If you know anything about writers, you know that anything can spark story ideas, often at random times. I won’t say our respective muses rule us, but… Yeah, who am I kidding? We’re totally in codependent relationships with our creative brains, wild ideas, and the need to share all the stories running amok in our heads. Most of the time it’s wonderful, although it can be equally frustrating.
Then there are times when you get words on the page to start a cool side project related to your WIP novel, but your brain and muse collectively mutter, “Great start. But where do we go from here?”
Every synapse in your mind hits the alarm klaxons—“Whoa! Hold up! Stop the presses!”—as you sit staring at your screen, fingers frozen, realizing you have no idea how to answer that. Or if you even should.
Because the hard truth is, many ideas are exactly that. An idea. Maybe even a super cool one readers would adore, but it doesn’t have the legs to become an actual story.
So you tuck it away in its folder and let it sit. Perhaps you forget about it. Maybe it marinates deep in the back of your mind, maybe it doesn’t.
Then, when you least expect it, another idea hits your brain, and you’re writing in your all-but-forgotten file before you truly realize what’s happening. Suddenly, the stalled concept gains life, and you see a way forward. What’s more, new connections with the main story and universe you’re building present themselves.
Huzzah! Cheers! Dopamine hits! Warm, fizzy feelings! You finish writing the latest installment…
And sobering reality slaps your face with a wet noodle when the next part isn’t immediately forthcoming from your brain or fingers. Doubt sets in. Uh-oh. Is this project a dud after all?
No, you still see the framework, and it has legs. You can envision the final product and what it will take to reach “words complete.” But the next part of this finicky needs-to-be-handled-with-care project isn’t giving you an iota more at the moment, and your muse tossed a careless, “I need time and space,” over her shoulder as she exited stage left.
Which leaves you to do the only things you can: Save your work, close the file, and go do something else. Possibly accompanied by resigned sighs and/or muttered imprecations. But this time you know there’s more story lurking. It just hasn’t fleshed itself out yet.
***
Welcome to the mind of a pantser. I hope you enjoyed this peek into how a side project came into being and how it’s going.
Until next time, when I hope to have more progress to report on this endeavor.
<exits stage right, pointedly not following my muse>
P.S. The main story in this universe now stands at 72,071 words, thanks to a recent day of writing over 5k words. It was much-needed, and I’m pleased with where the story is going.
P.P.S. Doesn’t mean I’m not still grumbling about stubborn archivists, recalcitrant projects, and flight-risk muses. Not necessarily in that order.