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.
You have my sympathies!
BTW this "Everybody has their own process, and getting confused and panicky during a first draft is part of mine" cracked me up. So true. Sort of like my blog post yesterday.
There was a time, not that long ago, when I was a total pantser. Now I've got one foot in each camp.
Hang in there. You'll get thru it!
Isn't it soooo hard to put Mockingjay down? I finished it last night (late). Not a peep. 🙂 Your process is so much like my own and the way you described writing from an outline is exactly right for me too. The spark just sort of dies. I think it's pretty exciting to see characters do completely unexpected things. Sounds like yours are surprising you at every turn. Seems like you're right on track, panic attacks and all. Hang in there and have a great weekend.
Obi Won Kenobi, when he was in his floating voice phase, summed up the first draft writing experience: "Let go. Let the force (story) flow through you."
Sub-plot forming like a wart on a pig's rump? Write it. Have a hole in your plot bigger than a New City pot hole? Keep wrting. Characters missing essential features, like a reason to be? Write away!
Panic not, because all first drafts suck. That's their job. They keep you coming back to the story for the loving polish.
Enjoy, and…write! Outlines not welcomed here!
Greg
I've tried it both ways, and I'm not a fan of the outline. I like the excitement of discovery, that "Wow! This is going to work!" feeling that comes from delving into the unknown. But it's definitely frustrating when I start to worry if a story arc is really just a tanget that is drawing me W-A-Y off course…
JB: Your post inspired this post. We're whiners, it's what we do, and for whatever reason, it seems to work for us.
Joann: I am hoping to finish the book today, and then we can talk about it! 🙂 Meanwhile, I'm just trying to keep moving forward, reminding myself that I can fix it all later.
G3: LOL at "floating voice phase". And I do so love the polish phase. All of this is worth it just to get to the polish phase!
Milo: Yeah, that's the risk we non-outliners take… getting lost in our own sea of crap! But sometimes, something good comes out of it.
Pantsers? As in, flying by the seat of one's? I don't know how you do it. I'm definitely team outliner.
I'm a outliner…and fortunately I'm able to do it while maintaing my spark. 🙂
Adam: Yes, flying by the seat of one's pants (wonder who made that term up!). Kudos to you… I think outlining makes a lot of sense.
DL: Hey, maybe you should teach a course in it! 🙂