18 Comments
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Pam Smith's avatar

Inspiration. It’s good to mix things up if you feel like you’re in a rut.

Amie's avatar

I would totally go with inspo. i was just talking with someone last night who felt the same way which is which is we start writing (history nonfiction) and write sort of generally until that thing that you definitely want to capture hits. Ah ha! you say and then the rest makes sense. Bless you for working so hard for us and for your characters!

Jodi Taylor's avatar

This is very true! When stuck, I just write bullet points. They go to Cheltenham. He tries to kill her. She escapes. She nearly drowns. And so on and so on until I find what I didn't know I was looking for and suddenly the scene takes shape and I can get something tangible down. Thank you for the reassurance that I'm not completely insane.

Grace Blair's avatar

I sense your creative cup is empty. Often when I write my stories the words flow and then nothing. So, I get up and do something else like go grocery shopping or cook just to allow the cup to fill again. The best writing to me comes from playing with the characters as I go about my day with other stuff. I talk to them as I cook or on my way to the store. I find out what they want in the story. I do not pretend to me the writer you are, just sharing a technique for me that works. I also bless my story and characters and honor them in my life. I appreciate all you do Jodi to keep me in the world of Max and her mayhem. I learned from you to keep the mess happening all the time. You're a genius just give yourself as rest and allow the story to come. Go make tea, isn't that what you do in England when everything goes wonky? I list to Zara Rahm who reads your stories. She too is amazing. I wish I wrote poetry or I would have entered your Valentine's Day contest. This is my Valentine to you. Listen to your heart you are loved.

Elaine Leet's avatar

Rub the lamp and let the genie reign.

Jodi Taylor's avatar

Elaine, in case you didn't get my email, thank you for the lovely card.

Elaine Leet's avatar

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I responded via your agent.

Tami Rose's avatar

I think there are merits to both. Maybe if you write the thing that you particularly want to write, it will inspire you for the rest. Or it could send you off in a completely different direction, in which case, forget I said anything.

Fiona Ellwood's avatar

Both approaches have merits. When I'm stuck in the middle of an essay I stop and do something else - sort out a bookshelf, tidy my knicker drawer or something similar. I'd go with inspiration, after you've nearly finished you could always write an alternative versio and compare the two. I'm really looking forward to St Marys 15, and like Janet I'm extremely gratful to the voices in your head.

Jodi Taylor's avatar

This is reassuring. I actually have the tidiest knickers drawer in the universe. And - a side benefit - I keep finding tightly folded £5 notes in there. It's extraordinary. But yes, prevarication is a brilliant way of dealing with brain fuzz. When I had a proper job and I couldn't get my spreadsheets to work I would go down to the post desk and stuff letters in envelopes for twenty minutes. Apparently - according to Sheldon Cooper - this frees up parts of your brain to work on the problem and a solution often presents itself.

Janice Frankham's avatar

We're all very grateful for the voices in your head Jodi. Long may they continue. As it's the middle of the longest month of the year - six weeks at least ! I'd go with inspiration, tea and chocolate. Xxxxx

Jodi Taylor's avatar

Thank you for validating my solution. Tea and chocolate cure everything.

Stephen Lewis's avatar

Don't forget the sausage and bacon butties!

Elayne Coakes's avatar

Please get it out... and have a spa day. I can recommend a good one near Harrogate 👌

Robert Piepenbrink's avatar

Oh, dear. My first thought is "reward" if only because of a personal tendency to go celebrating and bragging when I get something done, which has been known to interfere with work on the rest of the project. Of course, I tend to regard desperation, guilt and money as mankind's primary motivators. Nero Wolfe's "Safe, satisfied or solvent." Other people assure me this is not universal. As long as Mad Max--you know they call her that--eventually rides to the rescue, I'm content.

Mostly. I still want to know who moved the Battle of Bosworth, and my money is still on St Mary's.

Mark Stave's avatar

Inspiration (plus a long life and at least 10 more novels... Oh and that award... And chocolate, lots of chocolate)

Stephen Lewis's avatar

What have you done in the past? That worked. Not 'That Could Have Gone Better'. Of course: Perfection, if it is to be,

Is in the eye of the beholder not the beholdee,

So we as the readers not the readee,

Ask you to have inspiretivity.

My Valentine's Rhyming Couplets Poem contribution for Jodi Taylor, after all history only ended yesterday.

Cheryl Hole's avatar

Inspiration. Definitely. You need a jump start. We want the book done on time.