I've been thinking about this topic a lot in my writing life and my other life. Reevaluating how I do things - not because anything is going wrong, but because I'm reaching some milestones and I have space and time to do that thinking (unlike the state of near-frenzy I usually find myself in.) It's instinct, I think, to stick to something that is working (if it ain't broke, don't give yourself a hernia trying to fix it) and it makes sense in this hyper anxious world to not fall into the trap of over analyzing every little thing.
But, it's not a bad thing to evaluate your writing from a place of strength - rather than waiting until you hit a brick wall or something goes wrong with your work in process. Notice I didn't say 'if' something goes wrong. You and I both know that it will.
Here's what I'm thinking about with my own writing. Word count, while important in the past, is meaningless to me now. I came to the realization while editing my last book (seven months of intense editing and re-writing) that slowing down a bit will help me be more cohesive during the drafting process, instead of having to inject cohesion later on (which is harder and more painful.) To be fair to myself, my last book was started in the flustered shenanigans of NaNoWriMo, so it makes sense. I just don't want to do it the hard way again. I aim to be the turtle, not the hare.
This time I'm taking my time doing research, building my characters and world, and living in that space for a while.
Last time, I also purposefully did not read any writing books. I was afraid that they would unduly influence me, get me off track, make me lose my momentum. I'm notorious for seeking a 'magic bullet' in how-tos - it's as if the For Dummies books were written with me in mind. But, while that kind of blinkered focus worked for getting BOOKEND out, (and hey, I'm not complaining, it got me agented) it also added to the heavy lifting in the editing stage.
This time I'm using the Breakout Novel Workbook during the drafting process. This book, if not all writing how-tos, is perfect to read while drafting (and not before) because it's expanding. It takes the story you think you have and stretches it in lots of different directions.
So, how do you reevaluate your writing process? Is the best time to look closely at that process right now?
Alex, I have found myself doing the same thing lately. I am starting a new project and have decided that I won't worry so much about getting it done as opposed to getting it done right. Thanks for the confirmation. :)
ReplyDeleteLinda - it's a hard lesson to learn, right? Even now that I've said it, I still feel a nagging 'come ON' in my head that my word count isn't high enough. Old habits die hard, but I'm convinced it's the right way to go for now. And who knows, for my next book (sounds like, "for my next trick!") maybe I'll find a different way through. Good luck on your WIP!
DeleteI completely agree with taking things slowly, really crafting the story, rather than rushing through it. The thoughtful and slow approach really gives you a stronger foundation when you enter into revisions and editing. Life doesn't need to be that hard.
ReplyDeleteDid the query process provide insight into the writing process you might not have been able to get from a book?
Laura, that's a good question about the query process. I was honestly hoping querying would give me insight, in the sense that when you query, you hope you get some feedback along with rejections. But I never got any helpful rejections, only form ones. And try as I might, I couldn't divine anything from those 'Dear Author' rejections. But I have heard from other writers that the feedback they've gotten, even when being rejected, has been more insightful and more focused than anything they've gotten out of a book. Moral of the story is do it all - read the books (writing and in your genre) go to the conferences and get online. Immersion is my new mantra!
DeleteAlex,
ReplyDeleteI find that my own process shifts to accommodate the project (or maybe is shifted by the project...suggesting it has its own agenda and is dragging me along); whereas in my youth I was all about trying to figure out the "one true" way of writing a story or novel. Maass's book is a great one, as you say, to comb through while drafting. And I am an advocate for going slowly enough that you can listen to the story as you write it. But, then, I wouldn't try and foist my process on anybody else. Part of the work of this here story writin' stuff is figuring out how your own process is shaped. Again...it's a lot of listening as well as doing.
-gregory frost
Hi Greg
DeleteThanks for stopping by. I totally agree. There have been other things that have worked in the past that aren't working the same way now. I guess it's because, as you write, you learn more and more about yourself as a writer. Plus every book demands something new from you- of your doing it right! The idea of finding THE way to write is so appealing, especially when you're just starting out and need a road map. But there is no one way and once we realize that, magic can happen, I think.