scene. Or I’ll go back and edit up to the point that tripped me up. Either way, by the time I hit that scene again, I’m ready to roll.
Margot–Working on the story structure is a good idea. I know what you mean about having the story fall flat if we’re not in the mood.
Patricia–I liked your goofy post! That’s a good idea.
Cassandra–I can imagine when you’ve conjured up a mood to write in that it would be really tough to suddenly change gears and start writing a different type of mood.
yağmur–Not very helpful, are Muses?
Crystal–My Muse is apparently at a series of Christmas parties. Haven’t heard from her in weeks now…
Jane–I’m envious that you’re able to do that and not get off-track with moving the story forward.
Diane–Or I could just get my husband to explain it. :) I’m not sure I even understand!
Teresa– Aren’t you sweet! And, no, I’m afraid there was a bad picture of me blinking right before this one was taken. My son (my photographer) laughed and laughed and threatened to put it on the blog.
Maybe I’m ADHD too…I have a hard time focusing on one scene for too long.
Jemi–That’s interesting! But I can see what you mean..
What a pretty picture. Love the you and your Muse aren’t speaking. I write according to mood too and I think it impacts the results. You addressed this well.
~ Wendy
My moods fluctuate drastically, but I can’t bring myself to write scenes out of order, so the two often clash. Definitely need to train myself to write a different scene when I’m in a different mood!
I think it’s an amazing contradiction that writers can be creative and structured at the same time. You certainly show that split ability.
Get thee back from me you chocolate cookie!
Uh, I, too, have a split personality, apparently.
Helen
Straight From Hel
I do that sort of thing sometimes, like if I need to write a jubilant scene I’ll wait and do when I’m particularly happy over something. If I need to write a deeply sad, emotional scene I can always put myself in the mood I’ve felt during different times in my life. Like when I wrote the funeral scene in Owen Fiddler, I recalled my Dad’s funeral. I boo-hooed all the way thu the process of writing it, lol.
Marvin D Wilson
Why don´t you want cash? Or, if you need money, why don´t you just write a check, as our children would ask fifteen years ago :D
I like your approach to writing, and when I am too busy, too tired or just too unfocused to write novels, I do what I can to write flash fiction pieces instead. Because if you want to be a writer, you must write what you can.
I think if we always waited until we were in the mood to write with enthusiasm, we would never get any writing done. :-)
Wendy–Thanks! And thanks for dropping by my blog.
Tamika–I took breaks, too, but then realized I wasn’t making very good use of my time. This helps me out a little more.
Helen–It’s just a *little* cookie. Go check it out. Come on…all the cool kids are doing it! :)
Michele–It’s something to try–see if it helps out.
Carol–Bleh. Math! But you’re right…it’s hard to write when you’ve got something like that hanging over your head.
Karen–You are so welcome! Hope it helps.
Mason–Luckily, books are full of lots of different emotions, so it makes it that much easier!
Marvin–You are really dedicated…reliving such an emotional time.
Tere–Thanks. And thanks for coming by!
Kerrie–You’re so right! Writing is that muscle we have to work out no matter what.
Carolina–It’s true. And really, none of us have any time to waste.
Elspeth–Well, I do that too…write really horrid text and then delete it later. I think it’s good to write every day, but I don’t agree with the thought when I’m revising all the junk I wrote. :)
I guess me and my muse aren’t speaking either. :) Love the little conversation with your daughter. Gotta love kids and their innocent minds. Free cash?! Would we all want that! :)
*giggles at goading Helen with chocolate cookie and peer pressure* Oh, I AM a bad influence…
I occasionally skip, but more often work on one of the other projects i’ve got going. I have two ongoing fanfictions, and one of them is REALLY outrageously silly–that is a nice release.
Usually though, my setting can get me there… bathtub calms me, SUDOKU clears the clutter, and then I am good to go. It is a RARE scene that can compete with my family chaos, but 98% of the time I can just get AWAY for my hour or two and that is enough to redirect the mood.
I must try that hopping around to different scenes. Great idea! I usually write straight through and force myself to reach a certain word goal that day, no matter how long I have to sit there staring at the scene. Eventually, I overcome the inertia and get it done. I haven’t noticed much of a difference between those scenes and the ones I was in the mood for–other than the agony or joy I experienced putting them on the page!
Julie–It’s not so bad until you have to sew all the different scenes back in. :) Then, when I’m trying to write in some decent-sounding segues, I’m wondering what I was thinking. But at least I’m done with the first draft then.
Ellie–Free money! :) I need to have that little talk with her–if it *sounds* too good to be true, then…
Hart–I wish I could do that! If I switch back and forth between books, I start getting confused. Which is *ridiculous*, since we’re talking about 2 completely different books, but that’s my brain malfunction.
Peer pressure–gotta love it! Unless you’re…chicken! :)
Dorte–You know, now that you mention it, I remember asking my mom and dad about the check thing when I was a kid…
Your flash fiction is a great way to be creative but not get bogged down with writing a big scene.
good idea! I like to kill people I’m mad at too – or at least humiliate them. first I thinly disguise them with the thought that I’ll disguise them radically later and then I set them up so that their very worst side (in my view) is exposed and then zing! Very satisfying. Or if I’m really grumpy I either create a nice room or a great meal.
Lorel—I hate that feeling of inertia you’re talking about. Bleh. Sometimes it’s hard to get enthusiastic.
Jan–It’s great to kill someone on paper that you’re upset with in person! :) Very cathartic. I like your idea of creating a fine meal in your book when you’re grumpy.
It’s so tough for me to write out-of-order because I generally only know what’s going to happen once I’ve written it. It’s hard to skip ahead.
I’d LOVE to write out-of-order, though, because mood definitely impacts the quality of a scene.
Corra–It’s hard, but worth a try…especially if you get stuck in a spot.