On Friday, LaDonna wrote about showing up. Putting butt in chair and writing. Lately my writing has been derailed by stuff going on in my life. A lot of it good stuff, but it’s not been good for my wip. So I’ve been trying to get my butt in chair and writing, no matter what. Last Thursday, I wrote a scene and finished it with a line that I loved … but I had no idea where it would take me. Then Friday I started a new scene with a different character and wasn’t happy with what I was writing.
This has happened before, and afterward I’d read the scene and it would be fine. So I kept writing. I needed a scene with this character. Though he’s a minor character, he’s pivotal to the book. But it kept bugging me until I gave it up for the night. I turned off the computer and it was like turning on a lightshow in my head.
I realized I’d made him a stock character. I grabbed a pen and paper and as I scribbled, his surprising backstory came to me. And there’s more. I realized what the last line of the other scene was leading to. I know the character’s motivation and what will happen with that new subplot!
I love it when that happens, the rush of words and ideas after I’ve been slogging away for hours. It’s magic. There was a time when I would have plowed through and stuck to my original idea. I think it’s different now because I know more. I’m not satisfied with an “okay” scene. Now when something bothers me, I pay attention.
What about you? I know you have insights like that. Every writer does. But do you catch them as you write or do you catch most of yours in revision? Or are you a deep plotter and catch them before you write the scenes?
And I’m curious about the NaNo participants. I get most of these ideas when I’m away from the computer. If I’d forced myself to finish the scene, I don’t know if I would have caught it later. What do you think?
Hi, Edie! Sometimes, I scene will just feel so “wrong” that I have to go back and fix it, right then. It drives me crazy not to do so. But, other problem spots are caught in my revisions, which, um, I’m about to start today on my story. I’ve given the tale some distance time and now I’m going to dive back in to finish up!
Cindy, have fun revising! Can you believe I tried the new scene yesterday and went back to the old one? Grrr. Still, I’m glad to know the background of the other guy. It’s important to know he’s more evil than I first thought and anything can happen.
Sometimes I’ll have the scene all lined up in my head, but when I start writing it, it takes on a life of its own and is nothing like what I had in my head. Is that magic or my muse messing with my head?
I catch the non-working stuff in revisions, or anytime I read something after it has cooled off for a day.
Edie, do you feel a scene that is out of sync? What I mean is, one that you know won’t happen until later in the story, but when it pops in your head, you work on it, or do you just continue on until you come to that point in your story?
Kath, scenes often take on a life of their own as I write. I love it when that happens. My unconscious has almost always found a better way to write it.
I’ll scribble notes on an out-of-sequence scene, but I don’t write it until I get to that point. Too many things change in my story. But I know other writers who write out of sequence all the time. It works for them, but not for me.
Hey Edie, I believe in Magic all the way!
I just love this blog, cause it’s right on. I really love when a scene winds down, and you get a glimpse of the next one.
A few puzzle pieces fall into place some days, and if something niggles I keep the door open for it to show itself like your recent experience. Throughout a WIP, I’ll get preview scene flashes, and the first draft structure starts materializing.
The important thing for me to stay in the flow. When I’m done, that’s when I can step away for a few days, and dive back in like Cindy’s doing today!
LaDonna, we have a similar method of writing. The couple times I wrote according to a plot, the magic was missing.
Forgot to say, Thanks for the blog mention. That was fun to write.
Like you and so many other writers I know, the scene seems to come alive when your away from the computer, driving, walking, in the store, any place but when you need to be in front of the computer.
I’ve taken to using a recorder in the car, or keeping a small note book with me, to jot things down. If I don’t, I’ll loose the scene, forever…
About NaNo, I need pretty much as much imagination time as I do writing time, sometimes more, sometimes I can do with less. So when I’m pumping out words, I’m not just writing. I’m imagining pretty much all day long. I need time in the world, you know? I fall asleep imagining, I imagine while Glenn drives (or sometimes me), I imagine while doing chores, ALL the time. I do forget about 80% of what I’ve imagined, though, and I sort of figure the cream will rise to the top, and if it was good, I’ll remember it.
If I skip that time, I can’t write. And I don’t get those wonderful moments you mention! I LOVE when that happens!
LaDonna, your blog was fun to read too! I need to keep my butt in chair and show up again.
Lee, I have a micro recorder too, but I keep forgetting to use it! Luckily I have scraps of paper and pens all over the place, and I always carry a notebook and pen in my purse.
I do get most of my ideas walking the dog, but right now we have about 8 inches of snow and it’s still coming down. Don’t think I’ll be walking her soon.
Spy, good for you! I want to do NaNo next year, just to see if it works for me. Watching all of you going through it, I was getting the NaNo fever.
I just remembered, my GIAM group is doing it sometime in Jan. or Feb. I’ll try it with them.
I’m usually slogging along and then decide to take a tea break. As I’m walking away, the next sentence pops into my mind and I gotta get back to the ‘puter to get it down before I lose it. This will happen several times before I finally get to my tea.
Love it when that happens
Then there are times when my story will take a complete u-turn or an odd idea will pop into my head. I love to see where it takes me. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.
Liz, I swear I get more ideas away from the computer than on it. I love those odd turns too! I got a great one tonight.
edie, i get those moments when i’m walking. then i have to rush home and write them down, then I can’t wait to get back into my story and layer.
Karin, me too! Walking is the best. Maybe it’s the fresh air, maybe it’s being out of the house. Whatever the reason, it works for me.
Characters often surprise me! My plotting is loose. I think I know where the story is going but I don’t always know how I’ll get there.
Mary, you and I are non-plotting twins!