One of the best parts of starting a new story is being carried away with it. I was excited while I was researching, and as I lay down my chapters, I'm learning new and interesting things about my characters that propel the story along. This is the fun part. Oh, I know that there will be difficult times ahead; there have been difficult times already. I think it's the level of excitement you feel - the impetus that makes you write the story in the first place - that gets you through the speed bumps.
In the interest of keeping in practice, I have written stories that did NOT interest me and I had a hard time plodding through them. I'm a compulsive finisher, though, so I always get to "The End." It was still a good exercise in plotting and character development, and even in the stories that didn't excite me much, there were moments of clarity when you felt like you were pulling it all together.
Another aspect of my latest endeavor is that it lends itself to a series. I'm not keen on writing/reading series' of books as a rule although there have been some that sucked me in. My personal opinion is that it can get old and lose its appeal after you've visited the same place more than once. The thing that appeals to me in my own imagination right now and what makes me think this could continue, at least for a couple of additional books, is that although this story is focused on one main character with a unique history, there is a civilization of these characters that have splintered off into various sects that could step forward into their own spotlights. Food for thought, but I have to get through this one first and see how it flows.
I find myself writing much more carefully, paying more attention to mechanics. My regular flow is generally much more haphazard and I imagine that's because it feels much more like standard subject matter. Slap it down and clean up the mess later. This time, there is a lot more thought going into the details - and so the details are popping out more. Every now and then something just strikes you - and this is one of those times.
So while my muse is sitting squarely on my shoulder, I'm laying down chapters and charting details and characteristics (including those I will likely never use). These are the days when writing isn't a chore, or a job, or difficult. These are the days when it's fun - the days that remind you why you write in the first place!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Point of View
Leaping into the new story! I made a false start (and likely the not so false start will still not be the beginning), but I'm making progress. Words are flowing, my fingers are tapping out plotlines, and even though I have direction and plot, often characters take over and take you where they want to go. My heroine has a very strong voice - and she's argumentative and angry. This leads to problems with my hero. There is a lot I need to disclose about my heroine, considering she isn't your average, everyday human type person, but "The Rules" dictate that you need to bring the H/H together early on in the story. I have a lot of backstory to write, legends to build, worlds to create. Where will I find time to bring in my all-too-human hero?
So I asked one my writing buddies her opinion. Do I write parallel storylines that will converge at a later date? And she brought up a POV question in what she's currently working on, which addressed my next question as well.
I have a goal to write a story completely in one point of view. Like Victoria Holt, one of my first influences. Maybe that's old fashioned, although I just read a novel recently that was all one POV. My school of thought on that is that you should be able to include the nuances from that POV that can still show the reader what your main character might be missing. Not that your POV character is stupid, they're merely overlooking the obvious that you, as a reader, can infer on their behalf. (This likely won't be that story.) To me, it is the hallmark of a good writer. My writing buddy maintains that most stories these days are written from two points of view - readers prefer to be able to see inside both minds for the ultimate reconciliation of the opposing understandings of the characters. Anyone care to offer their opinions on the matter?
In the meantime, having gotten off to a (what I believe to be) good start with my latest, I believe I've found a way to bring my H/H together in Chapter #2. The more important question going forward will be if Chapter #1 is compelling enough to open with - and that won't be determined until several chapters from now, after the flow has gone from a trickle to a stream to a raging river.
The other consideration I've been contemplating is title. Since it is still developing, I'm taking the obvious roads with "Oneida" or "The Legend People," but ultimately, I'd prefer something a little more provocative with some use of "Legend" that will also highlight the focus of the novel as being something a little out of the ordinary. I'd also considered "The Great Gathering" but I don't think that discloses enough. Maybe "The Gathering Legend." Yeah, well, titles can wait for that raging river, too, when themes become clearer and brighter.
Yep, rambling. Part of that due to the fact I'm sick today and need a nap. Isn't it funny that some of our most creative writing happens when we aren't in an altogether clear frame of mind? (yes, rambling again.)
Going for that nap now. Maybe in my fever induced haze I'll imagine other brilliant plot lines or titles that can translate into a colorful story . . .
night night
So I asked one my writing buddies her opinion. Do I write parallel storylines that will converge at a later date? And she brought up a POV question in what she's currently working on, which addressed my next question as well.
I have a goal to write a story completely in one point of view. Like Victoria Holt, one of my first influences. Maybe that's old fashioned, although I just read a novel recently that was all one POV. My school of thought on that is that you should be able to include the nuances from that POV that can still show the reader what your main character might be missing. Not that your POV character is stupid, they're merely overlooking the obvious that you, as a reader, can infer on their behalf. (This likely won't be that story.) To me, it is the hallmark of a good writer. My writing buddy maintains that most stories these days are written from two points of view - readers prefer to be able to see inside both minds for the ultimate reconciliation of the opposing understandings of the characters. Anyone care to offer their opinions on the matter?
In the meantime, having gotten off to a (what I believe to be) good start with my latest, I believe I've found a way to bring my H/H together in Chapter #2. The more important question going forward will be if Chapter #1 is compelling enough to open with - and that won't be determined until several chapters from now, after the flow has gone from a trickle to a stream to a raging river.
The other consideration I've been contemplating is title. Since it is still developing, I'm taking the obvious roads with "Oneida" or "The Legend People," but ultimately, I'd prefer something a little more provocative with some use of "Legend" that will also highlight the focus of the novel as being something a little out of the ordinary. I'd also considered "The Great Gathering" but I don't think that discloses enough. Maybe "The Gathering Legend." Yeah, well, titles can wait for that raging river, too, when themes become clearer and brighter.
Yep, rambling. Part of that due to the fact I'm sick today and need a nap. Isn't it funny that some of our most creative writing happens when we aren't in an altogether clear frame of mind? (yes, rambling again.)
Going for that nap now. Maybe in my fever induced haze I'll imagine other brilliant plot lines or titles that can translate into a colorful story . . .
night night
Friday, May 14, 2010
Beginnings
I love it when a story idea comes together.
I’ve been working on a new beginning – outlining, jotting down thoughts and ideas, but I was waiting to see my setting before I started the “Once Upon a Time” part. As I was touring, the ideas I had pre-formulated jogged back and forth trying to decide on my best approach and it actually wasn’t until I visited a second, previously unrelated locale, that the story began to take shape. Ideas jumped out at me and I began to make more notes, more outlines and the more I saw and learned, the more the story took shape. Once I knew how the story was going to flow, all the details fell into place, and everything I saw after that seemed to click in line with what I was already building. Sometimes I’m fascinated by how neatly things fit together. It was like that when I wrote The Treasure of St. Paul – once I decided I was going to write about Pompeii and then discovered that St. Paul had been in the region, and the timing of it worked so that “if” St. Paul had the Holy Grail, and his travels took him to Southern Italy before the volcano buried everything, well you get the idea. Once the story starts to roll, it is SO COOL when it almost seems to write itself. Now the research begins, exploring some of the legends already in existence to either incorporate or avoid.
Another fascinating part of the process is the almost bi-polar effect. Example: An agent/editor requests a full/partial of your work and you get so excited – you’re walking on air. Six weeks later comes the rejection in the mail and you’re ready to commit suicide (figuratively speaking, of course). Likewise with writing a story. The idea grabs you and carries you off. You get swept up in the excitement of a new concept and prepare to write, and then the reality strikes. Lots of work, moments where you get stuck or, worse yet, self doubt. Why start writing a story that you might not be able to sell? It can paralyze you and stop you dead in your tracks. But then something magical happens – and it seems to always happen this way for me. Either you get back a query response from someone that wants to see more, or you meet someone that asks you about your writing, or you get a random email from someone that loved your last book, and your balloon is re-inflated. For me, just as I was feeling like I might be wasting my time, I pulled Epitaph out of my bag on the flight home (still checking through and editing for when the editor wants to see the full manuscript after she’s read the partial). I’d already watched the movie and needed to kill another hour when the guy next to me says, “Excuse me, are you a writer?” Being able to talk to someone who understands the roller coaster ride gives you the strength to step forward and begin again because, even if no one ever reads the next book, this is what I love to do. Creative outlet, doncha know.
I’ve been working on a new beginning – outlining, jotting down thoughts and ideas, but I was waiting to see my setting before I started the “Once Upon a Time” part. As I was touring, the ideas I had pre-formulated jogged back and forth trying to decide on my best approach and it actually wasn’t until I visited a second, previously unrelated locale, that the story began to take shape. Ideas jumped out at me and I began to make more notes, more outlines and the more I saw and learned, the more the story took shape. Once I knew how the story was going to flow, all the details fell into place, and everything I saw after that seemed to click in line with what I was already building. Sometimes I’m fascinated by how neatly things fit together. It was like that when I wrote The Treasure of St. Paul – once I decided I was going to write about Pompeii and then discovered that St. Paul had been in the region, and the timing of it worked so that “if” St. Paul had the Holy Grail, and his travels took him to Southern Italy before the volcano buried everything, well you get the idea. Once the story starts to roll, it is SO COOL when it almost seems to write itself. Now the research begins, exploring some of the legends already in existence to either incorporate or avoid.
Another fascinating part of the process is the almost bi-polar effect. Example: An agent/editor requests a full/partial of your work and you get so excited – you’re walking on air. Six weeks later comes the rejection in the mail and you’re ready to commit suicide (figuratively speaking, of course). Likewise with writing a story. The idea grabs you and carries you off. You get swept up in the excitement of a new concept and prepare to write, and then the reality strikes. Lots of work, moments where you get stuck or, worse yet, self doubt. Why start writing a story that you might not be able to sell? It can paralyze you and stop you dead in your tracks. But then something magical happens – and it seems to always happen this way for me. Either you get back a query response from someone that wants to see more, or you meet someone that asks you about your writing, or you get a random email from someone that loved your last book, and your balloon is re-inflated. For me, just as I was feeling like I might be wasting my time, I pulled Epitaph out of my bag on the flight home (still checking through and editing for when the editor wants to see the full manuscript after she’s read the partial). I’d already watched the movie and needed to kill another hour when the guy next to me says, “Excuse me, are you a writer?” Being able to talk to someone who understands the roller coaster ride gives you the strength to step forward and begin again because, even if no one ever reads the next book, this is what I love to do. Creative outlet, doncha know. 
For the record, I think I’ve got something special with this next story. It isn’t just something to keep me going until a brilliant idea lights up over my head. It IS that brilliant idea that, to my way of thinking, is something completely new and different, and hopefully high concept enough to be that breakthrough novel. Stepping out onto the precipice, ready for the additional research and starting the “Once Upon a Time” phase. Here’s hoping the vision I have translates to paper as clearly as I see it in my head!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Routine
I’m back in the groove this week – back to work/life balance (or as near as I can get). One of the things you will hear about writing as that you should do SOMETHING every day. Write, edit, critique. Something writing related, to keep your brain focused. It’s much like anything else you want to do well. Like basketball, or baseball, or tennis. The more you practice, the better you get. And I’m feeling rusty.
My day job is very streaky. There are days when I’m so busy I can’t see straight which translate into lots of extra hours, and there are days when things are much more laid back. We just finished with the hectic deadline season (which is not to say there are no more deadlines, just not as frantic – or so we hope). It was very compressed this year, work spilling over into my writing time, so I haven’t been as diligent as I might have been. And now I’m paying the price.
Although Epitaph is done, I’m the type of writer that spits it all out and then cleans up the mess later. You’ll find lots of writers who are overly verbose, and their clean-up consists of cutting and chopping and leaving half their work on the editing floor. Not me. I tend to write what I like to call a detailed outline. In essence, it is the complete story, minus some of the details that bring it to life. That being said, I’m going back through Epitaph now and filling in the holes that were left behind. We’re talking CHAPTERS. And I’m motivated. With an editor requesting a partial, I want to make sure I can get those holes filled quickly for when (!) she requests the complete manuscript. I have two chapters in the works and as I submit them to my critique group (and this is where I really appreciate my critique partners the most) they’re scraping off my rust. Like crutch words. When you’re working in “well oiled” mode, you see them almost as quickly as you type them, or at least when you self-edit. Silly me. I pushed a chapter through with one of my most popular crutch words (“back” for those of you who are wondering) littered all through it (go ahead, count how many times I’ve used it in this post and you’ll see what I mean. I’m leaving them in.). The critique comes back and I roll my eyes. Couldn’t I have seen those before I put it in?
But I’m making progress. Not only am I productive on the story again, the gentle reminders will get me back into a better self-editing writing mode. (See, I used “back” again! And I noticed!) My fingers are itching and my brain is humming – my imagination has been repressed for too long. So without further ado, I must return (I didn’t use “back” this time) not only to cleaning up Epitaph but the new story that wants to be converted from information jotted in my notebook to an outline, to a file on my computer with characters and locations. Today, I’m thinking the working title might be Hoodoo you think you are . . . but that probably won’t stick.
Anon
My day job is very streaky. There are days when I’m so busy I can’t see straight which translate into lots of extra hours, and there are days when things are much more laid back. We just finished with the hectic deadline season (which is not to say there are no more deadlines, just not as frantic – or so we hope). It was very compressed this year, work spilling over into my writing time, so I haven’t been as diligent as I might have been. And now I’m paying the price.
Although Epitaph is done, I’m the type of writer that spits it all out and then cleans up the mess later. You’ll find lots of writers who are overly verbose, and their clean-up consists of cutting and chopping and leaving half their work on the editing floor. Not me. I tend to write what I like to call a detailed outline. In essence, it is the complete story, minus some of the details that bring it to life. That being said, I’m going back through Epitaph now and filling in the holes that were left behind. We’re talking CHAPTERS. And I’m motivated. With an editor requesting a partial, I want to make sure I can get those holes filled quickly for when (!) she requests the complete manuscript. I have two chapters in the works and as I submit them to my critique group (and this is where I really appreciate my critique partners the most) they’re scraping off my rust. Like crutch words. When you’re working in “well oiled” mode, you see them almost as quickly as you type them, or at least when you self-edit. Silly me. I pushed a chapter through with one of my most popular crutch words (“back” for those of you who are wondering) littered all through it (go ahead, count how many times I’ve used it in this post and you’ll see what I mean. I’m leaving them in.). The critique comes back and I roll my eyes. Couldn’t I have seen those before I put it in?
But I’m making progress. Not only am I productive on the story again, the gentle reminders will get me back into a better self-editing writing mode. (See, I used “back” again! And I noticed!) My fingers are itching and my brain is humming – my imagination has been repressed for too long. So without further ado, I must return (I didn’t use “back” this time) not only to cleaning up Epitaph but the new story that wants to be converted from information jotted in my notebook to an outline, to a file on my computer with characters and locations. Today, I’m thinking the working title might be Hoodoo you think you are . . . but that probably won’t stick.
Anon
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