WRITING DRAFTS

Painting A Picture
I subscribe to a number of writing newsletters (in fact, far too many) which fall into my in box on a regular basis. I usually skim read them, scanning for market news, latest tips, writing successes and any little nuggets which may just make my writing life easier. It's not often that I find something new or which affects me profoundly, most of it acts like a kind of 'reminder' of what I already know. However this morning was a little different when I came across a piece entitled 'First Drafts' by Naomi Rose. This writer drew (literally speaking) a analogy between a writer and a visual artist in terms of their initial approach to their creative projects. 


As you know, first drafts for this first time novelist, is very pertinent right now and I'm like a sponge when it comes to anything vaguely concerned with this topic. An artist first sketches out a rough drawing, some of which maybe quite detailed, some more general concepts or ideas but all elements of the intended 'whole'. An artist would never put out their first sketch as completed work (unless posthumously by others as an indication of their skill) and always would use it as their reference piece for the completed picture. A blank canvas and a stick of charcoal are the tools used (my kind of artist anyway) and a connection of thoughts, ideas, settings, people and themes which are then tried out, maybe several times as the creative juices take hold. A kind of giving 'birth' to the form that will eventually be the finished painting or picture. Bringing the canvas to life but with parts missing, parts which need a different approach and colour and parts that may just be airbrushed away. So like first drafts in writing, it struck me, yet I never (until today) had seen it as so... magical and sensual. 
It has really struck a chord as you can probably detect and I'm hoping that later on in my 'editing' slot I shall still feel the same way.
Until Friday,

WRITING ANALYSIS

End of Week Report

This will be brief as life here in rural Italy can be relied on provide me with regular 'challenges'. This week it's the electrics - which to be fair are ancient - and we have been relying on battery power. Hats off to one Writers Abroad member who lives 'off the grid' in terms of electricity. 

Anyway I digress when time (and batteries) are short.

This week I have completed a full chapter/scene analysis on All Will Be Well. What does that exactly mean? Well, I've gone through each chapter and recorded in one of my beloved journals the following; current chapter position, scene number, total number of words, setting, characters involved, point of view and then made detailed comments, thoughts and observations on each scene. This has taught me a number of things the most important being:

1. It has been a most valuable way to spend my time on my work in progress. Not only has it refreshed myself with the story and the characters but it has got me back into its 'groove' again, something that I think had been holding me back.
2. It's shown me those scenes which need to be cut without hesitation, those that need a little work and the important (but behind the scenes) backstory that I need to keep safe somewhere.
3. Undertaking the analysis has shown up the yawning holes and great leaps (not of faith that is for sure) and whose story this actually is... something which nearly knocked me out.

So why has it taken me so long to do this? Not sure, not even sure if I've read about doing this kind of navel gazing activity. But it's worked for me and for All Will Be Well. So that's something else that is going in my list of 'must do's ' for future works in progress...

SUCCESSFUL WRITERS

"There are so many different kinds of writing and so many ways to work that the only rule is this: do what works. Almost everything has been tried and found to succeed for somebody. The methods, even the ideas of successful writers contradict each other in a most heartening way, and the only element I find common to all successful writers is persistence -- an overwhelming determination to succeed."
Sophy Burnham, For Writers Only

This quote certainly summed things up for me today. Friends at Writers Abroad will know just what I'm talking about having battled over the last few weeks writing a piece for our anthology. And if there is one thing I know for certain WA members are nothing if not determined. We all have our own crosses to bear in a number of ways not just the battle with writing. Like our characters, we live ordinary lives off the page - we are all someone else as well as a 'writer'. So life gets in the way and we get knocked back but never do we stay down. With a little help from our 'friends' we pick ourselves up, brush ourselves down and keep on wheedling away at our projects and providing feedback to others. And to date we have got some great, diverse, professionally written pieces of fiction which will make our anthology of short stories shine! I'm hoping that this determined approach will rub off on me as I battle with my multiple novels in editing-progress, or as I'm more inclined to refer to them now - re-writes in progress!

THE STORY SO FAR...

Mid-Week Progress Report

Ok, I know I'm a little late should have posted yesterday, but things just got in the way...

So, I'm currently in the process of doing a total re-hash of my first ever novel All Will Be Well. This process had taught me loads... not least that I have come a long way since then.

My writing skills have improved ten-fold (most thanks in part to my mates at Writers Abroad) and I'm beginning to understand the editing part of things much more. I thought I did understand it, but I realise now that I thought it was just about spelling, punctuation, checking continuity. How naive could I be? I am now slashing, burning, killing off characters, changing scenes, settings and endings. A bit like writing a new novel I can hear someone say...well, no not quite. The heart of the novel is still there, the story I wanted to write is still there but it is leaner, tighter, more well-written. 

I can't tell you how much back story I left in... back story is great and it is necessary but the reader doesn't necessarily need to know it all. It should be dropped in like little pearls, here and there and allow the reader to fill in the gaps. I just overwhelmed them with facts and events long past. And it's not that this was all waste of time, because I need to know the back story so I can nurture the little pearls... I suppose what it is showing me is that a writing project, however large or small, can be re-written, can be re-moulded and re-shaped to fit the purpose, the main objective of getting published! However, I'm a long way off right now and I'm trying to turn a very sad ending, into one with more hope. A little like me, in everlasting hope of getting this story onto some editors desk... so now for some more red ink!

Until later...

A WRITERS SOLITARY LIFE

Friday Tip of The Week

As promised in my first entry I will try and post up a weekly tip. This maybe prompted by a quote, pinched from the desk of another or merely an observation by my good self. This week, its prompted by another self, Will Self who says, 'The writing life is essentially one of solitary confinement - if you can't deal with it you needn't apply...'


I think most of us who write understand the sentiments behind this quote, perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of our life for others around us to understand. Being a writer often means shutting your self away and off from any other distractions, including loved ones, friends, family dog, the internet and your own inner critic. However, equally so for the writer, whether you are just starting out or indeed have rafts of publications, I do believe that sometimes (and only sometimes) you have to come out of your shell. How that happens is up to you, but the key thing is to build yourself a little group of like-minded people, writers like you, who you can call upon when in need, or just to mull something over. Splendid isolation is fine as long as you can write, email or get on-line and talk to someone - even if it is of a virtual nature. For example, I belong to a 'vibrant' writing community - some of you may have heard it called so in the latest Writers News. No? Well shame on you, get over and visit Writers Abroad, a social place for ex-pat writers where we share our work, provide comments, solace and congratulations when and where due, as well as a critical eye on our punctuation, plot, and characterisation. 
So my tip is find yourself a place or a person to venture out from the safety of your solitary confinement and return there all the better for having 'got out and about'. Go on, break out for a while.


Speak next week...


Louise 

Launch of Writer in Progress

This is my new blog dedicated to my 'Works in Progress'. It is supposed to provide me with inspiration to complete the four (maybe five) novels I have in various stages of birth. Two of them have been written during NaNoWriMo month and I'm planning another this year... but I need to get them off my editing pile and into the in-tray of a willing (and perhaps unsuspecting) editor. Each week I will plot my progress with each one (details of which can be found on my website, Louise Charles - Writer in Progress, with the hope that I will shame myself into action. I know, drastic measures but needs must and I think it will help to talk it through. I will also post future book reviews here, when I have the time in between editing of course... so please do check in regularly and give me the nudge that I so much need. I also will share a weekly tip, maybe mine, maybe someone else's, who knows? So that there will always be something new (or maybe not so new) to read. If you check in, please feel free to comment and criticise as you see fit, any feedback is better than none (and I have a tale to tell there, but more on that later...)
So without further rambling, I'll go and get on with my plan... after the usual half hour of procrastination. And don't forget my other blog  Joe Bloggs, will plots generally the life of a jobbing writer, the ups and the downs and news from my other projects including the community on-line writing group for ex-pat writers - Writers Abroad. Never a dull moment...