Process Post: Short of the Week (Nod): Obeying Your Muse

#muse #nod #obey #post #process #shortoftheweek #writingprocess

Brannon here. So, I have no doubt that everyone is wondering, "O.k., so what's up with this whole Short of the Week thing?" Well, all I have to say is, it's all Nod's fault. Let me 'splain...no there is too much...let me sum up. (First person that does not know me personally to post below what movie that comes from gets a free copy of one of my books--NO JOKE.)

Nod was supposed to have been written, edited, and released in the first week of September. It was mostly written that week, but I have a terrible personal issue that revolves around the days of the month, days of the week, and the hours of the day. The issue is - I don't pay much attention to those kind of things. Not to say, I'm not good at estimating how long something is going to take, at that, I'm very good. But, when it comes to things that other folks think are important, like holidays, or birthdays, or anniversaries, or stuff like that?

You might as well tell a rock.

Those sorts of things just don't stick in my mind.

So, Nod was almost done, but then my family went away for a long weekend in the country, attended a family reunion, and generally had a great time visiting with family and friends. This was all well and good. However, it totally destroyed Nod.

I didn't even realize it until we were driving home (about a two hour drive), but as we rode along those rolling country roads, a thought began to grow in my mind: what if this story, Nod, which at that point was about a girl who'd grown up in the South, but was now living in New York, was told from an entirely different perspective. What if it was told at a different point in her life. Or what if the events of the story that I wanted to tell had interrupted her journey to New York?

My brain almost caught on fire. I loved the idea. I HAD to write it.

So, as soon as I got home, I started Nod over. Now, looking over it, I'm very glad I did -- and I think you will be, too. It's much longer, it's much more real, much more solid and it's totally different than anything I've ever written before. (That's one of my pet peeves, BTW, and a possible blog post for the future--take a note, Ima--that I love, love, love writing new things and stretching my wings as an author. I've NEVER wanted to be one of those authors who just churns out one more of the same old thing as last time.)

Long story short, I think you'll really enjoy this short story turned long story, Nod. Coming very soon to an e-reader near you.

Sorry for the delay, but I think you'll find that it was worth the wait...