Dark night of the soul graph

chrysalnix · Nov 25, 2011

I'm not sure where to post this, so if it's in the wrong place, mods, please feel free to zoom it elsewhere.

Does anyone know where I can get a link to the picture of a simple black line depicting the writer's path from beginning to end when writing a novel?

It's just a black line on a white background and I think the first comment on it says something like, "This is a great idea!" Then it goes to the mid-slump blues, but I can't remember that comment.

I think there is a Dark Night of the Soul comment at the end?

I tried googling "dark night of the soul" with the words graph and writer, but I can't find it anywhere.

Does anyone know what picture I'm referring to?

Thanks!

Parametric · Nov 25, 2011

I think you're looking for this chart, which comes from this blog post by Maureen McHugh.

Can I have a cookie?

Libbie · Nov 25, 2011

HAHAHAHA! I laughed SO HARD when I saw this because I am at precisely the second-tp-last dot on the graph right now. In fact, I'm going to try to hammer out the final 10,000 or so words on this book today just so I can get it done! haaaa!!!

I love you guys. That was just what I needed to go into today's work with a good attitude.

Libbie <3 AW.

crunchyblanket · Nov 25, 2011

Oh god, I hit Point 4 not long ago. The 'dark night of the soul' is imminent.

chrysalnix · Nov 25, 2011

Libbie, I know the feeling, but I keep vacillating between steps one and four!

Parametric, thank you so much for the chart and a link to the blog. I didn't know who had come up with that graph, but she sure hit the nail on the head with it.

And I have bookmarked that wonderful blog.

I love this place. I wish I could contribute even a fourth of what I've learned from it.

chrysalnix · Nov 25, 2011

Crunchy,

I tend to spend a LOT of time on step 4!

Ruth2 · Nov 25, 2011

It works for memoirs too. :/

LindaJeanne · Nov 25, 2011

Ha! That's awesome.

I started at step one, now I've been cycling through steps two through six. I'm sure I've got several loops to go before I hit seven. (Though it will be wonderful to have this done and revised...)

For the moment, I'm back at step two.

chrysalnix · Nov 25, 2011

I'd like to put the graph on my Facebook page, but want to do it legally, of course. Can someone give me some pointers?

Phaeal · Nov 25, 2011

Since I am the separated-at-birth twin of my avatar, my own chart looks like a range of abrupt mountains. It has only two height indicators:

OMG THIS IS GOING TO SAVE THE EFFING UNIVERSE (or publishing, at least)!!!!

and

oh please kill me now before anyone sees this....

To hell with mediocrity!

Layla Nahar · Nov 25, 2011

no doubt, that is truly funny

RunWrite · Nov 25, 2011

Totally works for memoirs. Love it.

JayMan · Nov 25, 2011

So true. Saved

swvaughn · Nov 26, 2011

Parametric said:
I think you're looking for this chart, which comes from this blog post by Maureen McHugh.

Can I have a cookie?

*gives you a cookie*

Maramoser · Nov 27, 2011

This is too accurate for my liking. Though I tend to hit the dark night of the soul almost exactly halfway through...that time when you've been writing every day and yet somehow you've been working on the same scene for weeks...

Dark night of the soul graph

chrysalnix

Parametric

Libbie

Worst song played on ugliest guitar

crunchyblanket

the Juggernaut of Imperfection

chrysalnix

chrysalnix

Ruth2

Tam, na Koncu Drevoreda

LindaJeanne

On a small world west of wonder

chrysalnix

Phaeal

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

Layla Nahar

Seashell Seller

RunWrite

JayMan

Like Burt Reynolds in Gator

swvaughn

adrift

Maramoser

much writing. very books