Finding Ghandi
October 30, 2000
7:20 a.m.
I started a story easily a year ago that was pulling itself together in little clumps. I would write a section, then stare into space for a half-hour. Then write a bit of a section, and doodle. I liked what was there, but it was excruciatingly painful to work on because it just ... well ... it just didn't come easily, you know? At one point, I discovered the title was "Waiting for Ghandi," which helped. I got two or three good pages from that realization before stalling again. This is the only problem I have with not planning things out. When you hit a quagmire, you don't know what to do. I know there are writers who say that they never know how a story will end before they get there. Nancy Kress is one. Stephen King (according to his book) is, too. And I believe them. I have written several stories using this methodology, and have been pleased with their result. But I'll admit I tend to get really frustrated with this method because of its inherent unreliability. "Searching for Ghandi" is such an example. I shelved the work when it became obvious that extended concentration was doing more harm than good. I had 8,000 words down on it. Easily two weeks' work. No big loss, I suppose. But I've always held a little resentment toward the story since that time. I finished (I think) "Like Parchment in Glass" yesterday morning. Lisa will see it in a day or two, and assuming it passes muster, it will be in the mail shortly thereafter. So this morning, I was trolling for what to do next. My plan was to revisit my vision for the entire "Stealing the Sun" series, and decide what I want to do with it right now. Plans are made to be broken, of course. In the process, I opened a folder with old work in it. I keep all my versions of stories in their own sub-folders, and for some unknown reason, I clicked on "Ghandi." I started reading it. Three pages into the work, I saw the purpose of the story. Which gave me the ending. Which allowed me to see what the middle had to do (which was different than the middle I had). I'm very excited about this story, now. So excited that I wish I could afford to take the day off and write the thing in a single setting. This one, I think, is going to be very good (at least in my own mind, which, of course, is the most important mind at this stage of the process!). Unfortunately, staying home today would be unwise at this point in my day job. So, instead I jotted a few quick notes at the end to make sure I didn't lose any of my important thoughts. So the lesson today is to have faith. What goes around comes around.   Have a great day.  Just don't quit Daily Persistence is © Ron Collins |
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