I noticed recently it’s getting a little crowded in my imagination lobby. Story ideas have spilled into the hallways. I snatch my label gun. It’s time to organize with an attitude.
“Okay,” I call out, grabbing a microphone. “All possible sequels, follow me to the green room. I have refreshments there, and it has a splendid view. You can sit a spell and grow, get a game plan going. I’ll be back later to check on you.”
A slight click of the door, and I’m fairly certain they won’t jump ship. They have too much time invested, having survived the maiden voyage. Some of the characters in that room are new faces, while others quite familiar and much loved. I have every faith the experienced ones will take the newcomers under their wings till I get back. Maybe they’ll brainstorm possible storylines while I’m gone.
I peek into the next room, and notice characters from an unfinished novel safely stored. I’m confident they’ll survive. The storyline is strong, and the characters much loved. I scheduled a R&R for them, so I could better focus on more pressing matters. I reassure them I’ll be back soon. They know I love them, and am dedicated to their project.
Taking the elevator, I zoom to the Circular Room. Gauzy curtains catch the breeze, as ocean air fills this sacred space. Fresh flowers and coffee are close to my desk. My current project is stacked in the center. After this last polish, it’s off to my editor to begin the editing process. I know we’ll be working on it closely during the new few months. And then it’ll be time to let it go, and I’ll focus on another project.
I walk to the balcony, and notice some interesting characters strolling the beach below. I catch a few gazes, and feel an instant connection. Some of them will gather in my imagination lobby at some point, and I’ll check them out another day perhaps. With a smile, I head for my desk and settle in. Maybe I’ll peek again tomorrow. After all as Scarlet once said, tomorrow is another day!
I thought it’d be fun to take a stroll inside the corridors of my imagination. Well there’s more, but I kept this little tale to writing related matters. So, what does your imagination lobby look like? Is it getting crowded, or are you a stage director with an attitude? Do you compartmentalize well, maybe take a peek in the lobby now and again? All I can say is, I LOVE the writing life! I’m grateful the lobby isn’t bare, and the rooms aren’t vacant. Now, that would be a crisis tale I hope never to write.
LOL, LaDonna, it was a fun peek into your mind
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I am such a muller, I have rooms and rooms of characters waiting their turn. Sometimes one room jumps the queue, but I’ll get to them all eventually.
Thanks, Michelle, glad you enjoyed! And I can just imagine the bottleneck situation you have some days. You’ve got some great ideas, and imagine they’re fightin’ for a current spot.
A fun look into your imagination, LaDonna.
Mine isn’t as crowded. I have ideas for future books, but most of them aren’t fleshed out. I usually concentrate on one book at a time and don’t grow the next ones.
Oh, besides what I have in my mind, I have a file for future stories, in my file cabinet and in my Word program. Some are a sentence on a scrap of paper, and some are longer.:)
Hey, Edie, I like your file for future stories idea. Makes sense, and keeps the clutter down to a roar.
And working on one project at a time is pretty much how I work too. I just simmer, and mix ingredients for other projects as I go.
And did ya notice the multiple pics? This gal is going high-tech, and I have you to thank. I loved the earlier one you did so much, and thought I’d give it a whirl.
LaDonna, I’ve never thought to call them rooms, but the term fits. I recently left the quiet blue room for the do-now office because two characters were screaming AT me to come back, and I bolted. Glad I did.
Hey, Delta! Love your name btw.
And everyone needs a guiet blue room. Your characters sound strong, and glad you listened too. I think if too much time passes, they have a hidden clause where they can jump into someone else’s lobby. 
Good thing you acted.
LaDonna, I loved your tour. It’s good to keep the rooms buzzing or else you’d lose your edge. I think it’s called an active imagination and I can’t imagine being a write without it.
Right now I’m juggling and trying to strike a balance with everything on my plate. The rooms are full and I hope no one escapes while I’m not looking.
Kathy, glad you enjoyed! Just keep the snack food available in those rooms, and give ‘em a great view. They shouldn’t escape on you.
LaDonna, I just came back to tell you how much I enjoyed the pics. They’re just the way I imagine the plots in your mind to look.
Nice way to separate out your ideas/imagination, LaDonna. Never thought of compartimizing (is that a word?) my stories. Unfortunately, mine tends to get all jumbled together periodically. The galleys of book #1 are done and gone, edits to book #2 are waiting impatiently for me to begin, urban fantasy story is being patient … and has been patient for a long time, but there’s grumbling going on (or is that my stomach? Lunch time has come and gone with only a couple of M&Ms to quiet the beast). In the background is my vamp story. Also patient but starting to talk among themselves about this silly bitch who won’t listen to them. Never mind the ghost story, the third space opera and the paranormal mystery series that I’m gonna take a whack at.
With all the voices in my head, I’ll never be lonely. That’s for sure.
Thanks, Edie! And yep, my plots do represent a magical persona to me. It’s a fun way to keep them straight.
Glad you enjoyed them, GF!
LOL, Liz, sure it’s a word if ya want it to be! Any your lobby sounds crowded too. Better eat some more of those M&M’s for staying power.
Looks like a fun ride you’ve got going there! Can’t wait to see them all placed on a bookshelf under your name.
LaDonna, since I have no imagination and couldn’t write a book if my life depending on, I wanted to thank you for allowing me to travel through yours. It was a lovely description that I could totally visualize.
Thank you for visiting, Barbara! Glad you could “see” it as I do. It’s my favorite place.
Very intersting post LaDonna – I loved visiting your mind.
I have never thought about it before – bu mine is rooms – they are lands within a world. I have a dark city scape land where my dark urban comes out of.
I have a bush land which is setting which is my historical.
And a bright world where with Knights and fair maidens and a talking white horse apaptly called the night mare because she visit a boy in his dreams.
Tracey, love your lands within a world. So fun, especially the bright world with knights and fair maidens. Who could resist the talking white horse? Thanks so much for sharing your magical inner world!
And I loved your blog about your agent call. I tried commenting, but it wouldn’t take my password. Sometimes, it just tosses me out.
I’ll try again this weekend!
LD, I have so many characters and stories bouncing around in my head it hurts! I tend to jot them down so I don’t forget them when another group barges in.
I totally compartmentalize, as you say! But I also try to focus my imagination on the characters/story that is wise. My imagination is only allowed to deal with the story at hand, the next one, or maaayybeee the one after that.
I gotta jot notes down, though. I have a terrible memory!
Karin, I can just imagine how crowded your noggin’ is!
When I read your releases next year on your blog, my head hurt.
Spy, I hear ya. When it comes down to it, you can only write one at a time. That’s why I put the little buggers in compartments.
And my memory is losing elasticity too. hehe.
What a wonderful way to sort out your characters! I will definitely try the room approach. Right now I have a couple of characters in a huff because I had to put a book on hold, and others who are pushing their way in because they want their book written NOW.
Ah, the wonders of being a fiction writer, LOL!
Thanks for stopping by, Cheryel! And your characters in a huff made me smile…been there, done that.
And isn’t this a grand life?