One of the things I’ve been focusing on during this process is hitting certain marks, like rough stage directions as the plot moves forward into unknown areas.
I did outline before starting, but I kept it pretty general. My thought was to have just enough to have a story arc in mind, and key scenes placed on the timeline, but let the characters wander as much as they need.
It’s working pretty well. There are some scenes that I’ve ditched in lieu of better ones, and I have had to make room in one place for an interesting sub plot.
All in all, I think a little planning, but room to breath is a good balance for me. I was worried if I tried to go in cold, with no preparation, I would flounder after a few thousand words. And I also know if I have to rigid an outline, I go to quickly and don’t give the characters enough time to interact, have crises, fix things, learn stuff and grow.
Here are a couple of things I’ve learned so far:
- Write every day. No matter what. Even if it’s only a couple of hundred words. That’s still forward progress, and enough to keep in the story. A lot like the gym, I think, getting out of the habit only takes missing a couple of days in a row.
- Have something to take notes on at all times. Especially by the bed, and in the car. Funny where ideas come from. And at my age, if I don’t write it down, it’s gone pretty quickly.
- Don’t delete. If there a section that nees to be deleted, I can do that during revision. Just highlight and move on. Afterall, it’s quantity that is the goal.
- It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Cliche, but important to remember. It is *possible* to write 6,000 words in a day, but it’s not necessary to meet the goal. Set a pace so the journey is a pleasure, not a chore.
- Set a schedule and stick to it. Yeah. I’m working on this one. I write a few minutes during the lunch hour, when I get a chance, and a longer session in the evening after the gym.
- Get plenty of exercise and plenty of sleep. Brains must function to get words on screen/paper. Treat them with respect.
- Do something that will embarrass one of your characters, and see what you learn about them. Give it a try, you just might be surprised what happens.
Hope your writing is going well, and keep writing.
