By Wednesday. It’s a short story, entitled “The Watcher.”
Yes, I’m still “blocked.” But I’m finishing it anyway, even if it’s terrible in the end. Because really, it’s time to move on.
One thing about the current protagonist is that he reminds me of the protagonist of a story I wrote previously. Not the characterization, since they are drawn very differently, but the two characters are alike in their circumstances. Both this character and the earlier one are the respected advisors for their respective commiunities, both are experiencing alienation from the thing that is the source of their power, and out of fear, both are harboring a secret.
I wonder if it’s a common thing for a writer to come back to the same themes. And I wonder whether it’s best to just go ahead and write the stories that seem compelling, even if they are familiar in a way… or if it’s better to look for things to write about that are completely fresh.
You might could (Yes, I intentionally said “might could”) go with the philosophy that there’s no such thing as an “original” pitch anymore. Under that philosophy, can’t you justify that the key to differentiating the stories (and the MCs!) is a spin that story has but that the other does not?
Good luck finishing the story: I think all writers get problem children like that every now and again and you’re right – the trick is to push on through and get an ending down. If it’s not right, it can be re-worked in the edits.
I’d agree, too, that writers return to the same themes, exploring them again and again from different angles … I think because those are the fundamentals that intrigue us, the questions that we ourselves want dissected and resolved satisfactorily. Until we do find satisfaction, we return to them again and again, like trying to untangle a knotted yarn, but always with a different twist that makes each attempt unique.
I’ve talked about themes before. I firmly believe that most writers have a pet theme that they come back to again and again, because that’s what resonates with them, and with their readers.
So write what is meaningful to you. I think that the stories that work for us are the ones we feel the most connected with.
My $0.02.
I’ll jump on the bandwagon.
I believe everyone has fixations. It’s human nature to talk about such things and as writers, we work them into our stories, often without even realizing we are doing so.
hmmm…provoking thought/question there. makes me want to go back and contemplate more deeply my own character paths
i do think that subconciously or not we focus on the ideals or traits that we hold most dear…
I think you need to go where the story takes you. Sharing themes seems to be common to authors. That’s part of what makes each writer distinct.
That’s right. Go ahead. If you’re writing that story, it means something. There can never be too many angles for a theme.
Patty
http://picturesandpoetry.wordpress.com
Natalie Goldberg says, “yes” to that (in her book Writing down the bones)…she says writers will often revisit themes again and again until, through writing about them enough times, we work through them to something new.
Good luck!
I find with poetry that when i say i can’t write or quit writing, is when I end up writing a lot. But I believe all writers have times they don’t or can’t write. The mind needs to rest. Your a writer, writers never stop being a writer. Its something in us..it doesn’t go away.
Maybe you need to let your mind rest. Put it aside. and try to forget about it. Trust me, one day soon you will pick it up and inspiration will overcome you. And it will be good stuff flowing from you..