Lessons about the writing process
Nov. 24th, 2003 08:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vaneramosI passed the 40,000 word mark on schedule this evening.
My original plan to write 3,000 words four days a week only worked for the first week. After that I settled into a rhythm of writing the minimum requirement, around 1,600 words a day. I have been gradually catching up and keeping pace since my daughters visited a week ago.
In several places the plot started to ramble meaninglessly and I had to write my way out of pointless detours, but at least it's coherent. Mostly I like how the book is turning out. Hardly any of it is near what I would consider publishable, but it's a beginning and it has given me some good ideas.
I did not take the well-informed advice to write a chapter by chapter outline before I started writing. I simply worked out my main characters, and a few ideas for what would happen, then let the story lead me along. At times I got lost, but was intrigued with how the characters suggested solutions to my questions, and how the story stumbled upon interesting, unforeseen characters and situations. I like the organic feeling I get from letting the characters tell me the story as I go.
The main problem with the novel is lack of research. One thing I knew at the outset: it would be a road trip. Since I don't know much about cars, I asked the nearest automobile specialist,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
danthered, for some advice. I wanted a car with some personality, and Daniel gave me a '59 DeSoto, along with information that would help me bring the car to life.
It did indeed. In places the car carried the story along, even brought me back from some awkward side tracks. Daniel gave me more information than I expected, but I ended up using practically all of it. Lots of appreciative meows and ankle rubbing go out to him.
Along the way I have done some web research on a few other topics crucial to the story, like ASL. One of the characters is deaf. I have known a few people in the deaf community, but research helped me add some detail.
This process has brought home what I already knew; that research is essential to the process. I didn't do much research beforehand because I couldn't foresee what I would need. Now I realize that what I research isn't important, as long as it's specific. I just need a variety of materials like an artist's pallette, waiting within reach when I need sensual and conceptual ideas to bring a narrative to life. I should have known to explore more ideas about Cyberspace, because most of the novel takes place in virtual reality. My lack of knowledge in that area is the greatest weakness of this writing.
Still, I'm having fun with it, glad that I chose something entirely whimsical for this first novel. I'm more pleased with the results so far than I expected. My mistakes this time will help develop my strategy for the next novel.
Going into the 10,000 word home stetch I have clear ideas about how the last few chapters will work out. This evening I'm in a position to push my word count ahead. That is desirable, because I would like to be nearly finished by Thursday. Dannydjjo might be coming for a visit that day, and then we'll be going back to Toronto on Saturday, which is his birthday. I don't expect to finish before he gets here, but would like to have the hard slogging done.
My original plan to write 3,000 words four days a week only worked for the first week. After that I settled into a rhythm of writing the minimum requirement, around 1,600 words a day. I have been gradually catching up and keeping pace since my daughters visited a week ago.
In several places the plot started to ramble meaninglessly and I had to write my way out of pointless detours, but at least it's coherent. Mostly I like how the book is turning out. Hardly any of it is near what I would consider publishable, but it's a beginning and it has given me some good ideas.
I did not take the well-informed advice to write a chapter by chapter outline before I started writing. I simply worked out my main characters, and a few ideas for what would happen, then let the story lead me along. At times I got lost, but was intrigued with how the characters suggested solutions to my questions, and how the story stumbled upon interesting, unforeseen characters and situations. I like the organic feeling I get from letting the characters tell me the story as I go.
The main problem with the novel is lack of research. One thing I knew at the outset: it would be a road trip. Since I don't know much about cars, I asked the nearest automobile specialist,
danthered, for some advice. I wanted a car with some personality, and Daniel gave me a '59 DeSoto, along with information that would help me bring the car to life. It did indeed. In places the car carried the story along, even brought me back from some awkward side tracks. Daniel gave me more information than I expected, but I ended up using practically all of it. Lots of appreciative meows and ankle rubbing go out to him.
Along the way I have done some web research on a few other topics crucial to the story, like ASL. One of the characters is deaf. I have known a few people in the deaf community, but research helped me add some detail.
This process has brought home what I already knew; that research is essential to the process. I didn't do much research beforehand because I couldn't foresee what I would need. Now I realize that what I research isn't important, as long as it's specific. I just need a variety of materials like an artist's pallette, waiting within reach when I need sensual and conceptual ideas to bring a narrative to life. I should have known to explore more ideas about Cyberspace, because most of the novel takes place in virtual reality. My lack of knowledge in that area is the greatest weakness of this writing.
Still, I'm having fun with it, glad that I chose something entirely whimsical for this first novel. I'm more pleased with the results so far than I expected. My mistakes this time will help develop my strategy for the next novel.
Going into the 10,000 word home stetch I have clear ideas about how the last few chapters will work out. This evening I'm in a position to push my word count ahead. That is desirable, because I would like to be nearly finished by Thursday. Danny
djjo might be coming for a visit that day, and then we'll be going back to Toronto on Saturday, which is his birthday. I don't expect to finish before he gets here, but would like to have the hard slogging done.
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no subject
Date: 2003-11-24 05:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-11-24 08:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-11-24 07:28 pm (UTC)I really like that aspect too. And while this year's NaNo was more planned than last year's, I think that I knew enough from last year's totally-by-the-seat-of-my-pants attempt to leave my characters room to surprise me. And they have.
My mistakes this time will help develop my strategy for the next novel.
True. And I also doubt that your mistakes this time are unrecoverable errors, but rather just part of the learning curve.
Kudos to you for sticking with it!
no subject
Date: 2003-11-24 08:38 pm (UTC)I did some more work this evening, and have just a little over 8,000 words to go. It looks like I'll be finished early, and have time to relax with my cub later this week.
Congrats there Van! I'm glad it's going so well.
Date: 2003-11-24 07:33 pm (UTC)Big hugs and looking forward to seeing you Thursday. THings are still on track for that.
Danny
Re: Congrats there Van! I'm glad it's going so well.
Date: 2003-11-24 07:38 pm (UTC)SmoochesX3
I'm in the middle of writing a really fun chapter. :-)
no subject
no subject
Date: 2003-11-25 06:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-11-25 01:47 pm (UTC)Last night I finally got my T-giving photos developed. There are two beautiful ones of you and Claude together in the grove. Really takes me back to a beautiful place and time.
There are some nice ones of you, Bill, and others, too.
hugs, Shimmer
no subject
Date: 2003-11-26 07:29 am (UTC)