From a Clean Desk
Which feels kind of refreshing. I'm nearly there, given a couple of days shivering under a lovely warm blanket. Now just got to finalise my plan for next year and get a couple of entries in for competitions before the silly season really starts. I'm looking forward to 2011 and a heap of writing and fingers and toes crossed a publication! Good luck for all your writing endeavours over the coming twelve months.
Happy New Year!
For Troublesome Times
As I've been struggling to 'write' this week I thought I would sort out my writing desk, both on the PC and the one I sit at. So I've been sorting through piles of papers (some of which are related to writing and some not), updating my works in progress sheet and tidying up my files so that I can actually find things a little easier. There's nothing better than a bit of Feng Shui for a writer, if you're like me your desk will be littered with all things relating to your work. A journal with an article you've meant to be reading for the last two months because you know it will make a difference. The latest purchase of the must have 'how to' write book, gathering dust. Spreadsheets detailing all kinds of thinks from latest markets and competitions to a submissions list which may make pleasant reading until you analyse how many publications you've secured! I've also made a list of all my pieces that I've written for our Monday Muse on Writers Abroad. This can be anything from 400 to 800 words (usually written from a prompt and within 15 minutes) as many of them could be developed but are sat in a dark corner of my PC until now.
So sometimes the struggle can seem worth it because it gives you space to see through the clutter and to find inspiration and a little bit of motivation. I always stumble through December, always have done whatever I've been doing so I know it isn't about writing. But this week at least I've done something instead of sitting at a blank screen or an empty piece of paper. And it all looks tidier too! So instead of being down on myself I'm going to give myself a pat on the back and get on next week with my writing plan for 2011, then a break for the festivities - even writers need them - and back to business in the New Year. It feels good!
Until later...
Not Much Writing or Progress
Oh dear, feeling scratchy and frustrated. I've been trying to get into my scene setting and failed miserably I'm afraid. I just don't seem able to think straight or think at all - that would be a start at least. I'm not sure if it's the weather (terribly cold in my office) or my brain (a little empty) or I just can't make the grade (so what's new?). It all seems in the too difficult pile today. But that's not good enough is it? If you're a writer you have to write and I pontificate on high about all the things I do to get the creative juices going, but I can't even catch up with the snails today. And now I sound like a loser and that makes me feel even worse. I know I need to do something to take my mind off it and then it'll all come good. You sure? I'll let you know.
Later...
Making A Scene
Last time I talked about the Snowflake method and how I'm using it to get back into drafting my latest model. So far I have produced a five paragraph 'blurb' about my novel (a little like what you see on the back of books); I've extended this into a one page synopsis; I've created story-lines for each of my main characters as well as character synopses and am just about to finish some minor character outlines; and I also had prepared earlier some fully developed character cv's about their likes, dislikes, their back story and the like.
So, the next step, according to what it says on the tin, is to create some scenes from an extended synopsis... yes, that's right I have to list all the scenes which I think at this moment in time to turn this outline story into a novel. Having talked and listened to some of my fellow NaNoWriMo scribblers I know that this part is essential if I want to give my novel some legs. So many times I have had an idea that may last a short story length but in terms of becoming anything longer... well, it's been a non-runner. So I know that this is a pretty crucial part.
One fellow writer also advises that as well as identifying the POV for the scene, the action and conflict should also be highlighted. I suppose this will sort out the weak from the strong in terms of scenes, for what is the use of putting characters in a setting if nothing happens? The 'panster' in me feels that this is a bit too much 'planning' despite my right brain telling me it's the correct thing to do. This part tells me that it isn't telling all the story, it's just giving some headlines. A prompt if you like and I do like. Prompts that is. We have a regular Monday Muse on Writers Abroad and often it's the most satisfying piece of writing I do in 20 minutes. Free flow writing, without worrying about punctuation, the right word or even where it's going. And often I can write up to 700 words. Yes seven hundred words in twenty minutes. So in my scene planning, that's what I hope to replicate. A kind of pertinent prompt that will help the ink to flow (or the fingers to fly).
And that's the other thing. For years I have been unable to write anything straight onto the PC. For the last two months following a dare to myself, I've been writing straight onto the screen. No pen, no paper (well, it will always be nearby) and just me and the white wall of blankness. Let's hope that I can fill it with lots of black letters, the kind which makes some kind of sense...
Until Later...
What's Your Story?
Part of my preparation using the Snowflake method has been to develop Character Synopses. This is a little like creating a synopsis for my novel but instead of being plot based, it is character based. And I must say, it's much more exciting. Why is that I wonder? I think it's must because it becomes personal to that character and as you ask 'so what's your story?' then the characters start to tell you, and they start to make the story come alive. For me, plot based always seems a little too constrained, it can't suddenly veer off in a different direction because someone (i.e. a character) has to lead the plot. So for me character based synopsis planning has been a revelation. I've done three main characters this afternoon, around 450 words each, and I've been surprised with their responses and the development of the story as a whole, all in about 45 minutes. I feel as though I've made much bigger steps than if I'd stared at the blank screen trying to write a scene without anything to hang it on. Now I've got a number of scenes, and ones I hadn't envisaged before I started the process. So that has to be good. Doesn't it?
More Later...
A Method of Writing
I know many of you are bored with the notion of snowflakes but honest, read on this isn't about the cold wet stuff.
In my efforts to get back into my NaNoWriMo challenge following a long break from writing, I decided to revisit my preparation. One of my fellow members on Writers Abroad shared how she approached it using the Snowflake Method. Now, I put my hands up and admit it - I skimmed through the whole thing pre November. But this method is worth some investment of time. It works on the principle of starting small and building and building upon the small bits until you have the whole. It's relationship to the construction of a snowflake is a little above my intellect, but all I can say is that it works. Over the last few days I have revisited the story lines of four main characters and written around 1000 words . Also, I've revisited my first outline of the complete storyline and extended it to write another 1000 words. Is that good? Well, if you compare that pre snowflake I was writing in excess of 2500 words per day, perhaps not, but it's not a direct comparison.
The work I've put in the last few days have not only allowed me to get back into my story, it has allowed me to travel to the heart of my novel. I have detailed (in great detail!) the main story lines for the novel as a whole and the main characters which will help towards the production of a healthy word count. It's well worth the effort because it helps to map out my story and none of it is committed in stone and blood. It can all change, and may very well will do as my characters have already shown their independence in their own individual storylines. So a bit more digging to the core will go on, before I write a single word in terms of the draft, but this is all part of it and preparation now will help me achieve my target.
So onwards...
