Well, I've got the first six chapters of Dragon's Egg fully planned. Since that basically constitutes the first act I think I'm good to start actually writing this. This will partially be a plan to see whether this actually helps me get the actual chapters written faster. If it does, or at least helps make my writing sessions longer, then I know I'm on the right track. If it doesn't do anything for me, then I need to reconsider how I plan.
Eventually I plan to completely plan books before writing them, but for now I think I'm going to go partway with this, and have daily planning sessions, and then get actual writing done. This book needs to be done five months ago, and this way I actually have something to show while I plan the rest of the book. I probably won't get that much writing done tomorrow, what with it being Memorial Day and all that, but I wouldn't be surprised if I manage to get the first six chapters written within the next two days.
It's definitely all coming together, and since I have a rough idea of what's going to happen in the future I can add necessary foreshadowing to my detailed plan. I don't know if the actual writing process is going to be improved, but I feel much better about what I'm managing to get done. I especially need to get this project done so that I can spend more time focusing on plotting a webcomic I'm writing the script for. It's a project I'm pretty excited about, and think I'll have a lot of fun with. It would also help increase my portfolio, since I have not yet produced anything I would feel comfortable showing anyone. I've been working on stories, but they never seem to come together properly. So if I can get this planning method to pay off then I'll definitely be able to start producing more.
I should know by tomorrow if I am in fact on the right track. Either way, I need to be spending basically all day writing something or another. If I can make the majority of my day productive like that then I'll be in business.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
Start of the work day
Well, since I'm terrible at going to bed at anything reasonable, and incapable of getting out of bed before one thirty, I find myself starting my daily writing session a bit later than I probably should. But there are still plenty of hours left in this day, and it's not like I have anything else planned, so I expect to be productive enough.
I'm all ready here, sitting with the proper word documents open, I've got the right inspirational music playing, and I've got a can of Mtn Dew open next to me. It's my last can though, so I'm going to need to go buy more. But I just got paid today, so I can afford to buy a twelve pack before I put the rest of my pay check towards bills.
Anyway, it's moderately sunny outside, so I've got the pump running again to drain the water from the pool cover. I had it almost completely done, and then it started raining for three days. Quite annoying. But considering it's too cold still, or there aren't enough regular warm days, and there's no way the pool is ready to open, it's not like I'm losing any time draining it again. Though the back yard is getting a bit flooded with all the excess pool water.
But now that all that is in the process of getting done, I'm siting down now to spend a good few hours getting some writing done. I don't know how much I'll get done, or if I'll start the writing itself, or just focus on planning now. We'll have to see how things go. I'll probably focus on planning more, since I don't quite feel like I have enough of a buffer to make a start on writing the book itself.
So wish me luck, and that I don't have any distractions, I'm going in.
I'm all ready here, sitting with the proper word documents open, I've got the right inspirational music playing, and I've got a can of Mtn Dew open next to me. It's my last can though, so I'm going to need to go buy more. But I just got paid today, so I can afford to buy a twelve pack before I put the rest of my pay check towards bills.
Anyway, it's moderately sunny outside, so I've got the pump running again to drain the water from the pool cover. I had it almost completely done, and then it started raining for three days. Quite annoying. But considering it's too cold still, or there aren't enough regular warm days, and there's no way the pool is ready to open, it's not like I'm losing any time draining it again. Though the back yard is getting a bit flooded with all the excess pool water.
But now that all that is in the process of getting done, I'm siting down now to spend a good few hours getting some writing done. I don't know how much I'll get done, or if I'll start the writing itself, or just focus on planning now. We'll have to see how things go. I'll probably focus on planning more, since I don't quite feel like I have enough of a buffer to make a start on writing the book itself.
So wish me luck, and that I don't have any distractions, I'm going in.
The hardest part is getting started
"Well duh," say my readers. But it's true, even something as simple as starting some more planning is very difficult to do. I know that I myself, and I'm sure a lot of people do this, underestimate exactly how much work even the simple parts of writing are. For every writing session where everything flows nicely, there's always that period of time where you have to struggle to even get ideas. I know that it gets easier with time and practice, but for someone as afraid of effort as myself this is a crucial period. I have the desire to be a writer, but do I have the conviction?
Mostly, but not entirely. I think conviction is something that can be developed, but like everything else in life it takes a lot of effort. Even when I think back on things that were once hard, but are now easy, I have a hard time making the connection between those things that are now easy and the things that are hard now. I know that I've gotten better at things that were once hard, but for some reason I have a hard time convincing myself that something that is difficult now will be easy in the future.
Even when it's something that has happened recently. I think back to when I first started blogging, when I hardly had any posts, and I look at my blog now. I still don't have that many posts, but I've gotten enough that I realize all I need to do is take it one day at a time, one review at a time, and eventually I'll have a large blog. I look at the reviews I wrote about a year ago, and compare them to the ones I write now. Sure with a lot of them I was cracking more jokes, but looking at the ones that I write now I can't help but notice how my style has been refined as I wrote more and more. Anything can be learned over time, as long as we put the effort into it now.
The problem is that some things are easier to learn because the rewards come much faster. For example, it isn't hard to see the rewards for blogging, as long as you consider the rewards to be having a blog with posts in it. Every time you write a post, that's one more post to your blog, and you can see your archive growing. With something like writing a book the end result is a long way off. Having a finished manuscript, which is a great feeling, or holding your published work, which I can only imagine must feel incredible (am I the only one that has held a book and pretended it was something I wrote? Anyone?). The final product is incredibly rewarding, but what is one to do when the effort needed is overwhelming?
Well, if you're me then you start writing a new blog post to get in the mood to write. Or if you're stuck on your story. Or to wind down after having a particularly productive session. Either way, writing, any kind of writing, is a great way to get in gear. The trick is, moving from writing something like a blog post, to actually working on your book.
So, to try my hand at blogging to get into the writing mood, I'm going to start by writing a blog post for this blog before getting to work on my book. Probably nothing more than saying, "I had a good rest last night, the day is beginning beautifully, now that I've had breakfast I'm going to start writing." Maybe I'll ramble about what I plan to do during the day, writing related or not. Whichever it is, it will be something to get my brain working. I don't expect anyone to read those, not like there are that many people that read these posts right now anyway. I have a decent readership for my media review blog, but that hasn't translated to here. Not that it really matters, I don't expect to see too many people meandering over here until I've made my debut. The most important part is that this blog makes me feel just a little more like a writer, and when it comes to me mental state is the biggest part. If I can convince myself that I'm actually a writer, then I'm more likely to act like one.
But like I said, I'll definitely try to have something to say every morning. Maybe I'll even do something out of character, like discussing recent news, but don't hold your breath.
Also, while planning is incredibly productive, I think I'm going to try and spend at least a little bit of time making a start on the actual book. I'll keep ahead in my planning, and I'll keep an even pace with what I'm actually writing. This is to make sure I get the book done a bit faster. I am however a little worried that dividing my attention like this will be bad news for my actual planning. I might have to start scheduling what I do when. Give an hour or two for planning, and another hour for writing the actual book.
As long as I start out early in the morning. If I can get a bunch written in the morning then the rest of the day feels that much more productive. And while I may not have been getting as much done as I should, I've been successful in getting at least something done every day. Even when it is only a token effort, which I really need to eradicate. If I'm going to consider it actually getting work done, then I should actually get a lot done.
That being said, I'm far too easily distracted, and can only admit to a token amount of work getting done today. But I'm getting into the mood, even if I'm dead tired right now. So all I need to do is go to bed now, and get up in the morning when I can start the day out right and get a bunch of writing done. Here's hoping at least. I need to break out of my lazy habits.
Oh yeah, I get paid tomorrow, so then I should know exactly how badly I need another job. Here's hoping I actually get a decent pay check. I would say that way I can justify spending all day writing, but right now I don't think that needs much justifying. If I spent all day writing that would be a vast improvement from spending all day doing diddly squat. Oh internet, I love you so, but at the same time I sometimes wish you'd die, you dirty, rotten time waster.
...That was uncalled for, I'm really sorry.
Mostly, but not entirely. I think conviction is something that can be developed, but like everything else in life it takes a lot of effort. Even when I think back on things that were once hard, but are now easy, I have a hard time making the connection between those things that are now easy and the things that are hard now. I know that I've gotten better at things that were once hard, but for some reason I have a hard time convincing myself that something that is difficult now will be easy in the future.
Even when it's something that has happened recently. I think back to when I first started blogging, when I hardly had any posts, and I look at my blog now. I still don't have that many posts, but I've gotten enough that I realize all I need to do is take it one day at a time, one review at a time, and eventually I'll have a large blog. I look at the reviews I wrote about a year ago, and compare them to the ones I write now. Sure with a lot of them I was cracking more jokes, but looking at the ones that I write now I can't help but notice how my style has been refined as I wrote more and more. Anything can be learned over time, as long as we put the effort into it now.
The problem is that some things are easier to learn because the rewards come much faster. For example, it isn't hard to see the rewards for blogging, as long as you consider the rewards to be having a blog with posts in it. Every time you write a post, that's one more post to your blog, and you can see your archive growing. With something like writing a book the end result is a long way off. Having a finished manuscript, which is a great feeling, or holding your published work, which I can only imagine must feel incredible (am I the only one that has held a book and pretended it was something I wrote? Anyone?). The final product is incredibly rewarding, but what is one to do when the effort needed is overwhelming?
Well, if you're me then you start writing a new blog post to get in the mood to write. Or if you're stuck on your story. Or to wind down after having a particularly productive session. Either way, writing, any kind of writing, is a great way to get in gear. The trick is, moving from writing something like a blog post, to actually working on your book.
So, to try my hand at blogging to get into the writing mood, I'm going to start by writing a blog post for this blog before getting to work on my book. Probably nothing more than saying, "I had a good rest last night, the day is beginning beautifully, now that I've had breakfast I'm going to start writing." Maybe I'll ramble about what I plan to do during the day, writing related or not. Whichever it is, it will be something to get my brain working. I don't expect anyone to read those, not like there are that many people that read these posts right now anyway. I have a decent readership for my media review blog, but that hasn't translated to here. Not that it really matters, I don't expect to see too many people meandering over here until I've made my debut. The most important part is that this blog makes me feel just a little more like a writer, and when it comes to me mental state is the biggest part. If I can convince myself that I'm actually a writer, then I'm more likely to act like one.
But like I said, I'll definitely try to have something to say every morning. Maybe I'll even do something out of character, like discussing recent news, but don't hold your breath.
Also, while planning is incredibly productive, I think I'm going to try and spend at least a little bit of time making a start on the actual book. I'll keep ahead in my planning, and I'll keep an even pace with what I'm actually writing. This is to make sure I get the book done a bit faster. I am however a little worried that dividing my attention like this will be bad news for my actual planning. I might have to start scheduling what I do when. Give an hour or two for planning, and another hour for writing the actual book.
As long as I start out early in the morning. If I can get a bunch written in the morning then the rest of the day feels that much more productive. And while I may not have been getting as much done as I should, I've been successful in getting at least something done every day. Even when it is only a token effort, which I really need to eradicate. If I'm going to consider it actually getting work done, then I should actually get a lot done.
That being said, I'm far too easily distracted, and can only admit to a token amount of work getting done today. But I'm getting into the mood, even if I'm dead tired right now. So all I need to do is go to bed now, and get up in the morning when I can start the day out right and get a bunch of writing done. Here's hoping at least. I need to break out of my lazy habits.
Oh yeah, I get paid tomorrow, so then I should know exactly how badly I need another job. Here's hoping I actually get a decent pay check. I would say that way I can justify spending all day writing, but right now I don't think that needs much justifying. If I spent all day writing that would be a vast improvement from spending all day doing diddly squat. Oh internet, I love you so, but at the same time I sometimes wish you'd die, you dirty, rotten time waster.
...That was uncalled for, I'm really sorry.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Planning - It is better than discovery writing. There, I said it.
I am absolutely loving this new method of planning. Already I've restructured my story to the point where it's actually good. Maybe my brain works a little differently from other writers, but not having to focus on whether my writing is good, or even just putting down serviceable prose, has really made it much easier to get the creative juices flowing. I guess this is an extreme version of what Brandon said about turning off your internal editor and just writing. I've turned off both my internal editor, and my internal prose writer. And it's working miracles.
I know I'll have to actually write the prose eventually, and maybe I'm adding more stages to this than there need to be, but it's working and that's all that matters to me. Like I said, I can write an amazing amount of words in a day if I don't have to think too hard about what I'm writing. So I definitely suspect I'm going to be one of those writers that spends months planning a book, and then writes it in a few short weeks.
It's definitely a lot easier to fix story errors before actually writing the prose. While in the planning stage I can look at what works and what doesn't work, and since I have no prose to be attached to, I can easily make the necessary changes in a minimal number of words, and then move on to fixing the next problem.
Writing like this is, however, much more slow paced, which is both a good thing and a bad thing. On the one hand it's aggravating the side of me that wants to get to the end of the project as quickly as possible. On the other hand that side of is a whiny little canine of the female persuasion and needs as many beatings as I have the strength to deliver. Trying to rush through this book in the first place is what made the end fall to pieces. It wasn't pretty.
The funny thing is, that inspiration keeps hitting, even when I'm working off the shorter plan I made. So even though I had one course of events in mind, I end up retooling it completely for the detailed plan. I'll say it again, this is working great for me.
But since it's late I'm going to get some rest now, and continue work on this tomorrow. It went so well this evening that I think I can spend a lot more time getting writing done tomorrow. Not like I don't have time for it. I also have some blogging that needs doing, so after I spend the morning writing I think I'll get that done, adn then see if i can get any of my other planned reviews out of the way. Feels nice to feel productive, now if only I could find a job, then I'd feel really productive.
PS: Creative juices taste like apple juice.
I know I'll have to actually write the prose eventually, and maybe I'm adding more stages to this than there need to be, but it's working and that's all that matters to me. Like I said, I can write an amazing amount of words in a day if I don't have to think too hard about what I'm writing. So I definitely suspect I'm going to be one of those writers that spends months planning a book, and then writes it in a few short weeks.
It's definitely a lot easier to fix story errors before actually writing the prose. While in the planning stage I can look at what works and what doesn't work, and since I have no prose to be attached to, I can easily make the necessary changes in a minimal number of words, and then move on to fixing the next problem.
Writing like this is, however, much more slow paced, which is both a good thing and a bad thing. On the one hand it's aggravating the side of me that wants to get to the end of the project as quickly as possible. On the other hand that side of is a whiny little canine of the female persuasion and needs as many beatings as I have the strength to deliver. Trying to rush through this book in the first place is what made the end fall to pieces. It wasn't pretty.
The funny thing is, that inspiration keeps hitting, even when I'm working off the shorter plan I made. So even though I had one course of events in mind, I end up retooling it completely for the detailed plan. I'll say it again, this is working great for me.
But since it's late I'm going to get some rest now, and continue work on this tomorrow. It went so well this evening that I think I can spend a lot more time getting writing done tomorrow. Not like I don't have time for it. I also have some blogging that needs doing, so after I spend the morning writing I think I'll get that done, adn then see if i can get any of my other planned reviews out of the way. Feels nice to feel productive, now if only I could find a job, then I'd feel really productive.
PS: Creative juices taste like apple juice.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Planning stage one completed
Well, I've finished the first stage of planning for my rewrite, I added a few more chapters onto the book, and with hopefully longer chapters overall the entire thing will be closer to the required 50,000 words, at least. Now I move on to stage two of my newly developed planning method. In which I take my brief chapter summaries, and expand them to include all the information needed for writing each specific chapter in its own section. Basically the idea is that I can get a lot more writing done in one go if I know exactly what is going to happen when I sit down to write it. I will admit, I wrote well over ten thousand words for a fanfiction that way, which was basically a rewrite fo the series, with most everything staying the same. So I didn't have to think about what happened, because it was already done, I just had to sit down and type it up. My theory is that if I do that with my own writing, only I provide the premade story, I will be able to finish up a decent length book within a week or two at most. Kind of like how some writers spend months planning and then write the book in a week. That's the kind of writer I think I am.
There's still a lot to go over, to make sure that everything fits together, and I still need to find some time to learn how to create a bible for an entire series. But since this book is currently meant to stand on its own, though it has series potential, I don't necessarily need a bible. But when planning an entire series, it's crucial that I have the entire series planned out before plotting individual books. From what I've been able to gather during my research the best way to do this is to take individual characters, and plot out storylines for them. Those storylines are then then woven together into the main plot line. Basically this is the way to make sure every characters is a worthy read throughout a long series. I have not yet started work on a long series, but I think that I will eventually, I've been itching to try my hand at epic fantasy again. I'll have at least one epic fantasy novel in my lifetime, the one I've been wanting to write since high school.
But before that I of course need to finish this book, it's pointless trying to plan an epic long series if I haven't finished this book yet. After I get this done I'm going to try my hand at a shorter YA series. It will definitely be one that requires the use of a bible, at the very least so I can keep track of character storylines and such. But my main goal is to have each book stand more or less on its own, and connect the entire series through character story arcs. Which really is the best way to write a good series. To do that I'll need to keep a detailed bible, which will definitely include if not an overall plot summary, then at least overall character arc summaries, which can then evolve into bigger books.
But it's getting late, and even if I have nowhere to go, and not much to do besides keep looking for a job, I should get to bed soon. That way I can get up early and actually get some stuff done. Namely, writing stuff.
There's still a lot to go over, to make sure that everything fits together, and I still need to find some time to learn how to create a bible for an entire series. But since this book is currently meant to stand on its own, though it has series potential, I don't necessarily need a bible. But when planning an entire series, it's crucial that I have the entire series planned out before plotting individual books. From what I've been able to gather during my research the best way to do this is to take individual characters, and plot out storylines for them. Those storylines are then then woven together into the main plot line. Basically this is the way to make sure every characters is a worthy read throughout a long series. I have not yet started work on a long series, but I think that I will eventually, I've been itching to try my hand at epic fantasy again. I'll have at least one epic fantasy novel in my lifetime, the one I've been wanting to write since high school.
But before that I of course need to finish this book, it's pointless trying to plan an epic long series if I haven't finished this book yet. After I get this done I'm going to try my hand at a shorter YA series. It will definitely be one that requires the use of a bible, at the very least so I can keep track of character storylines and such. But my main goal is to have each book stand more or less on its own, and connect the entire series through character story arcs. Which really is the best way to write a good series. To do that I'll need to keep a detailed bible, which will definitely include if not an overall plot summary, then at least overall character arc summaries, which can then evolve into bigger books.
But it's getting late, and even if I have nowhere to go, and not much to do besides keep looking for a job, I should get to bed soon. That way I can get up early and actually get some stuff done. Namely, writing stuff.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Back on the saddle
Well, I pretty much suck when it comes to actually having a schedule. But as of today I have my blogging somewhat under control. Not only are all my posts up to date, but I have made progress into writing future posts in advance. This is crucial since I'm so overly ambitious when it comes to blogging. But I've finally figured out that a new blog post a day isn't impossible, especially when I have them done in advance.
Now that I'm finally getting a semblance of order into my writing, I can finally force myself to actually regularly write. I know I keep saying that I will, and I flub it more often than not, but now I'm serious. This is the moment where I sit down and finish the rewrite for this book. I've got a clear idea of where it is going, and am going to try out a new method of writing. Namely I'll obsessively plan every little detail and then sit down to write it. Hopefully that will mean that when I write it won't be crap.
After finally finishing Dragon's Egg I intend to start work on Epic Heroes. Nathan is going to be self publishing his Paradise Seekers for the kindle, and since I'm one to follow the crowd I kind of feel like I should give that a shot myself. So I'm going to be getting that finished as quickly as possible.
At the same time I'm trying to look for work, and while blogging and writing for websites isn't exactly the best way to make a living, at least I'm seeing a minuscule amount of income. Eventually that is. So I figure getting some books out there on kindle would be really good because that's another possible source of income. And at this point I desperately need that.
Since the best way to keep myself honest with my writing is to find some way of being accountable, expect to see posts on this blog every day with a summary of how my writing went. It may be overkill, but I intend to post on this blog every day, with news that I did in fact write, and how much. Don't expect too much from the current updates, since I'm still in the planning stages of the rewrite.
But I've practically got the short chapter summaries done and the basic revised plot done. So now all I need to do is finish that and then write detailed chapter summaries. Here's hoping this works out for me. Expect another post later today, with an update about how much I got done.
Now that I'm finally getting a semblance of order into my writing, I can finally force myself to actually regularly write. I know I keep saying that I will, and I flub it more often than not, but now I'm serious. This is the moment where I sit down and finish the rewrite for this book. I've got a clear idea of where it is going, and am going to try out a new method of writing. Namely I'll obsessively plan every little detail and then sit down to write it. Hopefully that will mean that when I write it won't be crap.
After finally finishing Dragon's Egg I intend to start work on Epic Heroes. Nathan is going to be self publishing his Paradise Seekers for the kindle, and since I'm one to follow the crowd I kind of feel like I should give that a shot myself. So I'm going to be getting that finished as quickly as possible.
At the same time I'm trying to look for work, and while blogging and writing for websites isn't exactly the best way to make a living, at least I'm seeing a minuscule amount of income. Eventually that is. So I figure getting some books out there on kindle would be really good because that's another possible source of income. And at this point I desperately need that.
Since the best way to keep myself honest with my writing is to find some way of being accountable, expect to see posts on this blog every day with a summary of how my writing went. It may be overkill, but I intend to post on this blog every day, with news that I did in fact write, and how much. Don't expect too much from the current updates, since I'm still in the planning stages of the rewrite.
But I've practically got the short chapter summaries done and the basic revised plot done. So now all I need to do is finish that and then write detailed chapter summaries. Here's hoping this works out for me. Expect another post later today, with an update about how much I got done.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)