Random Bits and Bobs About Writing #2
Things that occur to me as I work
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Things occur to me as I write. And work with clients. And teach. And many of these things are not long enough to devote to a full post. So I make a note of them and when I have enough, I make them into a post. Random Bits and Bobs Post #1 was back in January. So here is #2 in a, you guessed it, random series.
Random Bits and Bobs
--Don’t expect perfection with your words as you write. It’s not going to happen. First drafts are first drafts. Shitty first drafts, as Anne Lamott calls them. Let them be shitty! DO NOT1 edit as you write. Just write. Get those words on the page.
“You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.” ~ Jodi Picoult
--Don’t get mired in the small stuff when you’re drafting. Don’t know the right word? Make a note and keep writing. Dialogue doesn’t sound quite right? Leave it. This is why the goddess invented computers, to make it easy to go back and fix things. And this is also why we use the TK. Here’s a post I wrote about it last June.
--People say do the hard stuff first thing in the morning but I say do your writing first. Because it’s the most important thing. And knowing you’ve done it powers your day and somehow magically makes everything go smoother.
--The reason why you don’t edit at the sentence level while you are drafting is this: because you don’t freaking know if that sentence is going to survive future rewrites. So don’t waste your time on this. In case you skipped past it, reread the first item in this list. Oh, I’ll just remind you: DO NOT EDIT WHILE YOU ARE DRAFTING.
--This:
“Heartbreak is a gift—it’s self-pity that is a poison.” David Corbett, The Art of Character
--When a story’s time has come, you’ve got to be open and allow it in. As Julia Cameron says, don’t strain to think things up, allow them to download in.
--Don’t close plot loops. I so often see writers doing this—closing down an open question or continuing thread before its time. Keep it open to keep readers guessing—and reading. Delay that first kiss, interrupt the conversation just as the main character is about to learn something important, end the chapter before the scene itself ends.
--Start as far into a scene as you can. And it’s probably further in than you think. We writers do a lot of warming up. And that’s okay! Just be aware of it and go back and see what you can cut out.
--Hesitation often means something. This happens to me when I want to order something and I don’t. And I don’t and I don’t, despite telling myself I will just do it. Then I get another piece of information about the item I wanted to order and realize it wasn’t what I needed. Happens in writing, too. There may be a reason why you are hesitating to write that scene. But instead of letting that stop you, allow yourself to think on it and carry on writing other scenes. You’ll figure out the thing you’re hesitating about as you go. It always comes out in the writing.
--Side writing is my favorite form of procrastination. I am a huge fan of side writing (writing about the story instead of in it) but I’ve recently realized that it sometimes prevents me from moving forward. Don’t be like me and spend spend all your writing time side writing instead of working on the story.
--Desire rules the world. If you’ve ever been with a four-year-old who wants to watch a certain episode of a certain show and only that episode and you are desperately trying to find that episode in the Netflix forest of shows, you know what I mean. Use this energy in your story creation. And assign it to your main character. Then have the MC get lost in the Netflix forest.
--Question for your story: why now? Why is this important to your character now?
--Question for you: Why are you procrastinating? What’s the payoff?
That’s it for now. Have you got any bits and bobs to share? Lay them on us.
I never dispense prescriptive, must-follow advice because our writing processes are not one-size-fits all. But I feel very, very, very, strongly about this.
See you on Sunday for my love letter!
“Start as far into a scene as you can. And it’s probably further in than you think. We writers do a lot of warming up. And that’s okay! Just be aware of it and go back and see what you can cut out.”
I’ve been thinking about a scene and wondering if it’s too far in, but this gives me encouragement. I can always decide about that later. Best to write!
Bits and bobs sometimes hit me just right - and I need to remember that in my writing, too! And your four-year-old Netflix show analogy is perfect. Instead of getting that cat up a tree and throwing rocks at it, set a toddler in front of the TV and get lost in the Netflix forest. So memorable! Thank you, as always!