David's advice (not to me, though, saw it elsewhere, probably Carol's place) to write 300 words a day, and have it add up. I think I'm averaging about 800, though.Of course, now I'm no longer scared of the story going nowhere, I'm now scared that I'll invest all this time on this for nothing. I'm like George McFly.
Hi Bart-Man,
ReplyDeleteSorry I've been outta touch all weekend. My wife had major surgery Friday morning, so I've been at the hospital since pre-dawn Friday.
Have been enjoying your writing - and been meaning to give you pretty much the same advice I gave Carol at shrinkwrappedscream, so I'm glad you saw what I told her.
I can empathise with your situation. The same thing happened to me when I wrote Vegemite Vindaloo. I wrote a few decent chapters and then didn't know where I was going. Hit a roadblock and put the project away while my kids were growing up. I figured I could write a novel at any part of my life, but I wanted to be there every step of the way while the children were little.
Six years later my eldest daughter told me I needed to get it out and start work on it again. I did, briefly, but the pressure of work meant I did not have the time to devote to writing.
Then Penguin told me they were interested and I found a new focus.
This is where it's relevant to you, mate. I sat down, looked at the manuscript - and could not figure out where the plot was going.
So I sat down and wrote a very short synopsis - not more than a paragraph. Took me all of 10 minutes. But it was like looking at a GPS map.
All of a sudden, I knew where the story - which had started with such promise - was finally going. I finished the manuscript, handed it over to Penguin and you know what happened next.
So, in a nutshell - a) you can write, we know that, b) you have the motivation, c) you have done the most difficult thing - you've STARTED and d) you've hit the roadblock that so many people run into.
Work out your synopsis, in a few sentences or a coupla pages. Once you know where the plot is going, you'll find it all falls into place again when you write.
And don't be afraid of taking diversions. When I wrote VV, I planned to introduce a couple of laconic Outback characters and to give them two or three pages. They became two long chapters that worked really well.
So, yes, having a plan is crucial. But being willing to deviate and come back to it is equally important.
Good luck. Anything I can do, you know where to find me.
Cheers
David
David -
ReplyDeleteThanks for the words of encouragement. I may not need the synopsis, but if I hit a major wall, that will be the first course of action I take. Right now I'm really not having all that much trouble getting 300 min a day out. I mean, honestly, the title itself is a synopsis of sorts. But I may need to flesh that out more if needs be.
I have a few ideas for secondary characters. I've introduced one already, and I have an idea for at least one more.
Bart, I'll use your own words. You sell yourself short. Maybe not in the same way I do, but the worry part is the same.
ReplyDeleteDan -
ReplyDeleteThanks, bro. Of course, I wouldn't know how to be any other way. If I ever truly got cocky, and not in the faux way I am now, it would probably be to the detriment of my works.
Chewy said they taught her at art school, everyone is their own worst critic. I find that nugget useful when I feel like deleting everything I've just spent three hours writing! I've been kind of floundering for a bit, but somehow things are staring to pull together for me again. It does tend to take on a life and a shape of it's own after time, sometimes it's best to just follow where it leads you. Like David says, we all know you can write, and you are writing, quite a lot by the looks of it - go for it! x
ReplyDeleteBart dear,
ReplyDeleteYou are my inspiration for the haikus! They are very addictive though... I have a few hidden away..
thanks...
C