You were writing along in your WIP when something happened that you didn’t quite expect. A scene played out differently than you’d imagined it would. Now the dots aren’t connecting like you need them to so the rest of the story can happen, and you’re pretty sure you’ll have to trash what you’ve written and do it over.
That is until you’re in the shower with your hair full of shampoo and you start to wonder—instead of fighting the scene that isn’t working, what if you went with it? You realize maybe the scene is fine; it’s the dots you’re trying to connect that are broken. And with new dots, the whole story would actually be better!
When your significant other wants to know why you’re sitting at the computer wearing only a towel and the shampoo isn’t fully rinsed from your hair, you can show them your “painting yourself out of a corner” merit badge.
This is part of the merit badges for writers series, and may be posted on your site or blog. Have you earned this badge? Will you never earn it? Tell us why in the comments.
6 Comments
Indeed. I love that door. LOL
Yeah, I gotta confess I love that door too. But is it cheating if I am deliberately working on a solution to the problem while at my day job? I must confess though that usually the answer arrives in the same manner. A jolt to the brain out of nowhere after I have given on it for the day.
Not cheating in the least! When I get stuck I think about it as I’m drifting off to sleep and let my subconscious work on it. Sometimes the answers come to me in the shower or while I’m cooking dinner.
@DQuartermane: I agree with Mari. It’s not cheating.
And besides, many day jobs compare unfavorably to taking a shower in terms of active mental resources required. One has to do something to keep busy in those cases, so if it comes down to plotting a story vs plotting to slowly drive one’s coworkers insane… You know, I think I’ve said too much.
Em,
You never say to much. Not that I have ever plotted the demise of a co worker. No never (Got a sarcasm badge anywhere?)
@DQuartermane: I am trying to think how that would work… No, really, I am.