Voices in my Head

  The characters argue with each other in my brain.

“She needs to work on me,” says Shirley, who speaks with the confidence of a character who has grown and changed since starring in my book, Shayna’s Song. “My book is just about finished and she’s going to need to pitch me at her upcoming writer’s conference.” 

“Again?  She’s always talking about you at those conferences.  It’s time to move on to me,” says Jack from Jake and the Adventures of Ed Lightning.  “She’s finally figured out my major plot points and I’m about to solve a mystery and see Babe Ruth. Besides, my book is funny.  Yours is about a war.”

“But mine is more important and very compelling,” Shirley is not backing down.

“What about me?”  It’s Cori Cohen whose book, Cori Cohen and the Not-So-Dreamy Dream Journal  is still in the out-lining phase. “My story is the most dramatic.  And besides, she’s obsessed with me.” Cori is the feistiest of the group.

I’m trying to listen, but the noise can be overwhelming. They all have good points.  Shayna’s Song is finished, but I’ve been tweaking and polishing it just in case one of the agents or editors who have it ask for the complete manuscript.  Jake and the Adventures of Ed Lightning is the most fun to work on.  I find myself laughing out loud when I’m writing it. The first draft is finished and I’m heavy into its revision. It’s also the only thing I’ve written that my husband loves… a big incentive.

Then there’s Cori from my latest project, Cori Cohen and the Not-So-Dreamy Dream Journal.  She’s right, I am obsessed with her. She’s my most autobiographical character to date and I have a zillion ideas of where this story can go. 

 So what do I do?  How do I work on all three?  (I haven’t even mentioned my teaching job, choir rehearsals, the food shopping, laundry, emailing, bill-paying and basement cleaning for our imminent remodel.)  By writing this blog-post, of course!  It’s a fabulous distraction and it seems that at least while I’m writing it, my characters are quiet.  Or maybe, they’ve decided to be helpful and are off doing the laundry.