Boring shit about writing
Nov. 5th, 2007 11:49 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
talktoolooseAs ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
minisinoo pointed out recently, writers love to talk about their process but no one is really very interested.
As I get into the second half of my novel (which, hopefully, is actually the second 40%) I have forced myself to do more planning than I did in the first half. To this end, I wrote a planning doc this weekend. The first part of the process was PAINFUL! I wrote headings for each character arc and each relationship arc and then filled in all the details I had in my head and made up new details for areas I was missing.
I hated this process and spent half of the time surfing LJ and porn. I'm not sure exactly why I hated it, but it seemed monstrous, diminishing, stultifying.
However, the second half was tremendous fun. I laid out a grid and began slotting plot into chapters. Suddenly, shapes and structures starting suggesting themselves to me and the world of surprise, which I love when I'm actually writing, suddenly opened up. I realized that a certain chapter would suddenly be from an odd perspective. I realized that a quiet concert scene would offset the saddest of moments.
I love structure and the mechanics of storytelling. Love it, love it. It is the mood and dynamic that makes the world come to life; not the bald list of events.
I can't wait to write the rest of this book.
minisinoo pointed out recently, writers love to talk about their process but no one is really very interested.As I get into the second half of my novel (which, hopefully, is actually the second 40%) I have forced myself to do more planning than I did in the first half. To this end, I wrote a planning doc this weekend. The first part of the process was PAINFUL! I wrote headings for each character arc and each relationship arc and then filled in all the details I had in my head and made up new details for areas I was missing.
I hated this process and spent half of the time surfing LJ and porn. I'm not sure exactly why I hated it, but it seemed monstrous, diminishing, stultifying.
However, the second half was tremendous fun. I laid out a grid and began slotting plot into chapters. Suddenly, shapes and structures starting suggesting themselves to me and the world of surprise, which I love when I'm actually writing, suddenly opened up. I realized that a certain chapter would suddenly be from an odd perspective. I realized that a quiet concert scene would offset the saddest of moments.
I love structure and the mechanics of storytelling. Love it, love it. It is the mood and dynamic that makes the world come to life; not the bald list of events.
I can't wait to write the rest of this book.
