It’s been a grey, rainy day here today.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining about that at all. Rain inspires me. There’s just something about having weather that’s a little bit ‘off’ to kick in the creative energy.  Especially during those times when you’re driving through it to go to work instead.  Then the ideas really start flowing.  Call it bad timing…

Today would have been a great day to be sitting at the desk cranking out a few chapters while watching the rain steadily run down the windows. Or maybe to be sitting in a coffee shop in a comfy, overstuffed chair listening to the people come in and go out, shaking off the water and placing their orders for hot drinks. Especially since one of my characters has been not so politely requesting my attention.

Right now, two of my main characters are trying to figure out just what they’re pursuing together. They may be starting a relationship but it’s still in that awkward stage that could go in any number of directions. And I haven’t had the time to get back to them in a while.  And Marla’s not happy about that at all…

[Editor’s Note:  ‘Marla’ is the current name being used in the working manuscript and may change – based on whatever this character tells the author her name is.  She’s strong-willed.  Also, this working name may or may not be based on the name of a girl the author used to know in high school. Creative liberties and all that you know…]

(I always wanted to do one of those notes…)

Part of what makes writing so exciting are those moments when the characters’ personalities come out and they really start telling their own stories.  And Marla isn’t the patient type so she’s done that to me numerous times through the process so far.  She’s the type to say what’s on her mind and to make decisions quickly.   So she hasn’t been very happy about me sitting around and taking a pause in picking up the next part of the story.  And she’s been popping up in my mind and making that extremely clear.

I don’t blame her though.  She’s right.  There’s a date that really needs to happen, and a late night conversation about the past needs to take place as well.  A misunderstanding or two have to be faced and conversations with friends to get outside opinions from people who don’t have the whole picture.  Fun stuff like that.  And much more.

Once I pick it back up, they’ll lead me through it and take a number of different turns that will surprise me and take me off guard.  Since it’s still the rough draft, it’s just writing, not editing, and there’s the enjoyment of being led along the story, finding out how far off I was with my original expectations and plans.

I don’t take it personally that she’s demanding my attention.  Her story’s time is now, before the next one starts pushing its way forward in my mind and the next novel starts taking over my thoughts.  And before that, she’s got a lot of living yet to do…

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