Friday, April 6, 2012

Aspiring Advice: Search Your Feelings



Guess who came back from his hiatus early? Let me tell you, it's been a roller coaster week - it's not even done yet! It's been, however, a great learning experience.

Through it all, I had to remind myself of something that bears sharing. It would be a "duh" thing for me to say "we have to make important decisions in life," but this includes fictional decisions for us writers. Be it real or make believe, it's good to pause and do what the Jedi do: search your feelings. There is no set way of doing things or a set decision. What's right for one person may be the completely wrong choice for another.

"Our cookies aren't stale ... at all ..."

We can be offered the galaxy, but is that really in our best interest? Perhaps the unthinkable choice of falling down a giant air vent will lead to something better?

I can't answer that for you. Be it yourself or your characters, the decision is ultimately open.

Your head. Your heart. Your gut. Listen to this tribunal within yourself. Let them debate the pros and cons. If they make a unanimous decision, and present it for consideration, the president of "you" can still veto it.

It's not just a matter of looking into yourself. Research. Contact anyone you can who can help you. I favor an informed decision over running with an ignorant whim (as do my characters ... most of the time). We can't let anyone make us feel bad about it either. They don't have to live with our decisions - or profit from them.

"Live with your decision, you must."

This is not the rule, just my thoughts on the matter. It may sound cliche, but at the center of every story, every life, is choice. It's a powerful thing - something in us that has the power to override instinct. Very few creatures on our world have that ability. And that's rather cool. But whatever you do, choose wisely.

So much for keeping the theme consistent ...

*     *     *

Ever run into a pile of crazy decisions that had to be made? What have your feelings told you? 

I'm David, and join the light side - we have crullers!

Hmm ... crullers ...

35 comments:

  1. I don't know...crullers? Hmm...

    I'm with you; I don't run into situations or make decisions without first thinking of the possible outcomes. The Wife is much different in some respects.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Now you have us wondering what Yoda sized decisions you've had to make. I hope whatever decision you made it will serve you well. Sorry trying to be all Jedi sounding today.

    Go eat a doughnut! I know I want one. This is Jenny and I'm heading to Krispy Kreme.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Welcome back, David! And big decisions need lots of time for thought. You know when you've reached the right decision when Yoda says, "Done well, you have." :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Just finished watching the original SW trilogy with my kids so I'm right with your line of thinking.

    I had to do this a while ago when I needed to decide what was truly important in my life because I just didn't have the time for it all.

    Writing won.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I always follow my feelings. They've never lead me wrong. But I guess that only works if you are emotionally healthy :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Walcome back David :D I am actually in the middle of a HUGE decision right now that would stay with me and a friend of mine for the rest of our lives and it's taking MUCHO consideration :P

    Great post over all :) Check mine out at http://yadinbromberg.blogspot.com/2012/04/z-challege-friends-with-benefits.html

    Thanks :D

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm terrible at making decisions. I've made so many bad ones in my life. I guess I should be thankful I've at least had a few good ones.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I think you're right. We underestimate the power-fullness of choice. Many of the choices we make may not seem all that life changing, but add them up and wow.

    I usually go with my feelings and they usually don't lead me astray. It's when I DON'T have a feeling about a matter that I get stumped with what choice to make...

    ReplyDelete
  9. I always try hard to follow my feelings and instincts, because what you said is exactly true--what works for someone else may not for us!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm usually very analytical when it comes to decisions.
    It has been a roller coaster week. I've visited twice as many blogs because of the Challenge and I really didn't think that was possible for me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alex, I've seen your name in comments all over the A to Z, and it's impressive as well as appreciated. Wanted to let you know your work has been noticed by an A to Zer.
      A2ZMommy and What’s In Between

      Delete
  11. I'm a big believer in the gut feeling. If something feels wrong it normally is. I do put though into my decisions as well, but me gut always helps! :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Well I hope your inner tribunal is leading you in the right direction. Good luck with your decisions.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Crullers? The dark side's cookies are sounding much better right now (stale or not). How about glazed doughnuts at least, or beignets...

    Anyway, this was a very good post. I agree, in anything in life, we have to step back and search our feelings, because they drive us. And when they are chaotic, we have to get our head a bit involved, but when it comes to writing...feelings rule.

    I hope that everything is going well in your roller coaster life. Sometimes writing can be a hard job, but just remember that it's worth it!

    PS: I love the (mostly) Star Wars theme!

    Alexandra~

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love this. May all your decisions be the absolute best ones for you... and have crullers at the end.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I was with you until the doughnuts at the end. Now all I can think about is crullers. MMmmmm. I think sweets greatly effect my decision making skills. The light side you say...OK....

    ReplyDelete
  16. Great topic. I'm learning to trust myself more and more. After all, my gut instincts are more often right than not!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I like the point about choices being individual, and how that can affect character development. I'm constantly asking myself "what would they do" or "what would they say." I don't know if it works or not, but at least I'm trying to get out of my own head and into theirs.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Great post! Very apropos for myself at present. Thanks for the good and funny advice:)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Sounds like you're facing an important decision in your life. Hope it works out for you.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I try to go with feeling. Usually the decisions that feel right are the right ones.

    I went to a high school that focused on biology. When graduation neared I started to think if really wanted to work in the field and decided against. My ideal job, studying animal behaviour would take me away from my family.

    During a math course which focused on logic I heard a student ask "Who uses logic in their job?" The teacher said that electrical engineers need logic.

    Didn't go on study electricity exactly, but automation. It's really interesting and I noticed that programming feels fun, as well as computer assisted drawing. Also we built a mobile robot. Will try to build my own this summer.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Kay, so it sounds like you're faced with a decision between two good things. That's what I'm taking from this, but I may just be reading too much into it, lol.

    In any case, I'm feeling a little excited for you anyway, even though I have no idea what sort of choices you have to make.

    You may not have a choice to make at all, but ahem... it sure sounds like it, haha!

    Anyways, realizing this comment is getting a little long. Just wanted to say DITTO to everything you said. :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love crullers...my hips? Not so much. The bag waiting in the pantry is so mine as soon as I am done responding to this post. I did work out this morning. I definitely deserve a prize. Afterall, life's about choices...right?! *grin*

    ReplyDelete
  23. "Perhaps the unthinkable choice of falling down a giant air vent will lead to something better?"

    Doesn't it always? :)

    Your final paragraph is made of genious!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Excellent post, and advice. Living with decisions can be something haunting, or fantastic, that lasts for years. Hope your week away was good/relaxing/productive or whatever it was needed for. Good to see you back in the A to Z.
    A2ZMommy and What’s In Between

    ReplyDelete
  25. Trusting my gut, or instinct is what I've based my whole WIP on... And so far, I'm extremely pleased with the results. There's something to this... And I think you've nailed it ;)

    ReplyDelete
  26. I'm getting to a point where some decisions have to be made. It will take some thinking about :-)

    ReplyDelete
  27. I've got a few decisions to make here in the near future. It's hard for me becasue I don't know which one will be the best. Like the good, better, best thing... Or if they are just completely wrong. Or if I just have to make the decision and go with it. But life will carry forward. We can do what needs to be done and sometimes the decision is made for us without us even knowing about it.
    Anyway, it's sort of like decided what path your book/characters should take as you're writing. Will it push the plot forward? Will it keep the readers attention? But somehow we do it, make the decisions for them. Although, sometimes those decisions are heartbreaking. Sigh.
    Anyway, great post, David.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Wow, I'm jealous of all your commentors. Maybe I should make more references to Star Wars and LOTR =) I, too, broke my hiatus and blogged yesterday. Not that I had much to say. But I like what you wrote. Especially the line : the president of "you" can still veto it. That's great.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I hate big decisions...mostly I wish someone else would make them for me

    ReplyDelete
  30. Makes me wonder if there's a story behind today's post?? Also, I'd probably kill for some of those crullers right about now. I'm snaking on seaweed & fish flavored chips, and well, they're lacking in the cruller's department, what can I say?

    ReplyDelete
  31. I was deep in thoughts while reading this post. and then BAM! CRULLERS! I don't remember what I was thinking about.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I'm curious about your decisions. Hopefully you were able to figure things out! They can be tough, but you have to do what's best for you. :) Thanks for the post!

    ReplyDelete