If you've read as many books on writing as I have, or even half as many, you've come across all kinds of advice about the process. Some common ones:
- Outline your story.
- Write every day.
- Have a page or word-count goal.
- Have a specific place to write.
- Write character biographies.
But do you have to do those things in order to successfully write a novel? Even more, is it possible that, for certain types of writers, those guides would be counter-productive?
I think so. The reason I think so is, however, pretty much me-centric. Below is how they work/don't work for me. I'm addressing these issues because writers ask about them, and many writers who are working hard to learn how to do this take the advice of "experts" seriously. But writing is so idiosyncratic that one author's aid can be another's handcuffs.
Outline your story.
Not me. I'm an "organic" writer. A "strapper," pulling my story up by its bootstraps. For this writer, outlining sucks the juice out of the mystery of what's going to happen that energizes my storytelling. If I already know what's going to happen, the joy of discovery is gone, and so is much of my motivation for doing the work.
Okay, I don't just shut my eyes and write. Before I begin writing a manuscript, I know how the story opens and how it ends. As for plot, that's about it. I will have 30 or 40 single-spaced pages of notes about scenes and events and characters, but no particular structure. Then I start with a character in action and see what happens. And, in the process of discovering what's going to happen, I also have the fun of finding out how it happens.
I know I'm not alone, thanks to a link I found on Paperback Writer to a post on Tess Gerritsen's blog. Scroll down to the entry for 8/11/2005.
Write every day.
Not me. Actually, I do write every day, but that's my day job. But not necessarily on the novel, although this depends on part what you mean by "write." I do think about the story every day, and sometimes make a note. That's writing. But there are times that time and/or energy just don't permit me to put words on a page. I've learned not to stress about that. It'll be there when I get to it.
Or not. Just this last week I'd written most of a dandy chapter in
one character's point of view, and then switched to another's to finish
it. But the second section just didn't feel right. Rather than sit and
stare at it, I let it brew, coming back from time to time, rereading
what I had, and asking the question
Have a page or word-count goal.
I keep track of word count as a measure of progress and as a gauge of how far there is to go
Have a specific place to write.
I can see how this can work for people, but my primary place to write is in my head. And sometimes one physical place isn't comfortable or harmonious. Most of my writing is at my home computer in my home office. But sometimes it feels cramped and restrictive. So I go to a comfy rocker and work on my laptop. The change of location sometimes frees my thinking. Or maybe I'll do a little writing/thinking during the lunch hour at the office. I find that long drives are a great time for the headwork part of writing, and I keep a tape recorder handy to record thoughts. Although I'm really lousy at rewinding the tape and transcribing the notes. But, once said aloud, most of those thoughts stay with me.
Write character biographies.
You've seen the lists that call for a character's politics,
religion, verbal tags, place of birth, and on and on. I can't do that.
Or maybe it's that I won't. Whatever, I begin with a few notes on
characters. Names are vital for me, and a part of characterization. The
sound and look of a name give character. I'll know a little more
So rules and techniques that work for some writers are anathema for others. I say try them all and then go with what works for you. There is no "right," just write.
Drop me a note and add your thoughts
For what it's worth.
Ray
Free edit in exchange for posting permission. You send a sample that you have questions about and of which you'd like an edit. I won't post it without your permission.
© 2005 Ray Rhamey