Gnat Poking The Story

Happy Tuesday Everyone,

Before I get started on today's post, author CC Hunter is running a contest. If you go here, you can get info on the contest--the prize is worth checking it all out! (The contest takes a bit of thinking, but it's not hard).

All right...now onto today's post:

Normally a muse or a character whispers in your ear and suddenly you think, "Aha! Story idea!"

But what about those times when you feel something coming, but it won't materialize?

I've been editing Surreal and taking a look at two of my other stories, but there's something poking at me. Right on the  fringes of my imagination and other than perhaps character's(s') names, nothing is coming. I can feel it prick at my imagination, but I can't get a lock on the idea.

It's like a gnat that flies up at you, you bat at it, then it's gone, then it's back and the whole cycle starts over again. This is not a muse whispering at me, or even a character saying, "Hey, pay attention to me!" This is a gnat that won't stick around in my imagination long enough for me to formulate the idea properly.

I can tell you, that like a real gnat, this story gnat is just as annoying. I want to say, "Either show yourself or go away and let me work on what's actually tangible!"

So, what about you? Have you ever had story gnats fly at you but not stay around long enough for you to say "That's the story, that's the characters, I got it now!"?

(Also, just a few days until the Lone Star Conference! YIPPEE! Check the right hand margin and have a look at the countdown to see how many more days left!)

Have A Thoughtful Tuesday!