tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29204932.post5115346942833693566..comments2024-03-25T01:39:10.406-06:00Comments on Mysterious Musings: Waiting for the Magic to BeginJulia Buckleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270211923343731659noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29204932.post-10636487770887464282007-08-11T09:02:00.000-06:002007-08-11T09:02:00.000-06:00Sometimes it's a news story. Sometimes it's someth...Sometimes it's a news story. Sometimes it's something someone says. Sometimes it's a place. In the book I'm working on now, it's all of the above: a news story about straw purchases, which is the illegal sale of guns for drugs and/or money; a conversation with an old college friend; and the Three Judges Cave in New Haven, where three judges fled persecution after condemning Charles I in England way back when.Karen Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05867709664100997228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29204932.post-13395271304720140122007-08-11T08:50:00.000-06:002007-08-11T08:50:00.000-06:00But I still wonder what generates that "germ of an...But I still wonder what generates that "germ of an idea."Julia Buckleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10270211923343731659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29204932.post-62236581413414135002007-08-11T08:33:00.000-06:002007-08-11T08:33:00.000-06:00Being a journalist taught me that I don't need a "...Being a journalist taught me that I don't need a "muse" to start writing and it also taught me how to sit down and write for half an hour, get as much done as I can during that time and then walk away. That means a little writing every day, but in the larger picture, the work grows into something more than just a few pages.<BR/><BR/>I belonged to a writers group for six years, but I don't think it is the reason for my discipline. There was never any rule that we had to have something to share at our meetings, if we did, fine, if not, fine, too. I just make those little pockets of time for myself in between work and my family.<BR/><BR/>As for ideas, I get a germ of an idea and then let it grow a little before I decide if it's worth something. Then I just write a few pages and see if its got legs. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't.Karen Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05867709664100997228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29204932.post-1739988123184537182007-08-11T07:50:00.000-06:002007-08-11T07:50:00.000-06:00Amy, I can totally relate, but I'll tell you what ...Amy, I can totally relate, but I'll tell you what gets me writing more than anything (other than magic): being in a critique group.<BR/><BR/>I was totally stalled with my latest project, but I took them the chapters I had, waiting for them to shred them--which is what they should do if they're bad. But instead they loved them, and better yet the comments they made gave me an idea for where I could take the story.<BR/><BR/>Are you in a writing group of any kind?Julia Buckleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10270211923343731659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29204932.post-66961761009468204192007-08-11T06:28:00.000-06:002007-08-11T06:28:00.000-06:00I love this quote, Julia. I was reading a bookflap...I love this quote, Julia. <BR/><BR/>I was reading a bookflap of a writer I admire yesterday, that said she worked full time but still wrote 2 pages a day, has three kids, etc. Also, she's won awards, always looks lovely in nice clothes at conferences (where she is an officer in an organization), and is very nice. <BR/><BR/>I have one child and work part time, yet have trouble finishing a second book. (My first is with an agent.) So I am glad you wrote this entry! I have outlines for two different books, and can't seem to even get the 2 pages a day done? It is like people who exercise every day - how does one find that discipline? <BR/><BR/>This is a little different from what you are discussing, but sort of parallel, I think. I have the ideas, then get stuck 4 chapters in. I may find this book you suggest! I have always liked Anne LaMott's Bird by Bird for inspiration. I listen to her read it on CD.Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04200630721904688015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29204932.post-53152028565091529792007-08-10T15:12:00.000-06:002007-08-10T15:12:00.000-06:00But do you ever have a sense that our brains are w...But do you ever have a sense that our brains are wired into some bigger brain? Sort of like the master computer?<BR/><BR/>I suppose it's a great measure of self-esteem, whether we believe we have what it takes to generate exellence, even genius, without some outside inspiration.Julia Buckleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10270211923343731659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29204932.post-27460252766791880842007-08-10T13:51:00.000-06:002007-08-10T13:51:00.000-06:00It's hard to figure out where usable ideas come fr...It's hard to figure out where usable ideas come from. Something I read or something that happens may suggest an idea but why, exactly, those particular things suddenly give rise to ideas while others don't I can't say.<BR/><BR/>I don't feel that ideas come from the outside, though. They seem clearly to originate in my own brain even if I can't control the process. Commanding myself to think of a good idea never works!<BR/><BR/>It does seem to be necessary for my thoughts not to be focussed on a demanding task. Ideas occur to me while my brain is basically idle. Yeah, a good excuse to goof off!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com