I made one small change to the backstory of the storyline I'm supposed to be working on. The result: a story that has felt that it didn't have enough to drive it forward suddenly shows new signs of life as it simmers in my brain. I'm glad I didn't give in to my impulse to just shove it aside and start a new storyline. Not finishing manuscripts is a dangerous habit I've visited before, and I don't want to do it again unless I write something that's just not viable (and that obviously sucks to anyone who reads it).
Now to get some motivaiton going....
Sunday, July 06, 2008
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Whoever said planning for a wedding is fun LIED THROUGH THEIR TEETH!
Haven't been writing any fiction. I have been writing for my job, and the funny thing is that my writing skills are strong enough in that area for my boss to be confident that I'll send out letters that will get all the necessary and potentially sensitive questions asked to all of the people involved without insulting anyone. So I can still write. Sort of.
Meanwhile, I also bought a book called THE MIND OF YOUR STORY, by Lisa Lenard-Cook. I'm hoping that examining the heart of my story will help me figure out why this one isn't a joy for me to write and why my slow writing has ground to a complete halt.
Now all I have to do is catch up. To remind me of how important catching up and writing is, I've placed some dragons on this page. Whenever anyone finds a reason to visit this blog, the dragons (now eggs that hopefully won't die) will be here. For any one to visit this page, of course, there has to be something worth reading here. And since my own life is not particularly exciting, the something worth reading will most often involve writing. No worries, I am NOT going to use this blog to chart my wedding planning progress. That would only add to the stress.
But I see why people say blogging is good for writers. I try to think about my story often, and I fail miserably to get any farther than regret about not writing. But WRITING about working on my story somehow makes it more possible that I could actually work on the story. Henh.
Succumb to whimsy at some time this month. It'll make you feel good, and everyone else will eventually forget their own shock.
Haven't been writing any fiction. I have been writing for my job, and the funny thing is that my writing skills are strong enough in that area for my boss to be confident that I'll send out letters that will get all the necessary and potentially sensitive questions asked to all of the people involved without insulting anyone. So I can still write. Sort of.
Meanwhile, I also bought a book called THE MIND OF YOUR STORY, by Lisa Lenard-Cook. I'm hoping that examining the heart of my story will help me figure out why this one isn't a joy for me to write and why my slow writing has ground to a complete halt.
Now all I have to do is catch up. To remind me of how important catching up and writing is, I've placed some dragons on this page. Whenever anyone finds a reason to visit this blog, the dragons (now eggs that hopefully won't die) will be here. For any one to visit this page, of course, there has to be something worth reading here. And since my own life is not particularly exciting, the something worth reading will most often involve writing. No worries, I am NOT going to use this blog to chart my wedding planning progress. That would only add to the stress.
But I see why people say blogging is good for writers. I try to think about my story often, and I fail miserably to get any farther than regret about not writing. But WRITING about working on my story somehow makes it more possible that I could actually work on the story. Henh.
Succumb to whimsy at some time this month. It'll make you feel good, and everyone else will eventually forget their own shock.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Monday, August 06, 2007
A lot of writing instruction manuals suggest that to better get to know your character, you should imagine interviewing them. I try this every so often, but I've never really felt comfortable doing it. Here's how my interviews usually go:
When I write, when I think about my characters, I live in their skin. My outer body stills, and my mind turns to what they're seeing and feeling. It's difficult to do--and probably why I'm slow, since you can't do this when you're mind is buzzing with too much real-life responsibility. But writing through the character's skin gives them such life, such vibrance, that for a few moments I can forgive my pokiness and just enjoy the ride.
Me: All right then, Vey, why don't you tell me a little about yourself?
Vey: (Stares blankly at me from across the table)
Me: Erm... (nervous paper shuffling) Why don't you tell me a little about your childhood? What made you the man you are today?
Vey: (Frowning) You do know you're talking to yourself, right?
Me: Well, ah, technically yes, but this is supposed to be an int-
Vey: I mean, let's be honest. I'm not even from your reality; why would I be sitting at a table with you?
Me: You're missing the point. I'm trying to get to know you better. I'm making the effort to figure out what makes you a unique individual. And no one can hear us, anyway.
Vey: Oh, all right. (Clears throat, then begins to speak in a stiff, artificial manner) I had a very difficult childhood. We were trained to-- Look, I'm sorry, this just isn't working for me. This isn't how I operate.
Me: Well, if you want to get real about, it, you don't normally speak like you're speaking now, either.
Vey: If you're gonna be a smartass, I can take my toys and go home.
When I write, when I think about my characters, I live in their skin. My outer body stills, and my mind turns to what they're seeing and feeling. It's difficult to do--and probably why I'm slow, since you can't do this when you're mind is buzzing with too much real-life responsibility. But writing through the character's skin gives them such life, such vibrance, that for a few moments I can forgive my pokiness and just enjoy the ride.
Friday, July 20, 2007
For quite some time now, I've been frustrated with my inability to write with as much ease and speed as I once had. Of course, life was simpler when I had it, but that doesn't make the situation easier to accept.
Yesterday I was reminded of some important things that I know but had forgotten to really consider:
1. The first few words are the hardest. This is true for a rewrite as well as for a blank page. Any time you have to create something from nothing (or from little), you can be choked by fear of failure/ridicule or self-doubt.
2. Sometimes the best way to go forward is to take a few steps back. Many, many times I've found myself stuck in a scene for weeks, wondering what I was supposed to do next. What works best? Save a copy of the original scene, pull it apart into manageable events, then consider alternatives to those events. If the scene ends with a character leaving, what would happen if he never left? Say you've begun your scene with a fight--how will events change if the characters approach each other with different attitudes? What if she never entered the room but the chapter still ended with her finding his letter?
3. You write best when you can silence your inner critic. This is not, mind you, the voice saying, "Wait a minute--that's not how you spell conglomeration!" You have to be able to get past your own self-doubt. Maybe the sentence you just wrote doesn't quite suit your needs for that character. Maybe there's a big chunk of reaction missing in a character's conversation. Okay--you've identified that. Make a note of what needs to be addressed when you stop writing and are ready to review. That review might occur at the end of the book or of the chapter or even of the scene. But you have to keep writing and not let your self-doubt about or fears of embarrassment at the trashy quality of your writing keep you from getting anything down in print at all.
Yesterday, I had a moment that I hadn't experienced for some time. Without realizing it, I slipped into a place where I could contentedly sit and follow the actions of my characters in my mind like I was watching a movie. What happened next in the scene was what naturally came to them, not what I felt the need to force into being. When the moment was over, I felt peaceful and happy. These moments are what I think I love most about writing. Everyone has those activities that make them feel good about themselves. Some of us are dancers, and we feel most free in movement. Others lose themselves in music. For myself, I love the sense of calm that comes when a flow of words seems perfect for the time and place, whether I'm putting them down on paper or startling a companion into bemused silence.
Yesterday I was reminded of some important things that I know but had forgotten to really consider:
1. The first few words are the hardest. This is true for a rewrite as well as for a blank page. Any time you have to create something from nothing (or from little), you can be choked by fear of failure/ridicule or self-doubt.
2. Sometimes the best way to go forward is to take a few steps back. Many, many times I've found myself stuck in a scene for weeks, wondering what I was supposed to do next. What works best? Save a copy of the original scene, pull it apart into manageable events, then consider alternatives to those events. If the scene ends with a character leaving, what would happen if he never left? Say you've begun your scene with a fight--how will events change if the characters approach each other with different attitudes? What if she never entered the room but the chapter still ended with her finding his letter?
3. You write best when you can silence your inner critic. This is not, mind you, the voice saying, "Wait a minute--that's not how you spell conglomeration!" You have to be able to get past your own self-doubt. Maybe the sentence you just wrote doesn't quite suit your needs for that character. Maybe there's a big chunk of reaction missing in a character's conversation. Okay--you've identified that. Make a note of what needs to be addressed when you stop writing and are ready to review. That review might occur at the end of the book or of the chapter or even of the scene. But you have to keep writing and not let your self-doubt about or fears of embarrassment at the trashy quality of your writing keep you from getting anything down in print at all.
Yesterday, I had a moment that I hadn't experienced for some time. Without realizing it, I slipped into a place where I could contentedly sit and follow the actions of my characters in my mind like I was watching a movie. What happened next in the scene was what naturally came to them, not what I felt the need to force into being. When the moment was over, I felt peaceful and happy. These moments are what I think I love most about writing. Everyone has those activities that make them feel good about themselves. Some of us are dancers, and we feel most free in movement. Others lose themselves in music. For myself, I love the sense of calm that comes when a flow of words seems perfect for the time and place, whether I'm putting them down on paper or startling a companion into bemused silence.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
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