Sunday, September 25, 2011

Osmosis

The informal definition: "Osmosis" is the process by which information or concepts come a person without conscious effort.

I can't tell you how many times I sat down at the computer last week and hoped this would happen. That all the words and stories that were inside of me would just flow out of my head and onto the computer screen, but unfortunately life doesn't work that way – at least not for me. I've come to accept that now.

I've had my crit partner's notes back for a week now and although I've looked at them, I haven't applied them to my book. I just keep looking at my documents sitting on my desk top, hoping that inspiration will spring, but I've come to the conclusion that inspiration doesn't spring unless your writing. It usually doesn't happen with the first sentence and maybe not even the second, but if I keep writing eventually I will get there.

Remember nothing happens by osmosis.

How about you? Do you find you have to be writing in order for inspiration to hit?

13 comments:

Laura Pauling said...

If I'm staring at a screen, hoping for inspiration - it never comes! It might while I'm writing or if I go do something else. Good luck!

Wendy Paine Miller said...

Writing or reading. I love it when I'm reading a really great line and it inspires me to rush to the computer to get my own thoughts down.
~ Wendy

Felicity Grace Terry said...

I know just what you mean, I have lost count of the number of times I have sat looking at the screen longing for osmosis.

Shannon O'Donnell said...

LOL. We are two peas in a pod right now. I have amazing edit suggestions from an editor, but I just haven't been able to make myself fully tackle them yet. I open the document and then stare at it. :-)

Jessie Oliveros said...

Yes. Yes. Yes. That's when I have my best ideas. :)

Robyn Campbell said...

Been there done that. So infuriating. Nothing happens by osmosis. Waaaaahaaaaaaaa

Melissa Amateis said...

Actually, inspiration hits me at the oddest times - especially in the shower. But if I am not in a place where I can immediately go and write, then I have to wait and I find it's equally hard to eventually sit and write, almost as if the inspiration has lost its luster.

Stina said...

Yeah, I learned this the hard way in high school when I tried to sleep with my textbooks under my pillow. Didn't work to well. :(

I have to be running for inspiration to hit. Sucks during winter. Then I have to run up and down the stairs (because I don't want to waste writing time for driving to the gym time).

Carolyn V said...

I like to write all over the place, but connecting everything is a whole different story. Good luck with the edits.

Misha Gerrick said...

I think a majority of us writers suffer from this. That's why blank pages blank us out as we stare at them.

The only way for us to get the thoughts rolling is to do something with them.

Good luck with your edits. I'm about to head into them too.

:-)

Kasie West said...

So true. But wouldn't it be nice if it did. We can all dream for a few minutes (or hours) before we write, right? :) Good luck with your editing.

Peggy Eddleman said...

I don't have to be writing to get inspiration, but it definitely helps. And although I don't have to be writing, I have to be doing SOMETHING. Walking seems to work wonders for me.

Heidi Willis said...

I know this feeling!! When I'm stuck, I do just sit and stare at the screen. Yesterday I managed 555 words, which, considering all the time I had staring at the screen, and the fact that the book is already written, is pretty pathetic.

Sometimes I do let ideas sit. I know if I stew about it a while, eventually it works itself out and then when I sit my fingers are flying.

Unfortunately, there isn't always time for the stewing...