One thing I feel insecure about is the pacing of The Most Magical Place. I mean how long should one scene be? In my outline i had a scene taking up one slot, but as I started writing it grew. It is now extremely long and looks like it could be broken in 2 or even 3 places. What details are too trivial to include and which flesh out the characters or settings? I am also wary of an info dump because a character who has been dealing with the situation my hero has just been dropped into has come on stage. I'm sure some of it will get cut and I'm trying not to worry about it now, but man it's feeling a little out of control. What do you do when a scene seems packed with things you want to share with your readers, but is getting too long? How do you rearrange things to make room for a new scene you didn't anticipate?
The last thing on my neurotic writer list is my inner editor. Oh, this lady has some nerve! I am forever gagging (Which always ends up with garish red lipstick all over my hands.) and tying her up then shoving her in a closet. Unfortunately somehow she finds her way out again and back into my head. When I tell her to get the hell out she just laughs. I think I need to find a new strategy for dealing with her. Maybe I will take her pointy red glasses and poke the lenses out or maybe I could see if her beehive hair do has enough product in it to set on fire. What strategies do you use to get past your inner editor? What does your editor look like to you?
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1. Write 2 Poms every day.
I wrote on Sunday and Monday, but skipped Tuesday. I had an MRI in the early evening and the sedative they gave me made me very distractable. Just in case you didn't know being shoved in a tube is not fun.
2. Post for every ROW80 check-in.
I'm here and I'm doing it. Keeping it moving and making sure I am keeping myself accountable is a big part of my plan, but ROW80 has taught me to be flexible and not beat myself up when I make a misstep.
3. Spend 1 Pom per day visiting ROW80 friends.
I did go and visit some of you. I only had time for 5 of my wonderful ROW80 friends, but I spent my pom which was my goal.
4. Post to Twitter on ROW80 days.
Still keeping up with this and not letting it stress me out anymore.
Photos by Pixabay.
These issues are the kinds that are taken care of during revisions which is not my favorite thing to do, but needs to be done. The first draft is just that, the first draft. Enjoy writing it, but don't over think too much. Take notes as you notice where things can be improved. You'll be coming back to them later. Remember you might have to do 3, 4 maybe 5 or more drafts to get it right, to get it the way you want it.
ReplyDeleteMost of all have fun!
Bish, your co-host #128 on the Alex Scale.
Logically I understand the not editing while writing the first draft, but I tell you that inner editor lady is so persistent she freaks me out.
DeleteI've always been a very dialogue-driven writer, though it's been an artform learning how to have more than just talking heads while at the same time not having the characters constantly doing other stuff as they're talking.
ReplyDeleteI leave all the edits, polishings, and revisions till after the book is done. I've never been the type of writer to bust out a red pen while I'm still in active process of creating.
Yeah, I guess they shouldn't get up and start aerobics or anything while they are trying to have a serous and intimate conversation.
DeleteShutting the editor up. Timed writing--Write 10 minutes without stopping. Dr, Wicked software Write or Die 2 makes this fun with funny sounds. Doodling, sketching on a sketch pad and adding written ideas sometimes, I agree with one poster most issues are a thing for revision, but getting the first draft is about finishing the story--working out all the mechanics and things that need fixed comes after that--as has been said, you cannot edit a black page, lol,
ReplyDeleteStill struggling though all myself too, Good luck.
Juneta @ Writer's Gambit
Hey, Juneta long time no see. I love Write or Die, but didn't even think of using it. I must go visit my old friend Dr. Wicked. Kamikaze mode here I come.
DeleteRecently I listened to Elizabeth George talk about her writing process. With regard to dialogue, she talks about THAD (Talking Head Avoidance Devices)...giving the characters something to do while they're talking.
ReplyDeleteI, too, have an inner editor who is mighty darn tough on me. Just tell her to shaddup, you'll fix things later. I think when you let the finished draft cool and then go back to it, you'll figure out what to do with your scenes.
I have never heard of THAD before, thanks for mentioning it. A quick Google search gave me a ton of ideas.
DeleteI usually don't worry about a scene being too long. It can always be trimmed or made into more than one scene in the 2nd draft. I look at it as having more to a scene is a good thing so I can have room to wiggle around :D Actions with dialog just takes practice. I used to be terrible leaving them just standing there yacking lol. The more you do it the more second nature it will be :) I totally love your description of your inner editor. That's awesome! I say set her beehive on fire and let her run around looking for water :) I used to get an eye twitch seeing the red and green squiggly lines under my prose lol. I made a deal with my inner editor At the end of a chapter I can fix the little things those squiggles point out. like spelling or missing a comma. anything else has to wait. That seems to work :)
ReplyDeleteI see, give a little get a little. OK, if the fire doesn't work I will see about giving in a bit to win some peace. Thanks Elise.
DeleteYou've gotten some good advice already. I agree about keep writing and take care of too long scenes during revisions. Maybe if you put on music you'll drown out the muse. :)
ReplyDeleteBest wishes,
Diane IWSG #95
I'm completely distracted by that gorgeous double bass picture. I love that instrument!
ReplyDeleteDialogue--I often find adding dialogue fixes pacing problems. Rarely do I delete it, but often, I add it when I feel the scene has become too passive.
Dialogue to break up a too passive scene. I didn't think of it that way, but that does seem to fit the description of how I am writing. Thanks for the perspective.
DeleteI've got to agree with everyone else--kind of hypocritically, because my internal editor is a bitch, too--but it'll all shake out in revisions. Also, NEED to start using your Poms. You've been referencing them for weeks--they must be working for you!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I understand the concept of just writing it out and editing it after. It's putting it into practice that is the overwhelming part.
DeleteI don't worry too much about the length of scenes, I write them until I feel like they're done. That's because I know I'm going to go back during editing and chop things out. You might be surprised how much you decide to chop out--you might find yourself going back through a scene and discovering things you thought were important the first time around aren't really. I try to think of writing the first draft as the time to have fun and overdo it. When the editing stage comes along, then it's time to be harsh!
ReplyDeleteI guess that is true, I may find a more natural place to slip in the information somewhere down the line.
DeleteI have these same kinds of troubles and I know it is SO much easier said than done but you really just have to write it out, all of it whether it is good bad or ugly and then when revision time comes around you can take it apart and put it back together. It is always better to have more than not enough.
ReplyDeleteGood Luck!
Yeah, I guess having too much is a lot better than not enough.
DeleteWhatever you decide to do, good luck. And I hope you can get the inner editor to shut up for a while.
ReplyDeleteGod, Entertainment, & Annoying Things
Oh, my goodness. I LOVE the name of your blog. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteMy only advice is to just write the thing, then read it as a whole, then reread it (and maybe get a critique partner to read it too) then start worrying about those little things.
ReplyDeleteI haven't even thought about a critique partner. ACK, more stuff to worry about. LOL Just kidding, mostly.
DeleteI think any writer has these thoughts. It's natural. For me, I just settle on writing and tell the inner editor to sit on it. The first draft is about getting it all out, sometimes you just have to let it go! (nope, I won't start singing it...nope). As for what my characters are doing while a scene is playing, i sometimes close my eyes and image what is happening. Being a visual person it helps me to "see" where the character are and what they could be doing. Much of writing the first draft is just going, whether you have an outline, or notes, or pantsing it.
ReplyDeleteHere's to a productive and awesome week.
Going to a Ren Faire tomorrow, so I need to try to get some sleep soon. :-) Last of the birthday week adventures.
Have a wonderful time at the Ren Faire. Take lots of pics and share so I can pretend I got to go see it, too. Sterling and Minnesota are on my dream faire list.
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