I just finished up a couple of books that were due right after Christmas. It’s always a relief to finish a book and hit SEND on it but after writing back to back projects all of last year, this was something to celebrate. However, the week before my deadline I wondered if I’d ever finish and if I’d even make my word count. So I decided I needed a break and my husband and I took an afternoon off to see the movie “Star Wars: The Awakening.”
I sat there thinking I should be home writing but once I got involved in the movie, I actually figured out what my story needed to make the ending complete. It was so clear I relaxed and watched the rest of the movie without any guilt. When we left the theatre, I told my husband the movie had helped me with my plot line. He looked confused and asked if I was going to use a scene from Star Wars. I said that I wasn’t but that the movie had opened up my creative outlet so I could finish the suspense I’d been working on. He was relieved but still confused.
It’s hard to explain that to someone how a writer’s mind works, but seeing Han Solo and Princes Leia back together and still in love only reinforced what I needed to finish. When I returned to my work, I wrote fast and furious and knew exactly what my characters had to overcome. It worked!
Score one for The Force!!! In the movie, two of the characters say (each not knowing the other one is saying it), “I can do this.” I kept telling myself, “I can do this.” By going to the movies, I was able to do this!
Have you ever had to take a break from a task just so you can find your bearing and get back on task? I’d love to hear how you cope with work or a big deadline. Oh, and may The Force be with you, whatever you’re trying to accomplish!
Here are the covers for two projects I recently finished:
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I know exactly what you mean, Lenora. The same thing has happened to me. Inspiration is everywhere!
Good to know I’m not the only one!!
There’s nothing better than that aha moment when you suddenly know the direction you need to take in a story. I usually know the major directions of my story before I start writing, but it’s those smaller moments in the middle that often throw me for a loop. How should I end this chapter? I’m not ready for the big action yet, but I need something small and suspenseful to keep the plot moving forward here. What can I do? Those are the ones that get me. But as soon as that aha moment arrives, the floodgates open and the writing moves forward again.
I’m glad Star Wars did that for you, Lenora. And early enough that you were able to sit back and enjoy the movie. My family and I loved it!
Yes. That’s it exactly!! I think we become so involved in a project we can’t see the details anymore. Taking that break opened up my imagination and allowed me to dig deep for a strong conflict. After that the words flowed!
Stepping away from a project is sometimes all it takes to get those creative juices flowing again!
I was working on a big project at home and couldn’t seem to get far on it so I took a hour off and take a walk and sit on porch and watched the birds then went back and finished it
Thanks to my father who shared with me on the topic of
this website, this weblog is in fact awesome.