There are a lot of things that writers pretend count as “writing.” Sorry, but I’m here to rip off the veil and expose the truth. There are things that are NOT writing and are likely holding you back from finishing your book (or even starting it):
1. Answering email.
2. Reading books written by other writers.
3. Watching TV shows and movies related to your current project.
4. Facebook/twitter/instagram/tumblr.
5. Laundry (even though you may need clean clothes to write in).
6. Getting a snack to help you write.
7. Doing online “research” all day long.
8. Trying out recipes that might be used by characters in your book.
9. Making outfits that might be worn by characters in your book.
10. Imagining the fanfic that might be written about characters in your book.
11. Planning out your imaginary book tour.
12. Rereading fan mail from your last book.
13. Trolling the internet for bad reviews of your last book.
14. Writing your own outtakes.
15. Planning out how you will spend the millions of dollars in advance you will get from your next book.
16. Thinking about how many books in this series you could write.
17. Writing a fake author bio for the pseudonym you intend to use next.
18. Playing an RPG you’ve invented from your book.
19. Taking an on-line poll to decide what should happen next in your book.
20. Plinking out theme songs for each chapter of your book on the keyboard you keep near your computer for just such a purpose.
21. Making lists of character names for your next project.
22. Inventing a new language for your elves to speak.
23. Writing epic songs and poetry that will never appear on paper.
I am not saying there is anything wrong with doing any of these things. They are fun! I’ve done plenty of them, especially the imagining the crowds of roaring fans at my next book’s movie premier. It can be really useful to keep yourself interested in writing and having fun with the writing. But just be aware that there is a line between things that are actually getting words down and things that aren’t.
You’ll notice I didn’t include things like “staring off into space while sitting at the keyboard,” because I think, strangely enough, that this IS part of the writing process for almost all writers. But if you’re distracting yourself from the hard work of writing, you’re avoiding doing the work of getting the words on the page. What you’re basically doing is trying to keep from doing it wrong, because as soon as you start writing, you’re going to have to accept that you haven’t done it right, and that’s the most painful thing of all.
Tag: writing
jealous of jetpacks: What it’s like to write a novel in 23 simple steps.
jealous of jetpacks: What it’s like to write a novel in 23 simple steps.
So. I just recently finished a draft of a secret project and turned it into my editor. This is what writing it was like:
Stage 1: Get an Idea
My ideas are usually very vague, but there’s something there that just thrills me. I obsess and obsess, and then I have to write.
Stage 2:…
re: My Imaginary
But where can I read this novel?
Well, here’s the thing… although the first draft is finished, it’s also a huge mess. I’ve been working on the outline for the next draft over the past couple of years, and although it’s progressing nicely, it’s still no where near readable. 🙂
I mean, if you REALLY REALLY wanted to read the first draft I could send it, but…. I have been told by nearly everyone who’s read it that the ending is terrible. And that’s because I ran out of time. 8)
But, as a consolation, here are the two covers I made for it:
This was the cover of the prints I made for my alpha readers!
And here’s the one I actually had printed, because I always get a vanity press copy made when I finish a first draft as a reward! Plus they’re only like $10 so why the heck not?
I will most likely start writing draft two in January of next year… this year I have to finish my first draft of Fishsticks and Coffee Mafia… yeah. Anyway… there you go. 🙂
I designed a poster to hang up above my writing desk… buwahahahahaha. Gonna get it picked up tomorrow with the rest of the prints. :3
(PS I used a template! Go here to download and make one, too: http://www.bhalash.com/archives/1466603220 )
Dangerous Cute #111 – Impressivenessish
Originally posted here with hover text, bonus panel, and news! http://www.dangerouscute.com/?p=317
Free Advice: Pixar’s 22 Rules of Storytelling
Free Advice: Pixar’s 22 Rules of Storytelling
It’s funny—just yesterday I was thinking about looking for writing related material to post, since it’s an extremely important beginning step to animation, and just now my friend tagged me in a post on Facebook linking to this!
- #1: You admire a character for trying more than for their successes.
- #2: You gotta keep in mind what’s interesting to you as an audience, not what’s fun to do as a writer. They can be v. different.
- #3: Trying for theme is important, but you won’t see what the story is actually about til you’re at the end of it. Now rewrite.
- #4: Once upon a time there was ___. Every day, ___. One day ___. Because of that, ___. Because of that, ___. Until finally ___.
- #5: Simplify. Focus. Combine characters. Hop over detours. You’ll feel like you’re losing valuable stuff but it sets you free.
- #6: What is your character good at, comfortable with? Throw the polar opposite at them. Challenge them. How do they deal?
- #7: Come up with your ending before you figure out your middle. Seriously. Endings are hard, get yours working up front.
- #8: Finish your story, let go even if it’s not perfect. In an ideal world you have both, but move on. Do better next time.
- #9: When you’re stuck, make a list of what WOULDN’T happen next. Lots of times the material to get you unstuck will show up.
- #10: Pull apart the stories you like. What you like in them is a part of you; you’ve got to recognize it before you can use it.
- #11: Putting it on paper lets you start fixing it. If it stays in your head, a perfect idea, you’ll never share it with anyone.
- #12: Discount the 1st thing that comes to mind. And the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th – get the obvious out of the way. Surprise yourself.
- #13: Give your characters opinions. Passive/malleable might seem likable to you as you write, but it’s poison to the audience.
- #14: Why must you tell THIS story? What’s the belief burning within you that your story feeds off of? That’s the heart of it.
- #15: If you were your character, in this situation, how would you feel? Honesty lends credibility to unbelievable situations.
- #16: What are the stakes? Give us reason to root for the character. What happens if they don’t succeed? Stack the odds against.
- #17: No work is ever wasted. If it’s not working, let go and move on – it’ll come back around to be useful later.
- #18: You have to know yourself: the difference between doing your best & fussing. Story is testing, not refining.
- #19: Coincidences to get characters into trouble are great; coincidences to get them out of it are cheating.
- #20: Exercise: take the building blocks of a movie you dislike. How d’you rearrange them into what you DO like?
- #21: You gotta identify with your situation/characters, can’t just write ‘cool’. What would make YOU act that way?
- #22: What’s the essence of your story? Most economical telling of it? If you know that, you can build out from there.
I’m not sure who this girl is. The file name is ‘modernrose’ but I don’t recall who Rose is. She reminds me of Abigail from The Tailor… I know I was tossing around the idea of renaming her, but I don’t think Rose was one of my choices. Maybe it was. Either way, I love her eyes.
Who are you?
August and Lore from my first novel, My Imaginary. Lore is… probably twice as big as he should be here. Oops. Drawn during last year’s WIFYR conference.