Writing Because of a Restroom

It's funny how a lot of my inspiration comes to me when I'm walking into the women's bathroom at work. I am so not sure why that is the case, but it seems to be a time when my mind disconnects from work and just drifts. My heels click onto the tiled floor and I let the dim fluorescent lighting wash over me. My script a few months ago started out with a bathroom scene. "A familiar sound of urination" was a key phrase in the description. A phrase that gets quite a bit of attention. But it is so routine. And for my novel, I seem to pull a lot of my main MC's thoughts from my own when I walk into the bathroom. And no, my characters' lives do not revolve around the bathrooms. I rarely put them in the bathrooms--but it does happen more in this novel then in some. Only because bathrooms have recently pulled a lot of random thoughts. For instance, I walked into the bathroom one day to find that it was a group meeting room. Sure, women congregate in the bathroom in clusters to talk boys,  makeup and everything from tampons to lighting fixtures. I always find it intriguing when some of my friends talk on the phone while using the bathroom vs. the friends who are appalled to even have the phone near the bathroom. The head of our HR department at work frequently takes calls while she's in the stall--this I know only because she is a loud talker even a few stalls down. But the one thing that triggered it was when I made my MC have a similar viewpoint as me. She felt uncomfortable with the thought that so many women were gathered in the bathroom to talk at the counters while a few sat on the cushioned chairs and one even sat with her chair pulled outside someone else' stall.

I have no problem discussing bathroom issues only because it is so common. I remember when I was younger and girls would turn on all of the faucets and air dryers to mask the sounds. And, while I don't particularly feel comfortable hearing sounds coming from the stalls (regardless of which number you're doing), it is a natural thing. I also don't have a problem with friends using the bathroom while on the phone. I mean, sometimes, you're in the middle of a conversation that is too good to hold for and it risks peeing your pants. I get that.

But, I think it is odd that I pull a lot of ideas from that first second walking through the bathroom door. At least my novel is not taking place in the bathrooms. Instead, they take place in very specific spots. But the bathroom at work is always a thought-provoker and the bathroom at the bars is always a great segue/escape. I think that the main part is that when you walk into a bathroom, you're finally able to relax for a second. You stop thinking. And that, dear writers, is a blissful time for creation inspiration. ...I wonder if anyone's written a novel from their toilet...I might not want to know.

Novel's Midpoint Blues

Good morning, Sunshines!
It is that annoying midpoint time again and we all know what that can mean for a writer. If you're like me, you start off strong, going at your chapters and cutting them down in lightning speeds. I'm talking, a chapter a day almost! But, you start to lose steam. You lose your interest in the characters and their small-time problems, situations and thoughts. They bore you. And you're no longer playing in a fantasy world but now living someone else's life. A life that has consequences. You can't just walk into a bar and pickup a stranger because there are consequences. You can't spend a day at the beach because 1. there is no beach near this city and 2. your character would get fired from work. Work is boring and it's always the same people out at the bars. You don't want to bump up your character numbers and you have to finish one story arc before you hit the next one.

We dread the midpoint of writing novels. And so, here I sit, fellow writers and readers, stumped on what to do next. Pep Talks have been flying into my inbox--pushing, motivating and bragging. I don't find them encouraging at this point. I just want an answer! Where do I go from here? Or, more importantly, how do I push myself to the next step? I know my characters. I know what they want and what they are supposed to do next. But it's like I'm treading water.
I may just need to throw in a giant elephant into the story. Just throw it in there and cause a commotion. Make a big splash in the waves and shake up the story so it doesn't sound so boring and real life. Who wants to read about real life?!

I'm at 32k+ words. Working my way through chapter 6. Over 50 pages. And I've just added a piviotal character last chapter. And one of my main characters has had very little physical presence on my pages yet (because her big scenes are later in the book). Cue the aggrivated sigh of frustration.

I think I may work on something else. Can I do that? Can I step away for another day? I'm well ahead and while nothing is really inhibiting my muses, I feel compelled to dance in another world. I have been trying to find inspiration through other stories, other writers, music, TV and movies. But I think I need a breath of fresh air right now. Jump into it tonight or tomorrow.

Here's my progress so far:

Never Fuck With An Author

As you may or may not know, these past 12 months have been a rollercoaster of adventures and emotions. It has been insanely difficult for my writing process because I personally feel like I have been thrown into a blender at times. Nothing makes sense and my perception of reality has been skewed at some points. I believe that for this next novel, I will finally be ready to start using that to fuel my creative process. I feel that a warning needs to be announced prior to my start date. While I will not disclose my inspirations, I believe that a fair amount of vengeance will be resolved through this new novel. I believe that I have gone through this whole experience and after 12 months, I feel I am ready to use it. However, this may not be the case as I have tried this approach in the past. It may take more out of me than I can manage and a recoil could happen; this is always a possibility with dramatic writing. It all started nearly exactly a year ago and I believe that giving myself this much time to put the ideas into plans has been a success. The emotions have calmed down from last Halloween and I am stronger for it. My irrational thoughts have ceased from Thanksgiving and now I am wearing a parachute rather than jumping blindly off the cliff. I no longer have thoughts of what transpired over those thick months or what happened to start the rolling ball.

Instead, I wish to warn all those who have been in my life. What you have done has inspired me for better and worse. Loved me, hated me, wronged me, used me, abused me or gave me freedom…please note that you should never fuck with a writer. No one will get their own character because those muses are glued down. This novel will show off your true colors and prove to the world how empty your hearts have been. It will amplify your lame pickup lines, remind the world of your drunken attempts and reveal how shallow your friendship truly is to everyone. I will expose the truth while smiling in fiction. Nothing will be autobiographical or call you out directly. This world is a haven. Your lives are inconsequential. For every lover, former friend and confidant, I will keep your secrets safe but do not promise to keep your lies.
And while I explore all of the negative and positive energies in the past 12 months in terms of my social life, I will push my boundaries and explore my own emotions and turmoil. It might not run me as raw as some of you would like but I guarantee this will bare my soul in some small part. And as a writer, this is an exciting and stomach-turning time full of swinging emotions, physical discomfort and pure exciting energy.

The honest truth is that this will be a work of entire fiction. The situations heightened or decreased, the characters amplified. I will not disclose what is real and what was inspired. The trouble will be making sure to blend the good and bad. In truth, I emphasize your flaws, harness the emotions that swirl and heightened the good I wished you had been.
I love Duncan with all of my heart. Your muse has guided me through. And I feel like I’m falling in love again.
And in the next four weeks, look forward to the first bold chapters of my new novel: “Like Seeking Revenge on an Ex”
You have been warned.