Whine...and you're whining alone. Ha--not really. If you feel the need to vent, I'm all ears. It's been a crazy, hectic, whirlwind of a Fall so far. In fact, I've only found the time to post this today because I'm waiting on a phone call from our physician about daughter #2--she fell at school yesterday and we think she sprained her ankle. But she's had foot issues before, so we're waiting for the "final word." (Update: A simple sprain, thank goodness!)
A month ago, after working all day, running the girls to two after school programs and then hanging out with doctors, and getting ready for another's field trip today, I wouldn't have thought about trying to squeeze in writing.
But last night, I sat down and pushed out four and a half more pages before crawling off to bed.
It's weird, but it's working for me. Candy Havens says 'Just do it. No excuses, no worries, NO EDITING. Just get it down as fast as humanly possible.'
And I thought, what the heck. I really believe that no one system works for everyone, and we each must find our own best way to get those words on the page--but I'm liking this. It kind of freeing.
Any special techniques or methods that work for you?
8 comments:
Speaking of feet issues, my podiatrist recently told me that I have 'bad' feet. He said he couldn't believe I haven't broken my ankles a ton of times throughout my life. Luckily I've been excessively lazy all of my life-keeping me off my feet- so I've never broken anything. The doctor actually offered to break my feet for me and form them into 'good' feet. I had to go with no.lol. I'll just maintain the laziness!LOL!
Okay, I agree with that writing advice. I was told something similar by Terri, though she said, "Vomit it out" in regards to writing. Slightly less eloquent but it definitely gets the point across!(I have a sign over my computer now that says that.)
Janga said something that stuck with me. She quoted Faulkner as saying "Kill your darlings." That was excellent advice and I have a sign taped to the comp that says that, too.
Great blog, Gillian!
Hi Kelly! Good grief, did he really offer to do that? I would have to be falling down on a daily basis to even consider it!
I'm really glad your writing is going well. :)
Techniques for whining? Just kidding.
I do the push-it-out-as-fast-as-you-can thing. If not for that, I would never write at all.
Hi Alice! I have three girls, which equates to a Master's degree in Whining, right?? ;)
I'm at 11 pages today, which is a miracle for me. I'm not happy with the amount of revisions I'll have to do. But maybe if this is how I always write, then the quality will improve along with the quantity. We'll see!
My secret technique? Ha ha. I do try to write everyday, even if it's just a couple of hundred words. I try to make sure they're the "right" words, so my first draft is not a total train wreck, and I tinker in short batches. I break all the "turn off the internal editing rules." No vomiting for me. I wish I could just write massive amounts at once---an odd interplanetary alignment has to be in place before that happens!
Maggie, I attended a workshop by SEP once and she said she just writes and edits, writes and edits some more--so that by the time she hits the end, it's really "the end". And Lord knows it works for her! :)
Different strokes for different folks:)
Yes, I am of the eloquent sentiment of "vomit it out." Though I did not come to this conclusion on my own. Kim Killion and Megan Kelly somehow got the concept through my thick skull. And it's the only thing that allows me to move forward.
And I'm guessing you won't have as much editing to do as you think. I've found that when I go back, it's not nearly as bad as I fear. And I'm not that great at this. LOL! So I bet your first draft isn't bad at all!
Hi Terrio! Thanks for stopping by.
You know, my favorite part so far is that I feel so much closer to my characters and what's motivating their actions. That alone, I hope, will make the re-writes smoother.
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