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Yesterday at this time, I had no idea what to write for my ‘J’ post this week. I put a request on Facebook – and was overwhelmed with all the suggestions, which ranged from Jello to Juxtaposition. Many thanks to all my FB friends – who gave me enough ideas to write a year’s worth of J posts! Apologies that I couldn’t use them all.
The one that ‘jumped’ out at me was ‘Jumping for Joy’ – as I immediately thought of all the joyful moments that occur when I’m writing. Here are some of them:
1. When I see, hear, or read something that sows a seed in my mind for a story, a scene, or a character.
2. When the seed starts to grow and the basic outline of a story begins to take shape in my mind.
3. When my two main characters somehow ‘appear’ in my mind, waiting for me to get to know them as I start to write their story.
4. When a secondary character appears out of the blue, leaving me thinking ‘Where on earth did he/she come from?’
5. When the characters surprise me by revealing something about themselves or their past lives that I didn’t know.
6. When I realise that I, like my heroine, have fallen in love with the hero.
7. When I think I’m stuck on ‘what happens next?’ and the solution jumps into my mind, sometimes when I’m driving, or washing the dishes, or – as happened with ‘Irish Intrigue’- when a brainstorming friend says just 4 words that gave me the elusive answer I’d been searching for.
8. When I complete the first draft (after a lot of agonising and brain-searching) and get ready to revise, tweak, and polish the story until I’m happy with it.
9. When someone tells me I kept them awake because they couldn’t stop reading my story and I know I have created a ‘page-turner’.
10. When my Amazon ranking jumps up (meaning more sales) and/or when someone writes a glowing review of my book.
What makes you ‘jump for joy’?
Even though you didn't choose my suggestion :) I love these! Being a writer is one thing that never fails to make me happy. Glad you feel the same.
ReplyDeleteThe 'jumping for joy' moments more than compensate for the 'hard work' times when I'm wondering whether I'll ever get the story sorted out!
DeleteI love it when I get thumbs-up feedback, and when the story "takes over." The inner rush of joy is like admiring a sleeping newborn, and seeing the love of your life across a crowded room.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure every writer thrives on positive responses to their work. I know I do!
DeleteMy first jumping for joy moment was when my first book was accepted, but all of the ones you mention, Paula, strike a chord. It has to be a good job when we have moments like this.
ReplyDeleteI was stunned speechless when my first novel was accepted as I couldn't actually believe it - but I can still remember the date - Saturday October 7th, 1967!
DeleteWriting definitely has a lot of jumping for joy moments. From that first contract to all that come after. Good reviews. Finishing a first draft. Getting a release date. I love that the cycle in endless.
ReplyDeleteYou're right about the cycle, Debra, as every book gives us those special moments :-)
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