Hello.
I’m feeling stuck in a debate with myself. Maybe it’s just an excuse to not write. Yet it feels like something I need to figure out before continuing. I don’t know if it’s better to plan my writing or just write and then plan it later? I’m curious to know how everyone else does it and yet I know that “how do you do it?” is such a big question that it would be hard to answer.
It’d be easier to ask questions about how to get down that bluff. I want to know how you’d get down the bluff. Do you just jump in and go or do you stand at the top and carefully plan your route before you begin? Is it better for me to be a planner or jumper? Which is the “right” way. Oh for petesake, I always get bogged down in the “right” way.
I’m reading Characters & Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card and it’s already very helpful (even more helpful because I was reading it while I was reading a novel with very good characters). I’m learning about main characters, minor characters, and story types. Suddenly, there are many things that make more sense about the choices writers make. It also suddenly becomes more intimidating. I feel like now I need to know what my main character is doing so that I know what minor characters to bring in. I don’t know what in the world she’s going to end up doing!
Are you a planner? Do you know the basic complete outline of what is going to happen in your story? Do you know the ending before you start? Or are you a jumper? Do you just step up to the edge and go over, making sense of the path as you go down? Or are you somewhere in between with a vague sense of beginning and end, but easily changing course as something pops up? Have you written a story then revised and completely thrown out a character? Changed the plot? Do you just write and later decide who will stay and who will go?
Meanwhile, I have a mental image of where she lives and her daily activities; a few good scenes… but I need to move it along from there. But what’s the right way?
Today’s Progress: You see it.
5 comments:
A little bit of both. There's always some sort of plan, but I think sometimes you have to jump. When you do, it often snowballs and you find yourself writing notes just to keep up with yourself as you write! Revisions and char/plot changes are all part of it. It's like life, you don't always know what will pop up on the course, and have to navigate as you go with your story, and characters, plot ... But it all comes alive as you go.
Joanne,
Thanks for the comment! I can't wait for the snowballs and the feeling that i need to write notes to keep up. ;)
yes and no- sometimes I write a few chapters and then plan- other times I plan first- What gets paralyzing is thinking either one or the other is right-
Just pick one and do it...
Pat! Thank you for stopping by. Your comments and advice are helpful. The emotional support... priceless.
paralyzing...yes, that'sexactly what happens.
:)
I plan some and just let some things flow. My writing isn't too organized, but I do have a vague idea of where it might go.
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