BAMFs in Cardigans

Hey friends. I just wanted to throw this out there because I see a lot of posts from writers lamenting that they’re starting new WIPs without finishing the old ones. Some of this is in the form of memes and jokes, some of it is in the form of updates or confessionals, but there’s always this implication that writers are doing something wrong by starting something new before the old thing is finished, hopping from project to project, or working on multiple WIPs at once. So I just want to say this:

The writing process is not linear.

Bouncing between multiple WIPs is totally okay.

Abandoning old WIPs that you’re no longer interested in is totally okay.

Starting 10 or 20 or 30 stories for every 1 story that you finish is totally okay.

Only wanting to work on something that’s exciting to you (a new thing) and not something you’ve burned out on (an old thing) is totally okay.

I get that feeling like you’re always starting and never finishing anything is a big bummer. But it may help to remember that despite years of capitalist indoctrination, the creative process is not an assembly line.

Sometimes it takes writing 100 pages to realize that your idea is untenable, or that you’re not actually that interested in it, or that you want to take things in a completely different direction with a totally new story.

I’m a published writer and I average at least 10-15 WIPs for each one that I actually finish. It may take me two sentences to abandon it, or 200 pages. And sometimes I come back to them and finish them in the future. But after 20 years of writing my computer is full of barely-started stories that were destined, for whatever reason, to die.

because it’s a puzzle no one else will ever arrange the same way as you.

because there are ideas that simply won’t come to you until you write down the wrong words.

because all the bad scenes are the bones of the wonderful scenes.

because someone will love it: someone will read it once, and twice, and thrice; someone will ramble to you about the complexity of it; someone will doodle your characters out of love; someone will find it in exactly what they were looking for with or without knowing it.

because they have things to say, your characters. they’ve told you all those secrets and they have more to tell you, if you will listen.

because you love it even when you don’t; even when it drives you mad or when it accidentally turns into apathy; even when you think you’re doing it all wrong; you love it, and it loves you back.

I made a thing.

I didn't need to call myself out like this .

my favorite ships + parallel scenes: 2/?

Because nobody knew what this person might be up to.

The general assumption, back then, was; if somebodies carrying a gun like this, their going to USE it. Today? People have gotten used to the idea that these idiots might be making some kind of, ‘2nd Amdment Political Statement’. Now it seems people are reluctant to call, willing to wait until/if shooting starts. Far too little. WAY too late.

No one but the man carrying this gun KNOWS WHAT HIS INTENTIONS ARE. No one CAN KNOW why he’s brought this Assault Rifle into a public space full of unwary and likely defenseless people. Until he either walks out of the shop w/o incident OR he unslings that gun and opens fire. We don’t know. We CAN’T know. Anyone aware of OTHER PEOPLE beyond THEMSELVES/Other peoples INTERESTS (up to and including NOT getting shot)? Anyone with any sense of Civic Responsibility, Social Boundaries, or Public Safety? Would. Not. Do. This. So you can already assume their judgement is impaired. DO NOT WAIT to find out how deep that impairment extends. The people who do this sort of thing have no interest/concern for YOUR safety, so you’re going to have to look after it yourself. Leave the establishment immediately- directly, don’t wait for the Cheque or your order to arrive. JUST. LEAVE. AND-

CALL

911

Call even if you know other people have done/are doing the same. Practice YOUR Civic Duty by notifying Authorities of a potentially EXTREMELY dangerous, public, situation, even if it overwhelms their call centers/dispatch. Don’t let Dispatch blow you off with ‘We already know/we know this guy/nothing we can do, it’s his Right’ You have a right to safety in a public spaces, You have NO IDEA what he intends, AND IT’S THEIR JOB TO ENFORCE/INSURE PUBLIC SAFETY. ‘Git yo ass down here and MANAGE this situation!!!’

Worried about walking out on your check? Don’t be. Again, you are CONCERNED FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY. In Open Carry States, business establishments can and do post signage stipulating that guns are NOT ALLOWED on premise. Those that do post this signage will understand why you left. Those that don’t? After calling 911, contact the store or it’s Franchise Office and ask WHY they don’t. Inform them that they can wait for you to come back & settle up AFTER this public threat has left the area. OR they can just deal with the loss of revenue from people leaving without paying BECAUSE THEY ALLOWED A MAN WITH AN ASSAULT RIFLE TO FREELY ENTER THEIR STORE. Suggest that they might wanna take any revenue loss up with HIM.

If this became the Standard Response to this kind of irresponsible and, frankly, infantile behavior? How long do you think it will go on before SOMBODY, Retailers, Police, Legislatetors, do SOMETHING about it?