So Crushin'

A new story idea is like a crush. It suddenly springs into your mind looking handsome and winning and suddenly all of your time is spent thinking and dreaming about it. It's charms are many and for a long time it looks perfect, the Bestseller, the Book That Will Bring Me Success! It's perfect! A revolution of an idea! Then slowly the doubts filter in; in crushing so hard on its perfections you start to look at yourself with all your imperfections as a writer. Will its characters reveal themselves to me? Can I do this idea justice? Am I an adequate writer? 

This idolation and drudging self examination continues on through the duration of the relationship and while you no longer find it perfect, and in fact, there are many, many flaws that have to be worked through, over time something magical and wonderful begins to happen. A book is being formed, it's full of well-rounded characters, deep themes and a solid storyline.

Sometimes you're already in the middle of writing when this crush suddenly enters your life. Some authors ignore such promiscuous impulses and swat away the distracting temptress. Many others can't ignore the siren's call, that of a new project promising to be nothing but faithful and never disappointing and sooo much better than the current what's-her/his-name you're with now.  Be wary my friends! Sometimes it's worth setting aside a project that just isn't working and beginning anew but many times it's not the project that needs to work harder (hint: it's you). Every fling starts out this way and you've seen the news lately to know what happens next. (Let's just hope you weren't sending pictures of your Johnson to this new idea because frankly this metaphor only goes so far people).

But if you happen to be "single" and on the hunt for something so promising and exciting as a new idea, when the moment happens it's breathtaking. The stars align for that short time, the world sits right on its axis and even though life will still come at you hard there is something redeeming about a new idea full of hope of a brighter future despite all the let-downs of previous drafts.

 I've been in the singles pool for a while now (I'm not embarrassed to admit it) but this idea is looking pretty good. I expect we'll have a DTR soon and then announce that we're officially together. But don't tell him that. You know how men get around the word commitment.