- Must stop being diverted by my inner editor and learn to write a first draft without agonising over every little detail. I can fix those in the first big edit of the story once it’s all written. So (a) if I can’t think of the exact word I need, I should put something similar, then highlight it so I can come back to it later and (b) if I know I’m using a word or phrase too many times, I should ignore it in the first draft (and again highlight it for future editing)
- Must also stop being diverted by research, however interesting it might be. For example, how come I spent two hours on Google street view last weekend, when all I was looking for was the distance between two places? And why did I stop writing for ages to look for a surname for a minor character? Maybe I need to differentiate between research that’s important to the story, and insignificant details that I can sort out later.
- Must stop procrastinating and kidding myself that playing Pyramid solitaire is my ‘thinking time’. Instead, I should use the time visiting blogs, learning from other people (about their mistakes?), leaving comments and, hopefully, getting to know other writers (and readers). The latter, of course, is the ONLY reason I spend time on Facebook and Twitter (so now who am I kidding??)
- Must keep going even when I feel like I am writing through treacle or, as I read recently, carving granite with a teaspoon. Must remember that, with every story I’ve written, I’ve gone through the phase of ‘This story is rubbish, it’s going nowhere, no-one will ever want to read it.’ But I’ve carried on and eventually found myself thinking “Hmm, maybe it isn’t too bad after all” and even “Yeah, it’s turned out to be quite a good story after all.” It’s happened before, and it will happen again with the current WIP (I hope!).
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Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Messages to Myself
I could also have called this ‘Mistakes not to Make’ - so here goes:
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Just as a PS - found this on my morning trawl through various blogs, which echoes my 4th message to myself, so thought it was worth adding!
ReplyDelete"Write when the book sucks and it isn’t going anywhere. Just keep writing. It doesn’t suck. Your conscious is having a panic attack because it doesn’t believe your subconscious knows what it’s doing."
And here's another one (see my first message!):
ReplyDelete"I let my first draft suck, kind of the Anne Lamott advice on “shitty first drafts". To me my first draft is just an attempt to start unfolding the flow and logic of the story. If I get stuck, I just put xxx in the draft (for figure this out later.)
I've put the link to the full blog on our Handy Writing Hints page.
OH Paula--I could add to my own list of musts and mustn'ts but what it comes down to in the end (for me anyway) is that I do a much better job writing under pressure. I always have--and believe that is why I allow myself distractions until crunch time. I do a lot of my own Diversions. Sigh. I wish I were wired to do it differently!!
ReplyDeleteCheers, Jenn
I agree with you and Jenn! I perform better under the pressure of a deadline. That's when I push past my insecurities and produce.
ReplyDeleteI love that split between the conscious and subconscious. Must push through and write, even when I don't want to, or even when I don't think I have anything to say. Must also push through writer's block. No one will publish and empty/blank document--anything else is fair game! :)
ReplyDeleteI often have to work through the same things. I think a lot of my issues are grounded in fear: fear of failure, fear of not being good enough, fear of being wrong... maybe even fear of success (what writer wants to be in the spotlight? It's surely not what we're about...).
ReplyDeleteI guess it's about convincing ourselves to just focus on the 'now' and leave anything else for 'later'.
When I can't think of the exact word I want, I usually do this _____. First drafts of long works tend to have a generous fistful of those. ;O)
ReplyDeleteDoing NaNoWriMo really helped me to quiet my inner-editor push forward through the muck. I still haven't gone back to edit my completed NaNo book, but I truly do like the story and think it has lots of potential.
Jenn and Ana - I always used to work better under pressure of a deadline. But a self-imposed deadline doesn't seem to work as well for me somehow!
ReplyDeleteJen - very true about the blank page! Usually I try to push my way through a blockage even though I know what I'm writing will need a lot more work on it in the future.
ReplyDeleteKelly - I think your fears are common to all writers. Even though I've been published, I still have those same fears. I bet even J.K.Rowling had the same with each HP book she wrote!
ReplyDeleteBeth - I quietened my inner editor during Nano, and it was a good exercise, I haven't back to mine, either, but it's there at the back of mine, and I keep thinking of ways I can improve it. It'll be my next project after my current WIP.
ReplyDeleteThis is so great. I am so guilty of many of the things you described.
ReplyDeleteIt takes me forever to write a first draft because I'm trying to make it 'perfect' the first time. (Ha ha.)
I am so easily distracted by the internet, blogs, etc. I do try not to use that as my 'warm up' time.
Great post, Paula!
Thansk, Debra. I'm the same with a first draft, agonising over words, phrases and every small detail, when I know I'll be going through it 10 (or more) times once I start revising and editing, and should leave the polishing until then!
ReplyDeleteI like the ________ when the right word eludes. And yes, why is it self-imposed deadlines aren't as strong as outside deadlines?
ReplyDeleteBecause, unless you're VERY disciplined (which I'm not!), self-imposed deadlines can become rather like elastic!
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteFamous last words: "Cut the Crap get on with the job!"
I only do blogging, etc., when having a T-break, as for tweeting ... I feel like a moron in a moron's world in twitterland! :o
Francine, you wouldn't believe how many times I say those famous last words to myself!
ReplyDeleteI try to visit blogs in the mornings, but only 'twitter' very occasionally.