It's one of those mornings when my (decaf!) coffee won't stay warm. Which is disconcerting, since I'm still in denial that summer is actually over.
Le sigh!
At any rate, I would like to send forth a GREAT CHEER for those of you who responded to my Twitter plea yesterday for the neglected SA entries. Throughout the day, critiques came through specifically for the number range I'd specified (13-33). On behalf of the entrants, THANK YOU!
I'm looking forward to a weekend of relaxed plotting. Admittedly, I'm a tough nut to crack, but I've had yet another revelation about the way-things-should-be for me as a writer. This time, it's the whole It's Okay To Stare At Nothing For Days thing. I've fought it, I've hated it, I've berated myself for being unproductive.
And now? I think I've finally come to terms with the fact that this intense brain time is necessary. And that it's ALLOWED. I'm just so goal-oriented and results-focused that when I'm staring and thinking and scribbling a few notes in my notebook, I invariably feel like I'm doing nothing.
I think I've finally learned that I'm actually doing a lot. Hence the "relaxed plotting."
So bring on the weekend and the illegible plot notes! I'm ready.
Hope you have a delightful end-of-week, too!
I do feel like the plotting time is unproductive b/c there's no word count, no pages edited. But I'm in that phase right now and accepting that it's needed for the health of my future story1
ReplyDeleteI find when I stare at nothing...nothing comes. When I'm all soapy in the shower, nodding off to sleep, or in the middle of a work-related meeting, that's when my plot points arrive. Then comes the game of trying to remember them. O_o
ReplyDeleteI can spend weeks outlining my WIPs, and the vast majority of that time is spent NOT outlining. I enjoy outlining, but I can see why people would feel unproductive. Yet, in my opinion, it's one of the most crucial parts to writing!
ReplyDeleteRelaxed plotting. I like that. It's like a vacation where I get to do my very favorite thing.
ReplyDeleteUgh! I thought you said 1-13!!! Oh well, think I popped in to quite a few. Can't wait to see who the secret agent is!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm learning that sometimes my best plotting happens when I'm not looking--and I'm learning to tune it in better.
ReplyDeleteHave a great "relaxed" weekend. :D
I love relaxed plotting! It's so nice to just take a break and order my thoughts. It makes the writing part much easier.
ReplyDeleteI used to have a 500 wd/day goal and would scold myself if I didn't reach it. But after the third time I threw out 3000+ wds because I realized the plot/scene/characterization had to go in another direction, I've gotten more patient. Now if I need to slow down, step back, and reevaluate, I give myself all the time I need.
ReplyDeleteIt's not a race to see how much you can get down. It's training for the Olympics where you must be sure the end product is outstanding.
Ask Jennifer Crusie (NYT Bestseller List) about her writing method--she stares out the window for how ever many months it takes, then turns around and starts typing. Eileen Dreyer stops typing every so often and walks around her house. She thought this was lack of discipline. Turns out she was an ER nurse for 20 before starting to write--she'd trained herself to think on her feet, so that's how she did her plotting. IOW, whatever works. No extra points for method used; it's however you get a quality product done. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteWell, now I feel like my staring at random things and not working productively is a good thing. I'm relaxed plotting. Thanks for that! <3
ReplyDeleteFor some reason I'm having a harder time than usual accepting that it's getting colder and colder and colder... so depressing. :/
ReplyDeleteGood for you!
ReplyDeleteFriday Fricassees are my favorite posts. You share with honest candor, and you know what's so strange? I'm often at the same point as you (in a WIP, MS, etc.) so it's like personal therapy. But I live in AZ, so I can't lament about the close of summer. It's still over 100 degrees here.
@Laura C- I need to learn that valuable lesson so bad!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's frustrating to me, if I only get 200 words down and depressing when I write nothing at all! I've gotta learn how to work when I can and what fits my lifestyle.
oh! interesting article! thanks for it!
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI'm testing my google-ability!