"C" is for Creativity...

Today's post is a "two-fer"; as part of the A to Z blog challenge, it begins with the letter "C." As part of the Insecure Writer's Group, it addresses a common concern/fear amongst us mere mortals: creativity and the lack there of.

If you've been following, you know that Monday I blogged about abundance - the abundance of ideas flowing from my head. And you also read about my fear that I would lose some of those thoughts, thus a need to catch the ideas in some way, shape or form. You may also remember my "BOLA" post from March 20th ... a humorous and honest post about my need to write it down NOW.

Creativity is a funny thing - dancing in and out of life when we least expect it, most need it and can't find it. We've all had days where we've stared at a blank sheet of paper or a stark, white screen on the computer and the little pointer blinks. And blinks. And blinks. And nothing comes to us. And we've had those days were our fingers can't possibly keep up with the flow of words trying to make their way from our brains to whatever mechanism we use for capture. The problem is, there's no way to predict or identify what sort of day we'll have.

It's not like the weather (which, by the way, I wouldn't mind having a job where I got paid for a 60% accuracy rate) - we can't forecast "good" or "bad" writing days. They just happen, and we have to cope with them.

I've had stories hit me like a lightening strike while walking the dog. My first novel came to me over Christmas and was complete (first draft, anyways) in a little over two weeks. And I've had ideas for stories that I don't even seem able to begin, even though I captured the premise on a sticky-note and stare at it daily. Then there are the days where you know where the story needs to go, but the only thing you manage to write is a string of periods. Not even ellipses! Just period, after period, after period.

That's where I'm at with my latest WIP. I'm probably two or three chapters from finishing, and I can't seem to get it done. I sit at the computer and review the preceding chapter or two. I play at editing the front end. I tweet, facebook, blog and surf. And it's still waiting for me. The main characters hang suspended, frozen in time in awkward positions, waiting for me to tell them what happens next. And I tweet. Surf. Facebook.

I shouldn't be surprised - the WIP began with me typing "what if" over and over on a clean sheet of electronic paper. Apparently, creativity has chosen this moment to go on her own vacation, leaving me high and dry. All I can do is keep trying. Keep sitting in front of the computer each evening, drinking Glenlivet and hoping she'll come back to me, or the Scotch will kick in. Of course, with Glen keeping me company, I'm not sure how much I miss that muse!

Beta Readers...

I've been on an endless search for Beta Readers for my current Work In Progress (WIP).

You know, those elusive, eccentric, intelligent folks willing to read your latest WIP and give honest, constructive feedback? I believe, at this stage, they are harder to find than unicorns and white lions.

I have a few - friends and co-workers who actually don't think everything I put on paper is wonderful. They challange plot points, character reactions and dialogue and story archs. They have no fear confronting why I put a character in a given circumstance, how that character reacts to it and even the language they use to describe their reaction.

Yes, I'm lucky. They are good and evil, wrapped up in a convenient package of honesty, good vocabulary and a semi-rabid hunger for the written word. I'd be lost without them. They've made almost everything I've written better, because of their feedback.

So here's the problem: none of them are in love with the genre I'm currently working in. My current WIP is a romance, and granted my three top Beta's love them a good romance. But this is a Paranormal Romance. It's that P word that has them a little stand-offish. I guess I can appreciate that. And I know they'll read it for me, as long as the romance part is strong enough. But I'm still left with the need for feedback on the Para Parts.

So tell me, fellow readers and writers; where do you search for Beta Readers? What sort of feedback are you looking for from them? How succesful have you been and how much of their input do you incorporate?

Back tomorrow with more for the "A to Z" blog challange! I look forward to your comments and promise to answer every one of them!

A to Z Blogging Challange Begins!

So, the concept of the challange is simple: Blog each day in April, with the first blog focused on the letter "A," then "B,", then "C," and so on. Many of you might think this is a fairly daunting task - and you would be right. But the fact remains that most of us have an abundance of knowledge, stories and ideas swirling around in our head, requiring only the time and focus to document them.

See how I snuck in my "A" word for the day? Yup, "abundance" is my topic. And my downfall. I don't lack for story ideas. If anything, I have too many ideas and not enough time to work on all of them. I have to force myself to stay on topic, to keep plugging away at a specific work in progress instead of glimmering around and writing about every shiny new thing that catches my attention.

I don't have ADD - but I am very much like a small child or a kitten and anything new and bright and shiny can distract me for more time than I care to admit. The dilemma then becomes one of capturing those ideas for later use and staying focused.

I use a couple of techniques, mostly the basic "jot it down in a notebook and add notes/ideas as they come." I also take the time to develop a musical playlist specific to whatever piece I'm currently working on. This has two benefits: it helps me commit to a project by spending creative time away from the keyboard (something we all need) and the music itself, once I hit "play," brings me back to the mood, story and characters I'm currently invested in.

So, having an abundance of ideas is both good and bad, both helpful and distracting. How do you handle all the thoughts and stories dancing around in your head? What are your tools for both capturing those random concepts and staying focused on your current work?