Game strategy applied

        The other day I took a break and played a game. In this game, I have 5 minutes to progress through 4 levels. While arranging jewels into groups of 3-5 of the same color, I am also gathering and manipulating coins that allow me to progress to the next level. It takes some strategy and forethought and can be a fun way to take a much-needed break. In this game, a grouping of 5 jewels of the same color generates a wild card. This wild card jewel allows me to remove from the board all jewels of one color, or if it’s next to a coin, to remove all the coins. When the coins are removed, I get a mask and progress to the next level.

        The other day, I kept getting focused on making those groupings of five. I became so absorbed in manipulating the colored jewels into position that I forgot the true goal of the game. Progress through the levels as quickly as possible, clearing jewels and coins to collect the masks of each level. Instead of getting through the first two levels in less than two minutes, which is my normal speed, I took the entire five minutes.

        It occurred to me that perhaps I do this metaphorically with my writing. Do I hyper focus on one aspect of craft, to the detriment of the story? Do over-edit? Brainstorm ideas for too long? Or maybe I focus too much on beginnings, or dialogue, or world-building, never finishing the story. Ouch! That hits a nerve, with my monster work-in-progress glaring at me from where I stuffed it under the bed.

        Am I focusing on some minor strategy and missing the objective of the “game”? And, if I am, what do I need to do about it?

        My stories don’t need to be perfect. They just need to be complete. Just as it doesn’t matter if I reach level 2, 3 or 4 by making groups of 3, 4 or 5 jewels, so it doesn’t matter if scene 5 is perfect when I’m not even sure it’s going to stay in the story. And the world won’t end if I tell a story that isn’t perfect. Hmmm. Back to my never-ending wip. Maybe I DO need to finish it. Or maybe, like in my game, I need to forget about that project and start a new one. Sigh. I hate decisions.

        What do you think? How do you need to adjust your time?