Wait.
I'm supposed to have a process?
Whoa. Am I in trouble...
All kidding aside, I am not a plotter. I'm a "pantzer." I write by the seat of my pants. Wherever my characters take me, whatever they say, I put to paper, er, keyboard.
I usually get woken out of a deep sleep with an opening line or two. SuperBowl Sunday, 2005, at 5 AM I was gifted with 20 pages that began, "There's a naked man in my kitchen." Some will recognize this as the beginning of Chapter 2 of Beauty and The Best. Others will recognize it as the beginning of the manuscript when it was in the American Title contest. That alone shows that editing is never finished.
Once the manuscript gets to about Chapter 3 or 4 I usually stop writing and put a synopsis together. By this time I'm pretty sure how it's going to end and a plot point or two to get there. It's a general synopsis, more focused on character arc than actual plot points. In Romance, the character arc is extremely important, so if I've got that down, the rest usually fills in.
I try to write in chapters. If the muse is napping, I'll at least push through a scene. I may end up cutting it, but at least it keeps the story current in my head.
I do an extremely rough first draft, go back and really work the second one to include every element each scene needs. This takes a lot of intense concentration and is the hardest stage for me. In preparing for the First Chapters Romance contest, I parked myself at Borders for 18 hours in one weekend to get the bulk of it done.
Once Round 2 is done, I let it sit. Then I print it out. Then I edit once more. This is the point where I'll usually enter it in some RWA contests to see if it's "working." I send it to my critique partner.
The editing process continues from there. I don't know that it ever stops, really. Jill Barnett and Jude Devereaux, for example, had re-released versions of Bewitching and A Knight in Shining Armor with edits, years after the original versions were released.
So that's where I sit now. Editing. And more editing.
And waiting to be woken up again with that next idea.
My muse needs to adjust her internal clock...
Please vote for my Top 25 Finalist entry in the First Chapters Romance contest
recommend this
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 56
I found out, that the left thumb is NEVER used in typing. I never realized that. I've been online for about 4 hours and have not used it once!
ya learn something new every day.
How do you know when to stop and just let others read it?
I'm lucky with being a member of my local chapter of RWA - I have many many volunteers to read my stuff. I make use of it and return the favor.
I'm a pantzer too. I never write a synposis though. A few descriptive sentences to get me to the end, sometimes.
And WOW about the left thumb thing...wait...I use mine! Do you do right thumb for space bar? This is too funny! I don't use my right one at all...weird! LOL!
JK - it definitely makes sense. You're your own internal narrator. If they aren't your words/style, it won't fit in the story. That's why I'm always amazed at people who can collaborate. I think I'd be worrying too much about the other person's process.
Ken - what? What else did I cut? The brick incident was years ago and the ACL was the surgeon, not me. But hey, if y'all want to come over for a big get-together, I do have that acre and a half that I hate to mow. We could have a big party. :)
For me, it has depended on the material. For instance, I got an idea for a short story earlier this year and wrote the first draft in just a few days.
For novels, it has been a long, drawn out process, but I've gotten faster in recent years. I tend to work off of an outline, but I pay attention to where the characters are taking the story and I've often been pleasantly surprised at the good ideas that result. I also like to fill in some of the back story material. Sometimes I'll just get an idea and start writing to see where it goes.
And then afterwards, there is editing, lots of editing. However, with help from my Gather colleagues and some good books on the craft, that should go faster, right?
I use either thumb for the space bar, depending on which hand type the last letter.
No outlines for me. Writing one after the fact is even difficult. I just want to get into the story or into the next story.
And now, blast it, I can't type! Too busy watching what my thumbs are doing!
You can do it!
Maybe I'll try the notebook-by-the-bed thing. I sometimes wake up with ideas for things, but don't bother writing them down at the time and by morning I've forgotten most of it.
Of course the draw back is writing the summary/synopisis later so I can query. groan
Perhaps there's a pill for summary anxiety? Duct tape won't work
BTW I use my right thumb to space as well.
I need the confidence to go on thats why I work at my craft here need the critique
I'm a "pantzer" too! So does that mean that plotters are actually "de-pantzers?" Just wondering?
You have good techniques and good writing style for sure. I often find a lot of ideas running through my head each day and let them escape..or I have too many ideas at once and they get jumbled...Keep up the great work!
Shah
Hope all is going well with the contest efforts!
Did stop by your first chapter and vote, btw
Usually, when I go outside to howl...I lose track of my thought and all that was for nothing but my toe still hurts the next day and the day after that.....
I agree with writing even though the "muse" isn't present. It keeps the writing muscle warmed up.
GREAT ARTICLE!