I fully intended to let the first draft of my current story sit for the entire month of December before I looked at it again. December was going to be for reading and relaxing a bit. The momentum of November was still within me and the next story was pestering me, so I took the time to write a loose outline with a few plot points. No harm in going forward right. Next I thought I needed a timeline so I could tell the pacing of the story when I reopened my document for revisions. The timeline was my downfall, along with reading several articles about editing. I went a full seven days without opening the first draft and picking at it. Today I lost the battle. I peeked.
First drafts are ugly. My first draft is hideous, with oozing festering boils. Looking at the mess made me want to delete the entire thing and start from the beginning. I didn't need to edit, I needed to rewrite the entire story. After a first sentence that invokes action, the rest of the first scene, chapter, spirals out of control. The tone changes a few times, and my MC isn't the strong woman I envisioned. A cute running gag I loved at the time seems silly.
Why didn't I wait? Why couldn't I just bask in the knowledge I wrote more words last month than I have in the past two years? Why did I think notes to myself in brackets were a good idea? The goal of NaNoWriMo is quantity vs quality, on some level. I took it to heart when I wrote my first draft. The suck is strong with my WIP.
In the end, I didn't delete my story. I did close the document and I'm not looking at it again till January 2014. The new year will be bringing many challenges and taming the wild unruly thing that is my first draft will be at the top of the list. On New Year's Day, when people are nursing their hangovers from the previous night's festivities, I will be opening up the first draft and tackling it head on, one crappy paragraph at a time.
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Friday, December 6, 2013
Strengths Vs. Weaknesses
In order to be more productive in the coming year, I signed up for a writing challenge. Staying focused and finishing projects have been a problem for me in the past. (this is one reason why I have five or six unfinished novels on my hard drive) Life would often rear its ugly head and get in the way of my writing progress. The coming year shall be different. I am making writing one of my priorities. This explains my eagerness to join a community focused on completing writing goals.
One of the sign up questions stumped me. "Strengths?" The following one, "Weaknesses?", was easy to answer. I sometimes forget to add needed description to my stories. Settings also trip me up. It is as if I just threw my characters in a room and recorded their conversations. Follow through is also a problem for me. I have completed two novels, but have yet to finish a second draft. I loath editing. Did I mention the five or six other half finished projects I have?
Yes, I am well aware of my weaknesses as a writer. They beat me over the head. But when I was asked about my strengths, I drew a complete blank. Being the insecure person I am, I doubted any existed. To remedy the problem, I started calling, messaging, and texting friends who might have read my writing. (I know this is terrible, but I was desperate and needed something to fill the blank on the sign up) The first friend hadn't read anything of mine in such a long time, she couldn't help me. The next one hadn't read any of my prose. I think his writing is elegant and more refined than my own, so I refrained from sharing. My third try insisted I had strengths, everyone does, but when put on the spot couldn't name one. (to be fair she was busy and just answering the phone was a big deal) In the end, I put "plotting" as a strength.
My cousin, my best friend, my conspirator in writing, came through after the sign up was posted. Her response to my query was, "You are imaginative and good at descriptions."I love my cousin. I AM imaginative. If I wasn't, then I wouldn't be making up stories in my head now would I? On the subject of descriptions, I do not think I am strong. Cliches seem to creep into my pieces. I used to spend time at work describing things such as clouds to practice my description techniques. Unique descriptions are tough to create. It is easy to fall back on old standards.
Writers all have things which come naturally to them and others which take hard work and practice to hone. No two writers are the same. It is important to embrace your strengths and your weaknesses equally. They are what makes you distinct. Polish what comes naturally and practice what doesn't. Pretty prose isn't vomited on the page. It is often the result of much thought and elbow grease.
One of the sign up questions stumped me. "Strengths?" The following one, "Weaknesses?", was easy to answer. I sometimes forget to add needed description to my stories. Settings also trip me up. It is as if I just threw my characters in a room and recorded their conversations. Follow through is also a problem for me. I have completed two novels, but have yet to finish a second draft. I loath editing. Did I mention the five or six other half finished projects I have?
Yes, I am well aware of my weaknesses as a writer. They beat me over the head. But when I was asked about my strengths, I drew a complete blank. Being the insecure person I am, I doubted any existed. To remedy the problem, I started calling, messaging, and texting friends who might have read my writing. (I know this is terrible, but I was desperate and needed something to fill the blank on the sign up) The first friend hadn't read anything of mine in such a long time, she couldn't help me. The next one hadn't read any of my prose. I think his writing is elegant and more refined than my own, so I refrained from sharing. My third try insisted I had strengths, everyone does, but when put on the spot couldn't name one. (to be fair she was busy and just answering the phone was a big deal) In the end, I put "plotting" as a strength.
My cousin, my best friend, my conspirator in writing, came through after the sign up was posted. Her response to my query was, "You are imaginative and good at descriptions."I love my cousin. I AM imaginative. If I wasn't, then I wouldn't be making up stories in my head now would I? On the subject of descriptions, I do not think I am strong. Cliches seem to creep into my pieces. I used to spend time at work describing things such as clouds to practice my description techniques. Unique descriptions are tough to create. It is easy to fall back on old standards.
Writers all have things which come naturally to them and others which take hard work and practice to hone. No two writers are the same. It is important to embrace your strengths and your weaknesses equally. They are what makes you distinct. Polish what comes naturally and practice what doesn't. Pretty prose isn't vomited on the page. It is often the result of much thought and elbow grease.
Pieces of the Puzzle
I have to dedicate this post to my friend, Alex. He achieved the zen we all strive for when we are working on our stories. We all know this moment, when all the elements of the bigger picture start to make sense and fall into place. It is similar to having your back scratched in just the right spot and your insides turn to mush.
Writing a novel, or even a short story for that matter, is akin to completing a jigsaw puzzle. You take a cast of characters, set them on a stage, add glowing description and torture them with copious amounts of conflict, ending with a coherent resolution. Scratch the puzzle analogy. Writing a novel is like baking a cake. The right amount of various ingredients and you have a beautiful and satisfying end product. Too much of one thing and not enough of another results in a culinary disaster.
Knowing how much of each component is the tricky part. Too much description and not enough conflict and your story is boring. Same for not enough action and pages of dialog. If you find the right balance of all the elements, your tale will jump of the page. This concept is one I am still working on.
My first writing efforts were comprised of wordy paragraphs filled with exposition. How proud I was of those pieces. Right up until the moment a good writing friend critiqued them. She taught me the value of white spaces in a piece and varying the lengths of paragraphs to control the pacing. Years after I began my writing journey, I am still learning and trying to grow as a writer. My big blocks of text are a thing of the past, I wish I could say the same for my telling instead of showing.
Back to the original thought behind this rambling post, nothing is quite as satisfying for a writer as when the writing goes well and everything works. Writers, hang on to those moments and remember them for the times when things aren't going as well and you are about to throw in the towel. To bad it is impossible to bottle feelings, because the accomplished feeling of a job well done is one I wish I could savor over and over.
Writing a novel, or even a short story for that matter, is akin to completing a jigsaw puzzle. You take a cast of characters, set them on a stage, add glowing description and torture them with copious amounts of conflict, ending with a coherent resolution. Scratch the puzzle analogy. Writing a novel is like baking a cake. The right amount of various ingredients and you have a beautiful and satisfying end product. Too much of one thing and not enough of another results in a culinary disaster.
Knowing how much of each component is the tricky part. Too much description and not enough conflict and your story is boring. Same for not enough action and pages of dialog. If you find the right balance of all the elements, your tale will jump of the page. This concept is one I am still working on.
My first writing efforts were comprised of wordy paragraphs filled with exposition. How proud I was of those pieces. Right up until the moment a good writing friend critiqued them. She taught me the value of white spaces in a piece and varying the lengths of paragraphs to control the pacing. Years after I began my writing journey, I am still learning and trying to grow as a writer. My big blocks of text are a thing of the past, I wish I could say the same for my telling instead of showing.
Back to the original thought behind this rambling post, nothing is quite as satisfying for a writer as when the writing goes well and everything works. Writers, hang on to those moments and remember them for the times when things aren't going as well and you are about to throw in the towel. To bad it is impossible to bottle feelings, because the accomplished feeling of a job well done is one I wish I could savor over and over.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Brain Freeze
The weather outside is truly frightful and not a tiny bit delightful. Winter is here and making its presence known in the form of freezing rain, sleet, and snow. I do not drive in snow or ice. My car is not made for it, being low to the ground and composed of mostly plastic. Today is a perfect day for staying in bed and working on writing endeavors.
A burning question being posed on a variety of writing blogs is to adverb or not to adverb. Stephen King is strongly (adverb use intended for humor potential) opposed to the use of adverbs in writing, cautioning only to use them as a cook would a pungent spice, in extreme moderation. My natural style is filled with countless adverbs and a plethora of "had" and "that." Maintaining an adverb free zone in my prose is a challenge. It is so easy to say "The girl looked at him, lovingly" rather than show her love in a series of actions and responses.
What do I think about adverbs? If you are intent upon using them, do so, in your first draft. Get it out of your system. Go adverb crazy, using them in every sentence if you have to. Then on your second pass, edit them out of your manuscript. Replace them with action. It can be done. Sometimes it is hard to give up every single offender. If the stray adverb refuses to budge, then it can be tolerated. In the end, your writing will thank you.
I would also like to say, as with anything you do in life, practice will make it easier. I know new writers get sick of hearing this over and over, but it is the truth. If you want to write better, then you have to keep writing, and writing badly. Writing is very much use it or lose it. (in my humble opinion of course) I think you must come to the table with some talent, but mechanics can be learned.
A burning question being posed on a variety of writing blogs is to adverb or not to adverb. Stephen King is strongly (adverb use intended for humor potential) opposed to the use of adverbs in writing, cautioning only to use them as a cook would a pungent spice, in extreme moderation. My natural style is filled with countless adverbs and a plethora of "had" and "that." Maintaining an adverb free zone in my prose is a challenge. It is so easy to say "The girl looked at him, lovingly" rather than show her love in a series of actions and responses.
What do I think about adverbs? If you are intent upon using them, do so, in your first draft. Get it out of your system. Go adverb crazy, using them in every sentence if you have to. Then on your second pass, edit them out of your manuscript. Replace them with action. It can be done. Sometimes it is hard to give up every single offender. If the stray adverb refuses to budge, then it can be tolerated. In the end, your writing will thank you.
I would also like to say, as with anything you do in life, practice will make it easier. I know new writers get sick of hearing this over and over, but it is the truth. If you want to write better, then you have to keep writing, and writing badly. Writing is very much use it or lose it. (in my humble opinion of course) I think you must come to the table with some talent, but mechanics can be learned.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Back Story
Due to errands and babysitting, I wasn't able to work on my timeline as planned. By around eight o'clock my body was crying foul and my eyes refused to remain open. Just because I didn't open up the computer doesn't mean I wasn't working on my story. I was thinking about the supernatural elements and how The Order of the Valiant came into being.
People don't just wake up one day with special abilities. (Heroes excluded) These things have to come from somewhere or develop over time. There are no radioactive spiders in my tale, so I need to know where all these powers came from, how they are passed to others, and why the Order banded together in the first place. These things will be not mentioned in detail through blocks of exposition. But as the creator of my world, I need to know how things work in order to write a believable story.
After spending so much time yesterday thinking about my story, I dreamed about it last night. During the dreams, I think another book idea was formed. The result was I woke up excited and eager to capture the remnants of the dream in text so it doesn't disappear forever. I'm stepping back from the timeline today and devoting my writing time to creating a plausible back story for the series. Correction, a more detailed back story than the one I currently have.
People don't just wake up one day with special abilities. (Heroes excluded) These things have to come from somewhere or develop over time. There are no radioactive spiders in my tale, so I need to know where all these powers came from, how they are passed to others, and why the Order banded together in the first place. These things will be not mentioned in detail through blocks of exposition. But as the creator of my world, I need to know how things work in order to write a believable story.
After spending so much time yesterday thinking about my story, I dreamed about it last night. During the dreams, I think another book idea was formed. The result was I woke up excited and eager to capture the remnants of the dream in text so it doesn't disappear forever. I'm stepping back from the timeline today and devoting my writing time to creating a plausible back story for the series. Correction, a more detailed back story than the one I currently have.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Timelines
Timelines will be the death of me. Or rather learning how to put together a cohesive timeline using Liquid Story Binder will be the death of me.
During November I consistently found myself forgetting what day or what time of day it was in my story. The events of the book take place over roughly a week to two week period. This has me worried about pacing. Did I plow through too quickly or do I need to add a few more days and subplots? See why I need a timeline? Before I get too involved with the outline of my next book, I need to know what day I'm on and where I'm at. I think it will cover a few weeks as well, due to the nature of the plot. (MC is hunting down ex-partner to extract revenge)
My tale has a subplot I dropped the threads of near the end. I mention an organization and when the character representing it met her demise, no further mention was made. The organization still exists. It didn't die with the character, so I have the job of creating a plausible explanation. The timeline will help me achieve this goal. (I hope)
P.S. I am experiencing a bit of NaNoWriMo hangover. I spent November hanging out with other writers logging words and writing prose. It feels weird not to have a word count deadline looming over my head. I don't know the cure, other than writing, of course. Maybe after I finish some of my planning and start writing again the restless feeling with go away.
During November I consistently found myself forgetting what day or what time of day it was in my story. The events of the book take place over roughly a week to two week period. This has me worried about pacing. Did I plow through too quickly or do I need to add a few more days and subplots? See why I need a timeline? Before I get too involved with the outline of my next book, I need to know what day I'm on and where I'm at. I think it will cover a few weeks as well, due to the nature of the plot. (MC is hunting down ex-partner to extract revenge)
My tale has a subplot I dropped the threads of near the end. I mention an organization and when the character representing it met her demise, no further mention was made. The organization still exists. It didn't die with the character, so I have the job of creating a plausible explanation. The timeline will help me achieve this goal. (I hope)
P.S. I am experiencing a bit of NaNoWriMo hangover. I spent November hanging out with other writers logging words and writing prose. It feels weird not to have a word count deadline looming over my head. I don't know the cure, other than writing, of course. Maybe after I finish some of my planning and start writing again the restless feeling with go away.
Monday, December 2, 2013
Back in the Saddle
After taking a brief (alright, almost two year) writing break, I'm back at it again. I signed up for NaNoWriMo as a jumping off point. Yes, after not writing anything more substantial than Facebook statuses for almost two years, I thought it would be a good idea to try to write 50K in one month.
A bit of back story here, for those of you who don't know, I am disabled. I was a working disabled person up until August of this year. I stopped writing because my body couldn't handle the strain of work and writing. During the last year of my employment, I was basically working and sleeping. All my free time was spent resting up and preparing my body for work. It wasn't much of a life. In August I was fired for absenteeism related to my disabilities. I wasn't prepared for this. I wasn't able to collect unemployment and my body can't handle work anymore, so I'm currently fighting for my disability.
I won NaNoWriMo for the first time in all the years I've been attempting it. I did it by writing roughly 2K words a day, taking breaks for rest and restoration. It was hard, but I did it. The resulting story isn't pretty, but it has a beginning, middle, and end. There is conflict and partially developed characters. For my return to the literary world, I would call it a success. My goal now is to keep up with my daily writing habits. So far, since November has ended, I haven't written much. The November WIP is on hold till after January when I will attempt to edit it. I am currently plotting and outlining the next book in the series. The story was too big for just one volume. I think it is interesting, but I'm not sure the rest of the world will.
I set a goal for the next year. It is to edit my story, write a query letter, and submit to at least one agent. Sounds simple right, but this is a goal that will require much work. Writing is tough. Getting what I see in my head to translate to the page can be a challenge. November's WIP is chock full of tell versus show and possible plot holes.
As I ride off into the sunset, I vow not to stop until I can't do anymore. I will die telling my stories whether anyone else wants to read them or not.
A bit of back story here, for those of you who don't know, I am disabled. I was a working disabled person up until August of this year. I stopped writing because my body couldn't handle the strain of work and writing. During the last year of my employment, I was basically working and sleeping. All my free time was spent resting up and preparing my body for work. It wasn't much of a life. In August I was fired for absenteeism related to my disabilities. I wasn't prepared for this. I wasn't able to collect unemployment and my body can't handle work anymore, so I'm currently fighting for my disability.
I won NaNoWriMo for the first time in all the years I've been attempting it. I did it by writing roughly 2K words a day, taking breaks for rest and restoration. It was hard, but I did it. The resulting story isn't pretty, but it has a beginning, middle, and end. There is conflict and partially developed characters. For my return to the literary world, I would call it a success. My goal now is to keep up with my daily writing habits. So far, since November has ended, I haven't written much. The November WIP is on hold till after January when I will attempt to edit it. I am currently plotting and outlining the next book in the series. The story was too big for just one volume. I think it is interesting, but I'm not sure the rest of the world will.
I set a goal for the next year. It is to edit my story, write a query letter, and submit to at least one agent. Sounds simple right, but this is a goal that will require much work. Writing is tough. Getting what I see in my head to translate to the page can be a challenge. November's WIP is chock full of tell versus show and possible plot holes.
As I ride off into the sunset, I vow not to stop until I can't do anymore. I will die telling my stories whether anyone else wants to read them or not.
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