I had the strangest experience a few minutes ago. I was hoping I had a copy of my Notes from Underground story on my flashdrive, and I was opening up files with obscure names that I didn't recognize. Found another short story that I had written in the past four months or so.
Except.
I didn't recognize it.
At all.
I mean, I was lost.
Eventually, when I discovered the theme, I remembered that I did write it, but for the life of me, I still can;'t remember what my plan for the story was. It's about three single-spaced pages now and in one sense it could be ended where it is. but I sort of have this feeling there was supposed to be more. But no idea what.
I remember stories I wrote when I was a kid and conversations I had ten, twenty years ago, so this sort of thing is very unusual for me, and now I'm not sure how to respond to it.
And now you may laugh at me. :)
.Nevets.
What's also fun is when you flip through your notebook/journal/commonplace book and find that you have had the same brilliant idea for a story 4-5 times. And haven't managed to craft anything worthwhile any of those times.
ReplyDeleteSomehow, I lose all the momentum while info-dumping the turbulent international background of the secret Fraternity of Chirurgeons mirrored by the inter-State merger of two barber supply companies, one based in New York, one in Toronto.
Weird how that doesn't just flow, that.
That is funny! I've never done that but I'm forgetful and might find a story of mine somewhere and do the same thing.
ReplyDeleteCD
I get this with poems. I find fragments of thought and wonder who wrote them - the only clue is that they match my handwriting exactly.
ReplyDeleteThis just means you are brilliant, if forgetful writer. Go with it. Maybe next you could practice eccentricity.
ReplyDeleteI did something similar to that yesterday. I was watching TV, and something triggered a memory that I'd written something about the subject before . . . but I couldn't remember the rest of it.
ReplyDelete@B - I'm surprised that doesn't just tumble out in crystalline prose.
ReplyDelete@Clarissa - haha Yeah, if you, now you won't be surprised as much.
@Michael - lol! So they belong to that jerk that learned how to forge your handwriting, eh?
@Anne - Awesome! I like that interpretation!
@G'Eagle - haha Yeah, annoying, eh?
I'm not laughing because I've had this same thing happen to me before. It was very disturbing.
ReplyDeleteI've done that and found writing from a few years ago. I usually open it up and spend half my time cringing at my bad writing, half the time saying, "Eh, that sentence is not so awful."
ReplyDelete@Michelle - Yeah, I laugh to keep myself from stressing about it. It was actually a very distressing experience to have this story that had come from my imagination, was saved on my flash drive, and felt utterly foreign to me. Kinda scary, actually.
ReplyDelete@Lydia - haha Yeah, I think I was so distracted by the fact that I couldn't figure out if the story was finished or if there was more I meant to write that I didn't get that point, but I'm sure I will.
I don´t think I have ever re-read one of my own stories without recognizing the paragraphs; but after some time I can enjoy them in a new way and laugh in the same places as other readers would do.
ReplyDelete@Dorte - That's always a great feeling! I do like that level of distance sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI forget what I've written soon after it's finished.
ReplyDeleteI go back later and read it and think, "I wrote that? Huh."
In my case it's likely a glitch in the wiring since the stroke since I can tell you the room numbers of Disney hotel rooms I stayed in as a child but not remember most of my own work after it's done.
It makes revision interesting, to say the least...maybe that's why I so suck at it.
OOOoooo, maybe one of your alters did it =P
ReplyDelete@Bru - To be honest, situations like this scare the heck out of me, because my memory is one of my main defining characteristics. When I think about damage to my memory, it's utterly terrifying. It's why I find my novel #2, Ennui and Malaise, as terrifying as I do, because the main character can't trust his memory.
ReplyDelete@TWC - haha I suppose I wouldn't necessarily know if it were. :)