Author Topic: Drifting into Spring Fast Drafting! (Read 32889 times)

olmue · « **Reply #1410 on:** August 31, 2012, 12:17 PM »

No kidding, Robin. I've been bringing my outlines along with me all summer, but the writing itself...oy. I got in 1200 words this morning, but it's taken a few days since school started to remember how to write in chunks again.

Susan, I like your idea for drafting chapters. I try to have a point in each one...um. But maybe I wouldn't have as much to revise afterwards if I thought about these things beforehand.

Melissa K · « **Reply #1411 on:** August 31, 2012, 04:18 PM »

Woke up last night and realized how to do a character introduction I've been struggling with. Today I wrote the new scene, and got close to 1600 words--my biggest total in a long time. It meant dumping an 1100-word scene that I'd written before, but hey, whatever.

It's cool to hear that so many of you do dialogue or scaffolding before adding detail and description. That's similar to what I've been doing lately when I sketch out scenes on paper before I sit down to write. I don't have a firm system for what goes into the sketch--I just try to imagine the scene without worrying about exactly how I'll put it into words. Often I write lists of what's going to happen in phrases that wouldn't mean anything to anyone but me. Sometimes I write out some of the dialogue or key passages.

When I write the scene after making these notes, I feel like I'm shaping text around a pre-created mold. More detail usually comes to me as I go, but there are always some places where I sense that I'm not finding the words I need. On good drafting days like today, I just write through these parts and figure that I'll fill in the rest later.

Question for all of you: When you get stuck, at what point in your process does the problem happen?

My answer: 1) I get stuck when, for whatever reason, what I'm planning to write feels wrong. I often force myself to go ahead anyway just to get some writing done--and this might be the best thing to do--but I usually end up throwing away most of that work. 2) I get stuck when, for whatever reason, I fail to trust my future self to come back and put in the details I'm struggling to come up with now. On those days I get all obsessive over a small thing I'm struggling to write, and I fail to push my way forward.

ruecole · « **Reply #1412 on:** August 31, 2012, 07:11 PM »

Go Melissa!

For me I get stuck most often when my characters (or a character) begin behaving out of character. As soon as that happens, the words dry up until I work through the issue.

Rue

MysteryRobin · « **Reply #1413 on:** August 31, 2012, 09:04 PM »

Thank you for posting those examples. They're very interesting!

Melissa - I just got stuck.

I needed to polish up some early chapters to send to an agent before I'd finished the draft. And - stuck. I think I write the whole thing, then I figure out just where the story should start, and I got stuck trying to fix the beginning before I'd written the end. I know for sure that self-confidence (lack of...) is an issue. If I feel good about what I'm writing, I plow on. If I worry that it's not good enough. I stop. Stuck. And it may *not* be good enough, but staring at the screen doesn't seem to help that much...

Melissa K · « **Reply #1414 on:** September 04, 2012, 04:14 PM »

Robin--Yeah, I know what you mean. Lack of confidence is probably the root cause of stuckness every time.

Rue--That's a good one, too.

I had a slow weekend, writing-wise. I tried to rethink a scene I've been struggling with, but I wasn't ready. I spent three days in a muddle.

Today I re-started from where I left off on Friday, and I did great. I wrote maybe 1,500 new words, weaved in part of a scene I'd cut from my previous attempt at this manuscript, and had a nice ah-ha moment about how to solve a global problem that's been bugging me.

olmue · « **Reply #1415 on:** September 04, 2012, 04:48 PM »

I get stuck when I know something general that needs to happen, but I don't know how to specifically bring it to pass. Example: need terrible thing to happen that makes until-now enemies band together for the greater good. Um. What?

Also, I get stuck when I don't understand a character thoroughly enough and it all feels vanilla. Also when I have plot elements I want in there, but they aren't all quite fitting together--wrong combinations, extra scenes, or missing elements I haven't figured out yet.

I've been stuck for a long time, but whoa, kids back in school. I've clocked in about 3200 words so far today! And that was with a playgroup thrown in, too. I think that's an all time record for me. Hopefully it doesn't all burn out after today.

PatEsden · « **Reply #1416 on:** September 04, 2012, 07:56 PM »

3200! That's fantastic, Olmue. I hope this is just the beginning of your best week ever.

I've decided to give myself permission to take a short writing break and spend a little while thinking about my new WIP and reading a few books on my TBR stack. I suspect now that I've said this aloud, I'll start writing tomorrow

I did have a cool thing happen over the weekend. My husband and I were checking out yardsales--and one of them was run by a teenage guy who reminded me of my mc's love interest. Actually, now that I think about it, there were two guys like my made up one, not just looks but interests and outward personalities as well.

ruecole · « **Reply #1417 on:** September 04, 2012, 10:30 PM »

Go Rose!

(BTW, all that stuff gets me stuck, too.

)

Today was the official first day back to school, but it was only the morning. They don't do a full day till tomorrow. I'm going to try to do some writing tomorrow morning (got a dentist appointment in the afternoon), but suspect I won't get much done as the house is a HUGE mess and I just know it's gonna bug me if I don't do some cleaning first.

Although, maybe I should do the same as Pat and say, "Nope. I'm not even gonna try writing. I'm gonna clean the house." Then watch the words flow.

Rue

Melissa K · « **Reply #1418 on:** September 05, 2012, 07:56 PM »

Woot, Rose!

Anissa · « **Reply #1419 on:** September 06, 2012, 05:03 PM »

I FINALLY hit a groove and cranked out an entire scene. 1,820 words today. YAY! Here's to fast drafting!

MegM · « **Reply #1420 on:** September 06, 2012, 08:20 PM »

I cannot remember the last time I posted in this thread ... and I'm sorry to say I stopped reading as well because it kept reminding me of my lack of progress.

I disappeared into a morass of school visits and related commitments - about 6 weeks of wall-to-wall work which nearly undid me - both physically and mentally. I also had two books come out quite close together, and the associated promotional commitments added to the already too-large pile.

I've taken a few days off to recover and catch up on little bits and pieces, and plan to dive back in to my WIP tomorrow (such a dangerous word!).

I will be back. Thanks to you guys for still being here

Melissa K · « **Reply #1421 on:** September 06, 2012, 10:35 PM »

Hooray, Anissa!

Meg, glad to hear from you. Best of luck as you dive back in.

I'm actually fast drafting, too. My work today was scattered through a couple of scenes, so I'm not sure about my total. Over 1000, I think.

ruecole · « **Reply #1422 on:** September 06, 2012, 11:50 PM »

Anissa!

Meg!

Melissa!

Well, I wrote 992 words on an outline for a sequel to one of my short stories today. Not something I planned to do, but an idea hit so I thought I better write it down fast!

Still chipping away at both ETBs and the chick-lit novelette that was supposed to be done weeks ago, but has instead all but stalled out.

Rue

Melissa K · « **Reply #1423 on:** September 07, 2012, 09:56 AM »

Quote

Example: need terrible thing to happen that makes until-now enemies band together for the greater good. Um. What?

Rose, there's an established way to do this. You get an enormous troll to sneak into Hogwarts and attack the characters in the girls' bathroom.

Susan · « **Reply #1424 on:** September 07, 2012, 10:55 AM »

Hi, everybody!
Welcome back, Meg, good to see you.
Go, Melissa and Alissa, you rhyming couplet, you.
Rue, Pat, and Olmue, good work, too!

Robin, are you unstuck yet?

(I haven't visited for a week or more, so I haven't contributed to the "what gets me stuck" list. For me, I get stuck when I'm feeling lazy. That's really it. I hit some bump, or some knot in the chain, and climbing over the bump or unpicking the snarl just seems like more than I can possibly do.)

I've been off and on, revising, but mostly on, and glad to report that Part 1 is totally ready to be seen by my crit partners. Am requiring of myself that Part 2 reach the same point by Sunday. Hold me to it, gang!

PatEsden · « **Reply #1425 on:** September 08, 2012, 08:31 AM »

Okay, fellow fast drafters. I've tagged you all (if you have time and want to play, no pressure). I'd love to know more about your projects. http://patesden.livejournal.com/

PatEsden · « **Reply #1426 on:** September 09, 2012, 03:40 PM »

I'm at 4,000 words and offically feel like I'm ready to start drafting. The beginning started off with a loads going on, but I seem to have slipped into what may be too much setting (or maybe not). I'm trying to not think about it right now and just keep moving forward. LOL, easier said than done.

How are all you doing? Good writing weekend or roadblocks?

For fun, here's the line I ended on for this afternoon.

“Did you get the silverware?” she says, over the sound of ripping toilet paper.

Anissa · « **Reply #1427 on:** September 09, 2012, 07:53 PM »

Thanks for all the cheers.

I can't remember who posted it, but the link to the triangle metric for increasing your output was an eye-opener. I REALLY need to know what comes next in the story in order to get the words down quickly. I guess I'm going to have to sit down and plot.

Here's to a productive week for all!

Melissa K · « **Reply #1428 on:** September 10, 2012, 07:33 PM »

Susan--Well? Did you finish Part 2?

Pat--Sounds like you're in a good spot.

Anissa--Thanks, and good luck!

My in-laws were in town for the weekend, but I snagged 20-minute writing sessions in the mornings and evenings. Not enough for substantial forward movement, but enough to keep my head in the game. This morning I was able to dig right in and get a lot done.

Susan · « **Reply #1429 on:** September 11, 2012, 12:11 PM »

Okay, it took until just this minute to finish Part 2. But I'm so happy with it!

Pat, I'm steering clear of adding more posting and networking right now--they are my favorite ways to avoid real work!--so forgive me for not joining your game. 4,000 words would be a huge output for me. Don't stop to wonder how it's going, just keep going!

You rock, Melissa, for keeping your focus on the story through a distracting weekend.

Anissa, it was Helene Boudreau who first posted that triangle thingy on this thread. I go over each point at start of work each day, a tiny ritual (like pouring that first

, and even more useful).

Melissa K · « **Reply #1430 on:** September 11, 2012, 02:58 PM »

Quote

Okay, it took until just this minute to finish Part 2. But I'm so happy with it!

Sounds awesome, Susan.

Another 1,000 for me today, even after I spent a long hour blocking out my next couple of scenes. I have been actually fast drafting for weeks, and my word count is climbing.

New goal for me: Finish my first draft of this project by September 30. You are my witnesses.

ruecole · « **Reply #1431 on:** September 12, 2012, 06:50 PM »

Today I wrote 1830 words and the chick-lit novelette is DONE!!!! I still need to go back and do some editing and polishing, but I'm SOOOOOO happy to finally get the writing completed and out of my hair!!!

Now I can focus on ETBs again!!!!

This calls for all kinds of dancing emoticons:

Rue

PatEsden · « **Reply #1432 on:** September 12, 2012, 09:04 PM »

:

Go! Rue

Load of dancing for Rue! Congratulations on finishing.

And go, Melissa and Susan!

I haven't made any progress on my WIP. But I wrote a nonfiction article that was do, shot it off to my superfast CP, tinkered with it a little, sent it to the editor and he approved it. So I did get rid of one roadblock to fast drafting. :dragon:

olmue · « **Reply #1433 on:** September 12, 2012, 09:13 PM »

Rue!

Up to about 25K on one and 16K on the other. It's taking a long time, but I'm making progress!

ruecole · « **Reply #1434 on:** September 13, 2012, 11:58 PM »

Thanks, guys! I'm still kinda floating along here! Dunno if I mentioned, but I started that story in 2005! It feels SO good to finally have it done!

Now I just gotta get back into MG mode again!

Rue

Melissa K · « **Reply #1435 on:** September 14, 2012, 03:15 PM »

Hooray for Rue! (I'm creating dancing emotions for you in my imagination. Unfortunately the actual smileys give me headaches, so I keep them switched off.)

Rose & Pat, it sounds like you're getting good work done.

I've made some progress lately, though it hasn't been very satisfying, I'm afraid. For some reason my characters keep talking boringly about what to do next instead of just doing it. Will probably cut most of today's writing eventually.

Melissa K · « **Reply #1436 on:** September 15, 2012, 11:02 PM »

Small breakthrough just now: I realized I'd lost sight of my two main characters' internal goals. I was just focusing on their external desires, and I think that's why they were stuck in the dramatic non-space of talking and talking and talking about what they wanted to do--because I wasn't connected to the emotional truth behind their choices.

I think I've written, like, seven words today. Still, I feel like I made progress.

ruecole · « **Reply #1437 on:** September 15, 2012, 11:08 PM »

Yay for breakthroughs!

Rue

Susan · « **Reply #1438 on:** September 16, 2012, 07:36 AM »

Sounds like September is bringing renewed impetus, or at least clarity--all good!

I'm plugging through the revision of Part 3--unsnarling a stubborn "when do they know it" issue that changes three episodes (but tightens them, so it's for the good!), and polishing the rest. Of course, when I call this *the* revision, I'm ignoring the two major (and several minor) earlier revisions that happened during the first draft of Part 3. (Have I mentioned that I'm a revisaholic?)

Back to work.

PatEsden · « **Reply #1439 on:** September 16, 2012, 10:35 AM »

I'm glad you figured out what had you stuck, Melissa. The right 7 words is far better than 10,000 forced, wrong ones.

Susan, I always feel stupid when I say I'm done with revising or a revision. Personally, I think revisaholic isn't nessarily such a bad thing.

Right now, I'm cleaning off my corkboard. It feels wrong to take off all my notes and index cards for the story I'm querying, but the physical act of boxing up this stuff helps me move on my new project--for now.

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Author Topic: Drifting into Spring Fast Drafting! (Read 32889 times)