I've just contributed to a questionnaire on a writers life and the fantastic questions there got me really looking at my writing habits.
Am I a plotter? Not really, I wish I was. I find if I sit down to plot out a story- I can never think of anything!
Usually I will have a scene in my head- and it might not even be a particularly exciting scene either- maybe a conversation between two characters, and I usually start writing at that point then back track and fill in the story around it. It helps if the scene is a high action- high excitement focused one- but it usually isn't!
I had the entire story, in one book I've written, which came from a dream- a very weird dream, but that is somewhat of a rarity for me, as I don't dream very often.
It's not until I am well into the story that I can actually sit down and write out a character profile. I'd like to be able to sit down before I even put a single scene into my trusty laptop- and have my entire character list mapped out and the plot set out, but that has never been something that works for me. I think my problem is that I'm far too impatient! I don't have time to sit and think about it all before I write it down!
I do usually reach a point in my story though, where I hit a wall and at that point, I'm forced to sit down, grab a pen and a note book and madly scribble down everything I can think of, about the story and characters- then the story will usually untangle itself and flow once more...sometimes...
On the bad days they just don't flow, but that's a whole other blog- the dreaded writers block.. (she types and a shiver of revolution runs through her body!!) So NOT going there today! I don't want to jinx myself at the moment- I have too much writing to do!
I'm not a plotter either. I've tried--many times. But it always goes the same way. I work up a plot, then start picking at nits, finding flaws or holes and trying to fill them. The more I belabor my plot the worse it gets, until the plot just collapses like wet tissue paper, an unusable mess.
ReplyDeleteSo I make things up as I go along. Sometimes I have to go back and add a scene or revise one so the story works. It's a messy, surprising approach, but it works for me.
I know the feeling- I always feel like I'm in a big mess- but am always surprised when it eventually comes together :) Thanks for sharing Gail.
ReplyDeleteI'm with ya on the no plotting, but the characters usually move into my head, float around for a day/week/months, and keep yaking until the only way I can shut them up is to write their story. =)
ReplyDeleteLOL yaking characters! gotta love em'
ReplyDeleteHi Karly,
ReplyDeleteI'm not a plotter either - have never wanted to be one until just recently when I hit a 'which path should I go' with my current wip Ice Cold Lover. Never have I wished to plot more as I'm kinda at the point where 'do I want this to happen' or 'this to happen' LOL!! Have to quit stalling and just choose one!!
speaking of which...
LOL flip a coin? But I can sympathise- hate when my books become so like real life and decision making is required!!
ReplyDeleteI haven't been a plotter, Karly, but after getting myself in to such a twist with Blue Skies, a friend and I sat down and planned the last ten chapters - and it work much better than just going blind. I still let my characters take me where THEY want to go, but I've got an idea where the chapter needs to go for the structure of the book. Like I said on Bron's website the other day, some of main characters ended up being minor ones, through their own doing!
ReplyDeleteHi, Karly, funny you should talk about habits, as I've just been discussing with a friend about how I usually attack writing.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty much a panster for the first half of the book but I think my subconscious has the plan all worked out. I usually know how to begin and how I want the story to end and getting the middle is up to the characters.
But, having said that, I've come to realise more and more at this point in my writing career, I need to put a rough outline and the H/H GMC's down on paper before I start.
I need to cut out some of the waffling around I tend to do mid-novel to get the work finished much quicker than I normally would. I'm realising I can spend a year on one book if I want to make a full-time career out of writing.
The transition isn't easy but I'm trying.
Even getting one's self to the writer's desk can be an issue after four books for me but I have to have a character complete with name and title of the book before I can write - lynn romaine
ReplyDeletewww.womenwritersunderground.blogspot.com
DOH!
ReplyDeleteThat sentence was supposed to read "I'm realising I CAN'T spend a year on one book if I want to make a full-time career out of writing.
Hi Karly,
ReplyDeleteI usually work out the main plot, from there I ask what if, and usually get heaps of answers. I work on Character sheets and have a basic idea of where my story is going. But like most times it has a mind of it's own and scenes develop for the better of the story.
Suzanne :)
Thanks guys for all your comments.
ReplyDeleteKylie, I can understand the time saving a plan would save- It would be nice not to have to fumble around in the middle.
Lynn, I have a lot of ????? places in my MS before I settle on a name- your way would be so much simpler!If only!
Fleur- I need a lend of your friend!! Can't wait for Blue Skies to be out :)
Suzanne...you sound so together! I think I need to hang around you a bit more and see if it rubs off!
Your writing style sounds exactly like mine. I get glimpses of characters, moving or talking and I don't even know where in the story it is until I start building around it. Lately though, I've been trying to get the notebook filled and the plot loosely plotted before I start writing, only because it takes me too long the other way.
ReplyDeleteMe too Kathy- maybe we'll learn how to find a happy medium? :)
ReplyDeleteHi, Karly! I don't particularly like to plot, but I've found it's a necessity if I don't want to end up with a mess of a manuscript that I have to extensively revise after the first draft. My reward for all that plotting is an easy and quick first draft. I can just sit back and enjoy writing.
ReplyDeleteKarly, I write in a very similar way...starting with a scene and then going from there. I had to start tracking things though when I decided to write a series.
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
I quite often pants it, but then I get about 2/3 of the way through and write the final scene, so I know my final destination and am not tempted to take any side tours. Other times I basically outline the whole thing, and then find myself inserting new chapters and characters all the way through. Don't know which method I prefer yet.
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