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Writing Words - writing it is the only way of getting it written
I don't believe in writer's block. Sure, I've written myself in many a corner and had to find a way out again. I've also had moments when I would have preferred to wash the dishes to writing. I believe, however, that you can only get over these things by writing.
I am trying to apply this approach to editing, too. It does not work as well, though. When I don't want to write, I tell myself that I only have to write a few words. I just take it one sentence at a time, or, if I am having a really bad day, even just one word at a time.
It is no coincidence that I got a bit blocked. I am at a point where I have to make some major decisions, and so far I haven't found one I am happy with. Editing one word at a time is nowhere near enough here, some serious re-writes are in order.
Since I don't believe in writer's block, I have decided that I'm experiencing editor's block. It's not primarily the re-writing that is the problem, but the idea that I want to get this novel polished in as little rounds of editing as possible.
I probably have to take the pressure off myself and accept that the re-written parts will need another round of editing some time later. I don't want this block to turn into a solid brick will which will separate me forever from my red pen.
No. 13 of Kerouac's 30 Essentials for Prose is: Remove literary, grammatical and syntactical inhibition.
I seem to have taken this in whole-heartedly. Punctuation especially is rather experimental at times. Which does not make editing easier. I must make a note to remind myself to use commas even when I'm tired.
Turns out it is a lot easier to edit a novel that was planned before writing. My NaNo2007 novel was hardly planned at all, and it shows. There are huge gaps in the story, and some of the characters lack depth - they are shadows of real people, and the sun is going down on them.
You will always end up introducing characters to your story you never thought about before you actually started writing. I think it's a little problematic when there are to many of them, though. A good story is character-driven in my opinion, and you need strong characters for that. Some of my key characters are much to weak to move the story forward at this point.
The first lesson I learned from the editing adventure: plan NaNo2008 novel to make editing a little less painful.
There is lots of advice for aspiring writers - by successfully published writers, by editors and literary agents, and by people such as moi who'd like to join the first group one day. There are as many different approaches to writing as there are people writing about writing. There is one piece of advice, though, that you will find no matter where you look: If you want to make it as a writer, you have to write. Ideally every day.
So let's assume you do that. You sit down every day when you get home from the day job and write. Because you know it is the most important thing if you want to improve your skills. Does that mean you never get any time off?
I think it is important that you take a vacation every once in a while. But be precise about it. You can't just not turn up at the office every time you feel like it, you have to take vacation there, too. That's exactly what you should do when you take a break from writing. Allow yourself a few days off, maybe even a week. My experience is that the breaks should not be too long - the longer you go away from your writing routine, the harder it will be to get back into it.
A week away from writing may well work a treat, though. You may find that you are looking forward to getting back to it at the end of your vacation. You will return with new ideas and fresh determination to finally write that masterpiece.
I am good at producing first drafts. I am not quite as good at editing.
I went away over the bank holiday weekend, and I only started editing my novel on Tuesday. One thing has become obvious: it's impossible to edit a 266-novel without a print-out of it - at least for me.
I need a hardcopy so I can go wild with the red pen.
The death of my laptop threw me off course for a few days, but I'm back and not willing to give up. Losing my notebook was inconvenient, but all it did as far me finishing the novel is concerned is spice things up a little.
Yes, there has been no wordcount update yesterday, and I'm not sure yet there will be one today. The reason for that is simple: my laptop died yesterday. I'm not sure what exactly the problem is, but Windows won't boot anymore. I am using Linux from a CD as operating system, but I can still access my hard drive.
I thought this would be a good opportunity to tell you about my back-up plan and get you thinking about yours. Many writers save all their work on their computer without having a back-up strategy. Just imagine your hard drive dies and all your work is on there. That would be a catastrophe
[ Click here to read more ]
I have six days left and I am back on track. Yay!
Writing the third part of my November 2007 novel has turned out a bit of a roller coaster. Which should not surprise me, writing a first novel draft always is. That's what makes it scary and exciting, and sometimes it makes you a little sick, too. And when you get off the ride, you feel great and a little amazed that you did that to yourself voluntarily.
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126 Posts dating from November 2006
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