Time is essential to my being able to feel creative. And time is also a teacher. If I have time to let something sit, that’s the best way for me to see it. – Jennifer Habel
Ok, I have officially reached a weak spot, and I’m so up for the challenge. I’m quite the dabbler; it’s what makes me feel alive. Buuuut this idea is quite challenging for me. All I can think is that I need time to think, to really argue with myself about all those tiny truths I’ve picked up on my journey. It’s a lot. It all creates BIG feelings for me. As someone who already feels the world deeply, this is going to take some serious solitude to unpack. That’s how I’m feeling at this point with my novel.
How’s your writing journey!!
Now is not the time to quit. Those stories are literally going to be someone’s reason to get out of bed in the morning. Keep going.
I have a word for that “letting something sit” — marinating. In my own struggle to write a novel (ongoing), something that has helped me in a big way has been creating little art journals for each of the main characters. I am definitely not a visual artist, but through collage and paint and a stream of conscious approach, the characters have begun speaking to me in a way they never did before. I also have created music playlists for them. My favorite is the song “Big in Japan” by Tom Waits as the theme song for my bad guy. Now, as soon as I start listening, that guy is in my head. This especially helps me when I’m stuck. At first, the art journal thing felt like a cop-out, a waste of time, but it’s turned out to be a phenomenal tool to get deep fast.
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What a great idea to have an art journal for your characters!
I used to watch those videos on creating art journals and really enjoyed watching them. I should get my stuff out again and give this a shot.
My novel explores the way we tell stories, and this last way is a style I haven’t used in many years lol well, outside my head, at least. So it’s really challenging me.
I love that you said marinate because thats what I do with my poetry
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