Writing randomly.

[icarus]

I was in front of my computer, writing the next part of Out Of Bounds, when I hit a point where I had too many options. Tilt.

I tried going to Hugo House to be all "writerly" and think it through. But that writer's den was too den-like and there were too many people.

I went to the park, put on my "Icarus looks cool" shades and made a beeline for the children's wading pool, the skies blue, wind just cool enough as the sun warmed my arms. I basked by the side of the glittering pool that was shaped like a turtle, contemplating my many options and watching the young mothers with their kids.

Then a guy in a lawn chair tossed tennis balls into the pool.

One.

Two.

Three.

They floated in a random triangle in the center of the pool, almost equidistant from each other. And I thought, "Okay, that's my approach."

I took three possibilities and wrote them down on three sheets of paper and folded them. I walked over to one of the young mothers and explained, "I'm writing a story and I'm stuck on a scene. I've written three possibilities down on these slips of paper." I held them out to her daughter. "Pick one."

The little girl was shy, dipped her head and buried her face against her mom's knee. So I said to her mom, "I guess you'll have to do it."

She picked one, her smirk somewhere between amused and bemused. I grinned when I opened it. It was the one I'd wanted to do, and I thanked her.

I went back to my seat and began writing the scene. The guy who'd thrown the tennis balls walked by. It turned out he was an employee of Seattle City Parks there to test the PH of the water and add chlorine.

I explained what I'd done, thanking him. "It was the tennis balls that gave me the idea."

He was very amused and grinned through the rest of his task.

Now all I have to do is type the scene. I'm strangely reluctant, like committing it to paper will let out the magic of the afternoon like poking a hole in the bottom of a paper cup full of water.

Comments

[lauramcewan.livejournal.com]

How lovely!

Are you expecting triple digits up there like we are in PDX?

[crownglass39.livejournal.com]

I love even reading about your writing experiences! Sounds like you had a wonderful and productive afternoon.

More often then not, when I'm trying to write I feel like the characters are hiding behind the nearest plant and giggling at me. Or blowing raspberries at me. Lately, its been mostly raspberries. Hell, there've been so many I could make a pie...

[aukestrel.livejournal.com]

I was thinking, "Wow, where does she live that she can go outside in the afternoon and enjoy it," but then you got to "Seattle" and I was, like, Oh. Okay.

[slashophile.livejournal.com]

This is completely off subject but I swear you recced a Teal'c/Cam fic at one time. I've been driving myself crazy trying to find it, do you have any idea what I'm talking about?

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Oh, Christ, let me think.

That was from last year's Porn Battle and a link to it is on the http://www.stargatefanawards.com. It was nominated for the slash PWP award.

Does that help? It's very a short fic, written as commentfic in the porn battle.

Icarus

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Here it is:
Leonine (http://rydra-wong.livejournal.com/4250.html) by rydra_wong.

I'm curious. Need this for any particular reason?

Icarus

[slashophile.livejournal.com]

A friend of mine recently got into the pairing and I foolishly lost the link when my computer died on me. I was beating myself up for not being able to get it to her. And it's such an awesome fic, too. I'm so glad you remembered this, yay! It's as hot as I remember. *giggles*

[wyomingnot.livejournal.com]

This was ever so cool.

Thank you for sharing.

[bruinsfan.livejournal.com]

Did you realize that was the direction you'd wanted the story to go all along before the lady picked it out of the three?

[mad_maudlin]

Hey, sorry I didn't answer you when you pinged me earlier--I use Trillian, and for some reason it doesn't always correctly set my Y!M status. I was supposed to be away, since it's All-Star Game night. Stupid Trillian.

In answer to your question: I haven't got a clue. "Jetpack" by Eve6 comes to mind, but that's sort of a generic buddyslash song, not to mention wildly inappropriate to both of them. I feel like there should be a good Barenaked Ladies song, but I can't actually think of one. ("It's All Been Done" is my personal Rodney/Sam Non-Ship Song already. ;-))

[blue-underwing.livejournal.com]

There's some amazingly geeky part of me that is thinking: "Three, that's tricky. A coin is only two, and you need at least four for die. I guess you could use a D6 and assign two side to each choice but..."

[harveywallbang.livejournal.com]

i like when life interferes like that :)