Jennifer Hillier

Fried brains

Aug 27, 2010 | Uncategorized

I don’t have the energy or the brain fuel to write an interesting post today, so I won’t even try.  I’m mentally fried (and staying up till 3 am last night to read the first half of MOCKINGJAY certainly did not help).  So consider this post a status update.

The new WIP is moving along.  I’m just about to cross the 24k mark, and usually at 30k I hit the point of no return.  Problem is, I’ve been writing so fast that I haven’t stopped to figure out if I’m going where I want to be going.  I’ve already spotted a couple of plot holes.  A subplot is beginning to bloom, and I’m not sure I want it to.  A character I didn’t think would have much face time is turning into a main character.

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DON’T OUTLINE.

I don’t want to turn this into an outliners vs. pantsters debate.  Everybody has their own process, and getting confused and panicky during a first draft is part of mine.  I’d like to be an outliner  – in theory  – because I know it would prevent me from taking a wrong turn.  But outlining isn’t fun for me.  I’ve tried it, and whenever I write according to an outline, the story loses its spark.  There’s something about uncovering the story as I go, surprising myself, and getting excited when the characters get excited that I believe lends a certain authenticity to the work.

But it fucks me up, too.  Can’t lie.

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