Book Brain on the rampage
I've talked about this before. Book Brain. That "foggy phase" a writer enters when all but two of your brain cells are working with your subconscious to write, plot, fix that pacing snafu, (or in my case) get my villain into the story. In The Trouble With Demons, two of my villains are there and are up to their figurative black hats in dirty deeds, but the third. . .well, I've laid some traps for him. Before the end of this week, I'll have caught the jerk and shoved him headfirst into the story.
Where was I? Oh yeah, Book Brain. What just happened in the paragraph above is a prime example. I start off doing or saying one thing, and it suddenly turns into something else, a la space cadet. I think of something I need to do, I go there to do it, and then stand there in a stupor trying to remember what the heck I'm there for. This is especially disturbing when I'm in the bathroom. I mean there's only so many things I could have possibly wanted to do in there.
When you get into the throes of writing a book, the two brain cells I mentioned in the first paragraph are all you're left with to be a functional member of society. Believe me, two brain cells ain't a lot to get by on. For example (one of many examples), I was doing the grocery list on Saturday and I wanted to buy some mashed potatoes (the instant kind because since I'm writing, I don't have much time to cook). Anyway, I could remember "potatoes," but I was just standing there with my mouth hanging open like a complete moron trying to remember the word for what kind of potatoes I wanted. I knew what they looked like, I knew what they tasted like, I just couldn't remember for the life of me what the damned things were called. Fortunately, I recalled that I had one box of them in the pantry. I could read the box. "Mashed." Yeah, that's what I wanted. (smacks head into palm of hand) Jeez.
Book Brain is like when you try to call someone, but you can't get through and you hear the recording, "We're sorry, all circuits are busy right now, please hang up and try again."
In the next three months, I'll finish The Trouble With Demons, and once again be able to remember what I need to do when I go into the bathroom.
Coming up tomorrow: Got stuck? Time to brainstorm.
I know it's Monday, but try to have a good one anyway.
Lisa
Where was I? Oh yeah, Book Brain. What just happened in the paragraph above is a prime example. I start off doing or saying one thing, and it suddenly turns into something else, a la space cadet. I think of something I need to do, I go there to do it, and then stand there in a stupor trying to remember what the heck I'm there for. This is especially disturbing when I'm in the bathroom. I mean there's only so many things I could have possibly wanted to do in there.
When you get into the throes of writing a book, the two brain cells I mentioned in the first paragraph are all you're left with to be a functional member of society. Believe me, two brain cells ain't a lot to get by on. For example (one of many examples), I was doing the grocery list on Saturday and I wanted to buy some mashed potatoes (the instant kind because since I'm writing, I don't have much time to cook). Anyway, I could remember "potatoes," but I was just standing there with my mouth hanging open like a complete moron trying to remember the word for what kind of potatoes I wanted. I knew what they looked like, I knew what they tasted like, I just couldn't remember for the life of me what the damned things were called. Fortunately, I recalled that I had one box of them in the pantry. I could read the box. "Mashed." Yeah, that's what I wanted. (smacks head into palm of hand) Jeez.
Book Brain is like when you try to call someone, but you can't get through and you hear the recording, "We're sorry, all circuits are busy right now, please hang up and try again."
In the next three months, I'll finish The Trouble With Demons, and once again be able to remember what I need to do when I go into the bathroom.
Coming up tomorrow: Got stuck? Time to brainstorm.
I know it's Monday, but try to have a good one anyway.
Lisa
posted by Lisa Shearin at
8:01 AM
4 Comments:
hahahahahahahahahaha. that was funny. Sadly, that happens to me, and for no particularly good reason either (like needing to get chapters done). Sometimes it happens in irish dance speak (counting out steps instead of using words) or in guitar chords.
happy monday to you too :-)
Hi Otto!
And the worst thing about Book Brain is that my subconscious won't let me know what it's working on until it's found the solution. I know it's working hard, but I don't know on what. ; )
but isn't it nice when all of a sudden you just have this brilliant idea? i remember you writing a post on how your brain popped out a villain for you. :-P
And I never have a clue what I'm gonna get. ; )
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