Thanksgiving at the lake - not a bad place to give thanks. It's not often that I get to the Qu'Appelle Valley these days but it never disappoints. So there I was in the valley on a beautiful fall day that was still hanging tightly to the edges of summer. And like usual, the conversation ranged in a multitude of directions. So when exercise seemed to be on everyone's mind, my SIL mentioned that the stationary bicycle could drive a multitasker like her over the edge. That is if you pedaled with nothing else but the non-moving bicycle to hold your attention. So we got her hooked up with the idea of an ipod audio book and laughed over the image of a multitasker driven over the edge with only one task to focus on. But that comment hit pretty close to home and my current story.
I too am a multitasker. Even a dog walk isn't just a walk for the dog, it's exercise for me with a short jog worked in the middle and time to think, plan, resolve any number of things while watching for the inevitable trouble spots; other dogs and squirrels.
So it dawned on me. The solution to what was wrong with the latest story. If you're thinking how did I know something was wrong? Well the flow that had me anxious to get to the keyboard every day had trickled away - the urge was gone. Temporarily I know, disconcerting none the less. But my SIL's comment had me thinking.
Was it possible to focus on too many things even in literature? Had I multitasked my protagonists into corner stage?
It was a completely unexpected revelation and it was true. I was enjoying the secondaries so much they slipped into the limelight a moment longer than planned and the story lost focus. So it's time to dance those characters into a quieter role in the sidelines.
The good news, at least for me, since I came to that conclusion I can hear my hero in the background beginning to direct his destiny. A destiny that got lost for a moment in other characters taking the stage when it was supposed to be for him alone.
And I have to say that a walk on the hill with nothing but nature, lake, hills and beautiful warm fall air, I didn't do anything but enjoy the walk and it was blissful. Sometimes multitasking is just more unnecessary noise. And sometimes it's necessary, or is it?
Multitasking - bane or necessity?
Dress me slowly, for I am in a great rush.
—Napoleon Bonaparte
—Napoleon Bonaparte
Ryshia
www.ryshiakennie.com
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