I’ve been thinking a lot about the “joy” since the Nebulas.
Sally was the one who really nailed that for me in our all-too-brief sit-down together. We talked about my struggles lately, and she was right to point out that the joy was missing.
I mean, like most epiphanies with me, it’s not a completely new thought. But, for whatever reason, it just clicked differently talking to her. It is what’s missing. It’s not a problem with me. It’s not a problem with the story, per se, or my process, or really any of that. It’s…a problem of Joy.
I had so much joy writing Starstuff. It dripped from the page. It glazed over even the rough patches, making them shiny and sweet, if imperfect. The Joy made up for all of my shortcomings when writing that book.
That’s the difference.
That’s what’s been missing.
It’s not even the muse. There were plenty of days and nights writing that book where I felt like I had no ideas, that the muse wasn’t perched on my shoulder, and still I wrote. I’ve learned that you have to do that. You have to write, even when you don’t want to; get out what you can, and hope that she returns tomorrow.
No, the Joy is different than that. It’s the certainty that the story is good. It’s the clarity to see and hear the story as it’s happening. It’s when the story is in my wheelhouse, full of people and places and happenings that I love.
I intended to write StoryGenius 3000 tonight, but I have more thinking to do about that story. I’m not entirely sure where the joy is yet. And, I do mean “yet,” because something is aaaaaabbbsolutely drawing me to that story over and over again. But, I’m not going to force it. I’ll write more when I’m ready.
In the meantime, I’m going to open myself up to some joy. Listen to some music. Think about what I love about my stories. What kinds of scenes I love to write.
Find some more joy.
Artwork tonight is from Klaus Bürgle.
Oh! And the Warriors completed the sweep of the Blazers. They’re going to their fifth straight NBA Finals. AND…the A’s won, too. Great day 🤓