by Bo'sun | January 11th, 2010
I started this little writing journey back in December of 2006. Back then it was “I guess I could write something just for my own enjoyment.” By the summer of 2007 it turned into “I may try to get this published, but it’s no big deal if I don’t.” By the summer of 2008, it turned into “I *will* become a published author.”
Unfortunately, in all this time, production did not keep up with intention. So as 2010 starts, I still have no finished product to pitch. In fact, I don’t even have half a product. But that’s about to change.
I have completely and totally embraced plotting. I’m aware this is no surprise to everyone else. If one more person says, “Of course you’re a plotter, duh,” I’m going to throw the undead monkey at them.
It seems the last couple months were full of “AHA!” moments for me, not the least of which is the joy of storyboarding. I’ve been reading everything Jenny Crusie writes/wrote about the craft of writing and put that together with Hellie’s info on storyboarding. I now have a beginning, middle, and end with action that escalates all the way through. There are turning points, a clear mid-point where the story kicks up a notch, and two black moments. And we can’t forget the HEA.
I can add, move, or remove any post-it, and it’s a miracle for a visual person like me to see my entire book in one poster board sized picture. It’s like I can *see* the story. Now, this doesn’t mean getting the actual words on the page will be any easier. But, I have a clear direction and feel more confident about what I’m trying to do.
So, this is about “AHA!” moments. My favorite one from these last couple months was Hellie’s advice to write larger than life. One of my major weaknesses is that I rarely think outside the box. So now when I get stuck, I ask myself what could I put here that would be exaggerated? And it works! Nothing too big, but nothing run-of-the-mill either.
What was your latest “AHA!” moment and what is the best one you’ve experienced since starting this crazy writing rollercoaster? What tip or tips have you used more than anything else? And if you want to give credit to those who share the best advice, feel free to share here. I’m sure we’d all appreciate it.
Well, I had a nice AHA moment on Friday, as I rambled through the comments from me blog, I saw it, clear as day. Not news ta Terrio, but I found a home fer me writin’!
I figure it ain’t gonna be a warm welcome, but I’m used ta crashin’ the party. The big ballroom a’ fantasy will manage ta fit me in and make way fer me style a’ dancin’!
It were an AHA moment, though it may a’ been obvious ta those around me. Much as Terrio’s ray a’ sunshine that she be a plotter!
Best advice? Hmmmm… I’ve heard this a bit and I’m listenin’ ta it more each time I hear it. F*ck contests.
And let me toss this in…best advice I can give? The Kraken is hungry, feed it yer inner critics everyday. As long as it takes…
Nice board a’ post its, Terrio. Wonder what they all say?
Neither a plotter nor a pantser be.
Always let your creativity roam free.
Let imagination soar like a bird from a tree.
Thats the way a writer should see.
IMHO
I envy anyone who plots. I don’t. Can’t. I depend solely on wispy figments that occasionally drift by. I had to do a synopsis not long ago for my unwritten, unplotted novella for Kensington, and I’ve strayed from it significantly already.
I have no advice, except to keep writing, but know when you’ve revised enough. I really think I could keep tweaking even after stuff is in print.
Chance – Huzzah for finding a home!!! Though, yeah, the rest of us knew that. LOL! And what’s on the post-its? Why, a love story, of course.
Q – THAT is the awesome part. This story board is an enormous help in me finding my creativity. There are more than 35 post-its on that board and they took some doing, my friend. And it was fun!
Maggie – I’m still so stuck in getting my first first draft done, I’ve no idea how I’ll do with revisions. Though since revision was my favorite part of school papers, I’m holding out hope it won’t be so bad. Too bad there isn’t some magical bell that goes off when it’s DONE. LOL!
Aha moments, huh? I don’t know. Probably that action is better than description. (At least for me as I used to spend too much time describing).
I think Maggie’s advice is great. Just keep writing. The more you write the more you figure out, I think.
So glad that plotting is helping you out, Ter!
I find it useful, that’s for sure.
Marn – I do almost NO description. LOL! Though, “She turned the door knob and then she pushed the door open and then she entered the room and then she shut the door and locked it” isn’t really any better. LOL!
Okay, I’m not *that* bad. But in the beginning, it was close.
I’m sorry I missed all of last week. I’m buried in year end stuff and new year stuff until the end of the month. I’m badly in need of a vacay, margarita and cabana boy.
I actually wrote a little bit about this for this weeks blog too, Ter. In a different direction though. We’re on the same wavelength. I’m bound and determined to get back on the bandwagon this year. Sweat, blood and tears. That’s what it’s gonna take.
*passes Sin a LARGE margarita*
No worries, doll. Do what you need to do. But at least if you’re busy, the time should fly by.
And I’m guessing it’s safe to assume your AHA! moment is not that you’ve started plotting. LOL! Can’t wait to see where you go with it. This is the year we do this. You’ll make it happen, I have faith.
I feel like Ron in the Deathly Hallows when Harry tells Hermione that Ron saved Harry’s life–and Ron says, “You make me sound cooler than I was.” (And Harry says, “This stuff always sounds cooler than it was was. I’ve been telling you that for years.”)
Anyway, I didn’t say “larger than life”–I said, “Exaggerate the hell out of it.” I mean, not only do you make me sound cooler, but you gave me a better vocabulary.
Let’s see. Tips and crap.
“You’re only a failure if you quit.”
“Keep writing anyway.”
“Be yourself. The world already has a Jennifer Crusie and Lisa Kleypas.”
“A little bit is better than nada.” (To shift away from the excuse: it’s too late to write tonight because I only have 10 minutes before I go to bed.)
“I want a guy who’s willing to take a bullet for me.”–clearly this is the model to build all heroes.
I’m going to finish this book this year. Because I really want those Harry Potter audio CDs and I can’t get them without finishing that book.
Everyone knows you’re the coolest bloke on this ship. That’s why you’re the Captain, after all.
And you quoted my kiddo. Ahhhh..LOL! Yes, hers is the “bullet” quote there. That’s what she said on the way out of The Young Victoria yesterday. If she didn’t look so much like me (the poor thing) that would have cinched that she’s mine right there. LOL!
I need to cling to that “A little bit is better than nada” one, since I think I wrote three sentences this weekend. Brain got a little stuck. But it’ll get unstuck real soon. Or we’re going to scuffle.
I got a blog written this weekend. That’s my progress of the week. lol
And you know better with the plotting. I think I’m going to take up writing with the paper notebook again. I have more success at least until I get my desktop fixed and set up. I wanna do a full upgrade on it but need to fix my old laptop first.
I have new quotes on my desk that I hope will serve to keep me moving as a writer this year.
1. “I live, I live with an absolutely continuous sense of failure. I am always defeated, always. Every book is the wreck of a perfect idea. The years pass and one has only one life. If one has a thing to do at all, one must do it and keep on and on and on trying to do it better.”
–Iris Murdoch
2. “I heard a preacher say recently that hope is a revolutionary patience; let me add that so is being a writer. Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don’t give up.”
–Anne Lamott
3. Revision is part of the process; it’s not the goal.
–Janga
I can’t think of an AHA moment just yet — I’m still pumping caffeine into my system, trying to get the levels back up to “normal”.
I was curious, Chance, why you don’t like contests? I have had mixed feelings about them in the past. This past year I’ve won a couple, and finaled in a couple others — got an agent request from one, and am waiting to hear on another that has two editors as final judges. I definitely get some odd low scores mixed in, but that seems to be the norm.
Anyway, would love to hear your thoughts!
Janga – You are the Queen of the Quote. And I love that you have your own quote in there. That’s very accurate. But it leads me to ask, what is the goal? I’m thinking it’s different for everyone. Maybe that’s a whole new blog topic.
Donna – I’ll take this one since I sort of got Chance to the “Fuck contests” mindset. There are books that fit into the world of contests. At least the contests I’m familiar with in RWA land. And books that do not fit. When a book doesn’t fit well or even close to mainstream, often more harm than good can come out of a contest entry.
Everyone has heard the horror stories. I actually have a friend who received the feedback “English is obviously not this writer’s first language.” The list of crazy, harmful, sometimes insulting feedback goes on and on.
So, I simply suggested Chance seek feedback from other sources because her experience echoes with the negative side. She was getting more battered and questioning her work more because she was trying to fit a round book into square contests.
It’s one of those “good for some, not good for all” kinds of things IMO. And I stress the IMO.
Oh, and CONGRATS! LOL! How could I leave that out? How did it go with the agent and when will you hear from the editors?
Bo’sun,
I know exactly what you mean about trying to fit a round book into square contests!
I basically enter the contests with the goal of getting my book in front of agents/editors — and any feedback I get is extra. And some of it IS bizarre — for example, someone telling me I can’t have a hero with a certain color of hair. Okay, fine. EXCEPT MY HERO DIDN’T HAVE THAT COLOR HAIR! LOL
I’ve (finally!) learned not to take those things to heart. But it took a while. And you are right — it can be soul-crushing, which isn’t good for a writer, because we always question our work.
Whew — long-winded! Guess the caffeine is doing its job!
I haven’t heard back from the agent yet (fingers crossed I didn’t just jinx myself!), but it’s only been 2 months.
And the contest with the two editors — that should be the end of THIS month.
Doesn’t it just kill you some of the things they’ll send back to an author? Sometimes I think they shouldn’t be anonymous, maybe that would make them think twice about what they say.
All fingers and toes and cutlasses crossed for ya! You must keep us posted!
Thanks, Bo’sun! I will definitely keep you posted — I’m sure the crossed cutlasses will do the trick!
Donna – What Terrio said.
And good luck!
Hee, hee, I do like that phrase, ‘A round story into a square contest.’ I ought to print that up and put in where I can see it all the time!
Hellie – She made you sound prettier? Maybe she heard it with ruffles on it even if you didn’t say it that way.
Sin! Missed you! Where is your blog posted? Or is this the one you’re going to dazzle us with later this week!
Of course I quoted the kiddo. That was a hilarious line. Very quotable.
I agree: if you’re going to send to contests, you have to not take them personally. Which I know I can’t do, so I don’t send them to contests. *LOL*
I’ve actually only entered one contest and outside of the “your hero sounds gay” comments (yes, PLURAL), it wasn’t so bad. I am, however, petrified to ever do it again. Like Hellie, I can’t NOT take it personally. I’m crushed too easily.
Should make the query stage interesting.
This bit about not taking it personally. Man, how can we not take it personally? If someone walked up to Terrio and said something insulting about her daughter, you bet she’d take it personally.
I’m not sure what the answer is…save to take it from a distance? If that is possible.
You know, take it personally…scream, shout, punch…all the while running hell bent for leather the other way. Then take a deep breath, turn around and calmly walk back. Take the comments, scribble on them and take it personally. Just don’t let it knock you down.
And this from a person who really sees it all, is uber sensitive, easily crushed. But then…I get mad. And that is what helps.
And time, distance… I’m one a’ those who figure when the Amazon comments start adding up, I will avoid them like a patch of poison oak. I can’t afford to be sidelined by poison people. And that’s about how I’ve come to view contests.
But Donna? If they work for you, fabulous. You have what they are looking for and that is wonderful. Plus, you’re getting the good judges! You and Jane-o!
That “it’s not personal” thing always reminds me of the line from You’ve Got Mail. Something like, “It’s not personal means it’s not personal to you. But it’s personal to me.” I love that movie, but talk about a totally unbelievable HEA. The dude put her out of business and they NEVER made that right. Gah!
Chance is right, these stories are our children and we spend months, sometimes years *cough*me*cough* working on them. Blood sweat and tears and Sin says. I’m not saying you have to love it or lie if you don’t. And feedback that says, “This didn’t work for me because…” is awesome.
But from what I hear, that’s not how it often shakes down.
That should be “AS Sin says.” Damn it, ruined a totally good rant with a typo. LOL!
I’m always so shocked at how closely our writing journey has mirrored each other. It was late 2006 for me as well! Mary and I had a whole conversation trying to establish how long we’ve been at this so we make “late 2006″ be “early 2007″ to make me feel better about the timing.
My AHA! moments have been all about plotting. I cannot move forward if I don’t have a clear plot map in front of me. I like the idea of the Post-Its. I did something similar with a long piece of tape on the wall which has Post-Its for TPs, word counts, and then all the plot points. So helpful! This past weekend involved plot immersion and I discovered so many things that were holding me back. I finally felt like I had plot success instead of complete failure. Ter, we will get these WIPs COMPLETED!
Pantsers, I don’t know how you do it.
I can totally change that to “early 2007″. Not a problem. LOL! Though at least I can say *this* WIP has only been under construction since Oct 09. So what if the last one never got finished?
Sounds like the same system only you did a straight line and I did five lines. I think everyone plots to some extent, even the most staunch pantsers. (Yes, you know who you are.) Even if you sat down at the comp this morning with no idea where you were going, if you took three minutes to think about it and say, “I could throw them into this and have him do that” then you plotted.
I just need more than three minutes and a whole mess of post-its. LOL!
It really is the visual for me. It’s not so out in the ether and untouchable when it’s all on the board like that. But at the same time, something could appear out of the ether at any moment to add or change what’s there. If you remember everything is flexible, it becomes less stringent.
I’d like to enter a contest just to say I entered but the harsh feedback is worrisome. I don’t understand why people say the things they do. For one, many of them are not professional editors. It boggles the mind that they can say such harsh comments with such authority. Often times, contests are for the unpublished as well so the comments should be put in a positive, tho constructive way for the author, not hurtful.
Not all feedback is harsh. I got feedback for a contemporary that was positive and I even got a request from an editor–but I hadn’t finished it and by the time I got the feedback, I wasn’t interested in finishing the book. Period. Regardless of editor request. So my recommendation about contests is: if you’re going to enter, make sure you’re entering something FINISHED.
And I’m positive there are great judges out there giving ever so helpful feedback. Don’t mean to paint them all with one brush. Unfortunately, no one feels the need to rave about their positive feedback online. LOL! We do like to focus on the negative and sharing the negative stuff is a great form of therapy.
But there are those I know who have finaled in contest after contest, even the GH, and still not sold.
So in addition to having something finished, know exactly why you’re entering, be picky about where you submit your work, and never believe contests are the silver bullet that will get you in the door.
The negative is much easier to remember. And much more story-telling worthy.
For instance, people are much more interested to hear about my bad date that ended with the line, “I’m looking for a love like the Titanic and you’re not it” than for the one or two dates I’ve had where I didn’t end up stabbing him with my fork or contemplating suicide by napkin cloth. You’d be amazed by the disappointed sounds in people’s voices when they go, “Really? He wasn’t an asshole on your date?” as if they’re begging you to just make up something.
“You’re right. He made me pick up the tab, then he tried to run out of gas, thinking he was going to get sex for dessert. Then he called me by the wrong name.”
I’m sure someone will read that last line and go, “YOU TOO?!”
LOL!
http://l.yimg.com/img.omg.yahoo.com/omg/us/img/08/e1/3369_11902703032.jpg
And I have to post this because I’m just so in love today! *LOL*
That is a lovely pic!
And yup, Jane-o has met some wonderful judges. And if I went back and carefully read all the comments, I’m sure there are some good ones. I do get the interesting premise stuff fairly often!
Course, who knows how they are defining interesting!?
So! I’m a closet plotser? I sorta resent that idea, though certainly there is be some split second plotting before the fingers go on the keys. I wonder what writing from the purely immediate moment might look like?
Oh, my blogs! That’s what they’d look like!
And yes, honestly…I spend the time in the car daydreaming what is going to happen next. Then sit down and do something totally different. Anti-plotting?
I <3 Rupert.
Sorry, big boss called me into her office and we were off! Good things, though. Whew. Makes me nervous whenever she does that.
Chance – I believe that would be stream of consciousness (sp?) and would read like letter writing I imagine. It’s more…a conversation. I’m sure it can be done, but likely difficult to tie into a cohesive full-length novel.
You’re a rebel plotter.
Who drinks too much.
Yes, writing as a stream of consciousness actually takes more skill than it looks like. I could just start blogging about my navel because it’s the first thing that came to mind, but what would be the point and who would care?
Let me do a Professor Moody like shout:
AUDIENCE FIRST!
Constant vigilance, guys, against boring your audience. You need to have a point in mind already before you start…we’re not just hostage guinea pigs as you figure out your life. You’re not a teenager anymore and we’re not your mother.
*whine
Me biggest problem is that I usually find the point as I wander…
All who wander are not pointless (?)
This is how bad I am. I read “I could just start blogging about my navel because…” and due to where I live thought you left out the word “career” after navel. LOL! You’ll have to forgive me, a bite size Krackel is giving me the eye and it’s taking all my willpower to resist.
See, not boring the audience is tough for me. As proven by my blogs. LOL! But the storyboarding really helped with that. (I should storyboard my blogs.)
Chance – No, but by the time you wandered far enough to find your point, you’ll likely lose the reader.
Readers don’t typically have the time or patience to wait around for you to find the point. LOL!
Ah, but often, life doesn’t have a point. But I won’t bandy philosophy with you. I figure Hellie was obliquely scolding me for wandering blogs, not my books.
I hope.
I plot enough that I do have an ending in mind. But honestly, my plotting is hysterical because I swear…if I plot it out my muse will deliberately steer me away from that direction and I’ll spin somewhere totally different!
It may be kin to the idea of if I talk about it (plot about it) the energy will be drained from it??? I have to be sneaky, trick my muse…who is quite contrary.
I think my muse is a disciple of Coyote.
Like Terri, I’ve only entered one contest, bit I feel obligated to say thay my most helpful comments came from what one friend referred to as “the mean judge.” She gave me my lowest score, told me my initial set up seemed “contrived,” and marked a couple of sentences as “stilted.” Once I recovered from the blow to my ego, I realized that her feedback was actually more useful than the comments of the two judges who gave me very high scores and nothing but praise.
She was incredibly generous in the time she invested in reading my entry. She commented extensively on everything from word choice to voice. She also balanced all the negative comments with positive ones that let me know she liked my characters, thought the conflict potential was high, and found the sexual tension commendable. Her final comment was “IN ANY CASE, I WILL LOOK FOR THIS ONE IN THE BOOKSTORE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.”
This is just my long-wined way of saying sometimes the negative can have positive results. If TLWH is ever published, Judge J3 will be included in my acknowledgements.
OT–Ter, did you see Romance University’s interview with Carly Phillips and Laura Bradford on the contemporary romance?
http://romanceuniversity.org/2010/01/11/
contemporary-romance-hot-not/
Let me try that link again.
http://romanceuniversity.org/2010/01/11/contemporary-romance-hot-not/
And regarding plotting, I’m awed by storyboards and collages, but I’m with Bobbie Ann Mason, who said, “I’ve always found it difficult to start with a definite idea, but if I start with a pond that’s being drained because of a diesel fuel leak and a cow named Hortense and some blackbirds flying over and a woman in the distance waving, then I might get somewhere.”
I just accept the ideas and move into the mist.
This crew is the best!
I almost spit ginger ale all over at Hellie’s naval comment and Bo’sun’s reply.
Chance-when you talk about your writing it reminds me of the show Sienfield. When you hear the premise you scratch your head-A show about nothing?- then you see it and it is amazing.
Di
In march, my local RWA chapter is teaching us how to judge contests. I will definitely keep these things in mind.
Di
Ah, but often, life doesn’t have a point
Which is why we write fiction.
If you would like to write literature, you’re free to do so–but don’t expect me to participate in class. I didn’t do it in my undergraduate degree and I don’t plan to start now.
I see the homonyms are thowing people off.
Navel: that little vacuum part of my belly where lint is stored
Naval: where cute sailors works
I was talking about my vacuum, people.
Oh! Am I writing literature now?
*giggle
Damn, I thought I just got that settled!
Janga – Great link. I thought that was really interesting. I like reading contemporary, I just get lost in what is out there. Really. I get lost easy.
Di R – Well, I sure hope so! (I never watched Seinfeld…maybe I should have…)
Isn’t one of those navals an orange?
Thanks Janga!! I love how Carly reminds us that no one loves our babies as much as we do and to play nice with others. Always good advice. And hard to remember. *LOL*
I haven’t seen that, Janga, but I’ll check it out at home. And don’t get me started on muses.
Is yer muse on the loose?
I’ve given up, mine is out howling at the moon and sleeping all day, undoubtedly curled up with several randy bitches.
That’s what I get for inviting Coyote into my life all those years ago…
Sorry I’m late – busy day!
Love the plotting board! I did hte same thing, but started it out as an idea board.
My AHA moment one came during RT in Judi McCoy’s special plotting workshop. The idea of sitting with a group of people and a stack of post-its and plotting a book really hit home with me.
Now, I sit down at my desk, turn on some fun music according to what mood I want, and then just write little snippets about the story that come into my head. Anything. From what the characters look like, to plot twists, etc.
Then, I put all the post its on my story board randomly. I take a step back and look at them, trying to see what fits and what doesn’t. That’s when I weed things out and then try to organize my snippets into a semblance of a plot/storyboard.
My second AHA moment was when I took a step back from my WIP and saw exactly what was wrong. My characters are flat on the page and bore me to death. I need to spice them up some and make them multi-dimensional.
Best writing advice ever for me was also from Judi: WRITE THE DAMN BOOK!
Chance – I do not have a muse. *I* write my books and I do not sit around waiting for some flitty little invisible twit to show up and grace me with some words.
Though I don’t knock those who claim to have muses.
Sabrina – Sounds like the “Throw it against the wall and see what sticks” method. LOL! I actually never took Judi’s post-it plotting workshop and ended up doing it anyway. She’d be totally shocked, though she’d be more shocked to hear I’m writing.
I was to going to make that orange comment.
Off to check out the Carly link.
Di – We’d love it if you’d come back and do a guest blog telling us what you learned about judging. I think that would be great info for all of us!
That blog just made my day. I need to write faster! LOL!
Janga – You need to get those books out there!!!
I honestly don’t think my muse can write, he just whispers in my ear and tickles me with his whiskers…at the same time.
Quite annoying!
Today was my day for typos. That was supposed to be but I feel obligated to say that my most helpful comments came from what one friend referred to as “the mean judge.”
And I meant “long-winded,” not “long-wined.” Honestly, I haven’t had a drop of wine today.
We know what you meant, Janga.
Now go have that wine.
Chance – Muses need to shave?
Well, no…Coyote has long whiskers… I mean, he is a coyote, mostly.
I’m sure he thinks the idea of shaving something to totally laugh at!
I still have some a’ me rum samplers left… Hmmmm!
I think Chance does drugs.
Just sayin’ what we’re all thinkin’.