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Tuesday, October 5, 2010

The Grand Canyon of Writing

(I was going to insert a picture here....but I haven't been to the Grand Canyon in about seven years and I can't find my pix easily. AND I am trying to squeak a post in before work.)

Anyway, imagine the beautiful, majestic Grand Canyon. Okay, good. Now, imagine that you are standing on the edge and you need to get to the other side. That other-side-place is exactly where you need to be. It is the end of your journey. It's where your car is. It is the only way you are going to get home.

But that Grand Canyon in WIDE! You can't really jump across and not die.

And you don't want to take the time to ride all the way down to the bottom and back again on the back of a donkey. I mean, it's a DONKEY.

What to do?

Don't look at me for answers. I was hoping you'd help me figure it out.

See, this is exactly where I am with my WIP. I KNOW where it needs to go. It needs to go across the Grand Canyon.

But I cannot figure out how to get there. And WIP and I have traveled so far together. We've just got to make it to the other side.

So, I sit on the edge, dangling my feet over the side, hoping some inspiration will come....or that maybe I'll magically grow some wings.

hrh

P.s. Any suggestions are welcome...except that I don't really want to go all Thelma and Louise.....

14 comments:

Kelly Polark said...

You can do it! My dad and stepmom just returned from a trip to the Grand Canyon. They camped and rafted on the Colorado River for seven days. Two years ago they hiked, yes, hiked for several days rim to rim. If my dear old dad can do that, you can do this!!

kah said...

Ask Falcor (the wish dragon from the Neverending Story) to fly you across. I've had to call on him in similar situations and he's very reliable). ;)

But maybe take some time to enjoy the view before you make the journey across.

Lenny Lee said...

hi miss shelly! sometimes you just gotta walk away from that canyon and do something else. maybe something fun for you. then zap all of a sudden you get how to get across and its more easy than you thought. i know youre gonna get it figured out. i had that in a story one time where a icy ledge was crumbling under their feet and i left them there and went and did some fun stuff and when i got back i knew just how to save them.
...hugs from lenny

Shannon O'Donnell said...

You'll get there. I know you will. And when you do, maybe you could throw me a rope, because I'm looking at that huge gap myself. New WIP and me = major gap. :-)

Shannon Messenger said...

Aw, I know this feeling. It's why my middles are so murky, because I never quite know how to get where I'm going. For me, that's usually when I call my CPs for a brainstorming session and we play the "What if" game. Most of the time the ideas we kick around are TERRIBLE. But something about hearing all those bad ideas usually helps me to find a good idea. If you ever want to brainstorm, shoot me an email. :)

Yat-Yee said...

Excellent imagery. My WIP had a valid resolution and the way to get there. But now that I am about a third of the way through, I no longer think the resolution works, and if it does, I don't know how to get there from here.

Please send me your inspiration when you find out, 'K?

Matthew MacNish said...

I'm sure you know this but there is really only one way to get across that great metaphorical canyon in the sky - er, wait, where was I? Oh yeah. You've got to get down and dirty, climb down into the bottom, cross the little stream, and spend as much time as it takes climbing back out the other side.

Don't worry. Most days I don't feel like doing it either.

Belle said...

When I'm on that edge, I always have to leave things dangling for a moment (or hours or days) and forget about it. That's like an open invitation for the perfect solution to surface for me! Good luck!

Joanna said...

You'll get there, Shelley--I have no doubt :-)

Great analogy though!

Anonymous said...

Tap your heels three times and say, "I want to get to the other side ... I want to get to the other side ..."

Okay, that was a bit corny. For some reason I was thinking about the Wizard of Oz earlier.

I know you'll figure it out. Have a great day!

Catherine Denton said...

Take a nap. Maybe you'll wake up on the other side. (It worked for Alice)
Making Life a Work of Art!

storyqueen said...

Kelly-I Okay, I am feeling wimpy...but inspired.

Karen-Now that's just the out of the box kind of thinking that I need!

Lenny-Welcome back. You are probably right....walking away has its benefits.

Shannon-You have my word. If I get across, not only will I throw you a rope, I'll build one of those little bridges.

Shannon-Ah, the what if game. I am trying that in my journal instead of with a crit group...we shall see.

Yat-Yee- Uh oh, I hadn't even thought about the resolution not working. Maybe I'm not supposed to be at the Grand Canyon at all.

Matthew-Lalalalalal I am not listening to you....(I don't want to hike down....too scary....even though I KNOW that is a definite way across....) what a chicken I am.

Belle-True...and there are always plenty of distractions. Maybe clearing the mind would do some good.

Joanna-Thanks for the vote of confidence...but now the mosquitoes are coming! I can't camp here for much longer.

Susanne-I have sequinned Converse...maybe they will be even better than ruby slippers.

Catherine-I would love a nap!!

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

Shelley--No great advice for you...sorry. I just thought I'd say "hi!"

Perhaps start a short story and let your wip perculate for a bit????

Jackee said...

Oh man, I feel you on The Chasm of Grandness today. I always do this to myself on second drafts... the drudgery of trying to find something of value in it. So no advice. Sorry!

I'll have to send you some Grand Canyon pictures, Shelley, since it's in my backyard and all.... :o)