What stress does to writers…
So, last night I vowed that I would beat my Victorian romance novel into submission. 
The last third of the book has been giving me fits because the romantic conflict was off. I couldn’t place exactly what the problem was. So yesterday I focused on only the scenes that directly contributed to the romance between the hero and heroine (leaving off the subplots and the suspense plot). That’s when I hit paydirt.
Once I wrote down each scene and whose point of view I was in, there were gaping holes. I wrote entire scenes where I gave the viewpoint of one character but not the other. :loser:
Then came the bigger challenge. It’s one thing to find the problem and quite another to FIX the problem. I found that a bar of Hershey’s Crunch chocolate helped inspire me quite nicely. I nibbled bits here and there while I sketched out filler scene ideas, places where I could reveal the other character’s growth and so on. I looked over at my bar of chocolate (and yes, it was one of those monster-sized bars of chocolate–I won it in my local chapter’s conference last weekend). Um, the chocolate was almost gone. 
Not good.
Bad Michelle. Bad, bad.
Did you ever do that? Look over at some munchies and find that you’d consumed the whole thing without realizing it?
I think I hear a treadmill calling my name. Sigh.
Michelle posted in Writing @ 5:05 am | Viewed 2209 times
Fiona Lowe Says:
I LOVE that chocolate eating icon! Too true
Kelly Says:
We sell those big Cadbury bars at the office and the money goes towards the Children’s Wish Foundation. I can open one up and I swear within 60 seconds I’m going…uh…where’s my chocolate bar…it’s like I go into a weird trance whenever I’m around milk chocolate.
Good work on figuring out the conflict problem. I’m trying to plot mine out now and continually hitting a brick wall. I think I just need to start writing it and get a better feel for the characters before I go any further.
Melissa Says:
While in Chicago, I visited a Hershey’s store. They had a HUGE Hershey milk chocolate bar that looked divine. But I was good and bought the small dark chocolate bar…sigh…
Melissa Mc Says:
Congrats on the writing progress. Unfortunately, I’ve discovered that creativity and munchies, especially chocolate, do go together.
My biggest snack shock came when I was stressed out on deadline. Hubby surprised me with a box of Crunch ‘n Munch. Before I realized it the entire box was gone. I glimpsed at the fat content and nearly died right there. I had no time to exercise, but I made time that next week!:chocolate:
Emma Sinclair Says:
For that exact reason, I only eat things that come in already measured amounts. Otherwise, who knows how much I’d eat?
But good for you on figuring out the problem!
Stacy Dawn Says:
You know, when that happens to me I actually think it’s a waste because I was so focused on something else I didn’t get to enjoy the chocolate….and being chocolate:love:, that’s just not right LOL.
Larissa Says:
I do that with salty stuff. Potato chips, cheese puffs, etc. I so need to buy a treadmill…
Teresa Says:
I hear ya on that one!! Scroll down to the Dark Chocolate Covered Cranberries here: http://www.brooksidefoods.com/public.php?level=0&page_id=45
and you’ll find my weakness.
Glad the Hershey Bar helped inspire you, though. I find chocolate definitely has that effect
Nicole Reising Says:
This was so awesome!!! I’m glad to hear you’ve found the problem areas! I particularly laughed over the chocolate bar disappearing. I’ve actually looked all around, under the desk, under the papers, got up and circled the room… surely it had to be there somewhere!!!!!
Cole