I’m working on a new novel. To be clear, by “working on” I mostly mean “gazing into space” and “playing computer solitaire”. On occasion, though, I do actual plotting. I’ve even created a few characters and half a premise. (Go, me! Woohoo!) The voice is jelling, the characters jabbering, the setting settling in. It’s starting to feel like a book.
It’s such a relief to let go of the old, to be into something new. I’m half here, half in my writing, lost among possibilities, feeling for the shape of the thing, probing, questioning. Anything is possible, but everything is not. Everything is too much. So when new ideas sprout, I turn them over in my mind, maybe stop the stroller or the car or dinner to jot them down in my little spiral notebook. Some will survive. Some won’t. Only time and writing and revisions will tell.
Soon I’ll feel out the story with a chapter or two and, when I’ve dribbled enough I’ll make an outline because, yes, I’m one of those people, the ones who prefer minor outlines to major revisions, planning to fumbling, plotting to pantsing. Plus, plans just plain make me happy.
In the meantime, though, I doodle in dialogue, half-formed conversations winding down the page, nameless characters asking me, over and over and over again, “What if?” And my answer is, so often, “Let’s see.” Because it’s a first draft, and anything can happen.
I love this phase.
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About Me
I am the stay-at-home mother to a toddler nicknamed Sunshine. During nap times I write books, blog, and play around with the photos I've taken. I live in the southwestern U.S. with my husband, daughter, and two cats. My books are represented by Erzsi Deàk of Hen & Ink Literary Studio.
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I love that phase, too, Caryn!! Enjoy the delight of possibility — it’s such a wonderful place to be
. Also, you reminded me of a film (I think it was The Wonder Boys) where one of the main themes as far as writing was that writers have to make choices… I try to remind myself of that often, LOL.
So true! And one seemingly-minor choice can take the manuscript in a whole new direction – or stall it out entirely.
It’s a great phase–thinking about what can be and just letting it flow. I have a new project I’m working on along with edits on the old one.
And if you’re anything like me, Lois, you’re enjoying that new project a lot more than edits on your old one! Of course, some people LOVE to revise. Enjoy both projects!
How awesome!!! And yes, that first blush of the idea is such a magical time. Everything is possible, everything can play. It’s wonderful and I’m so happy for you–enjoy!!!
Thanks! I know you mentioned that you’d started something new lately, too. Hope it’s going well for you and is still lots and lots of fun.
Such a lovely and optomistic post! Lately, I break out in a sweat when confronted with blank pages, but I’m working on harnessing the anxiety. I think if I can get to where you are–seeing the fun and joy in the writing, then all will be well. So thanks for that.
And, YES, Adele has arrived and I love it. Here is a link to a stream of the entire album just in case you need some background for your writing….
http://bit.ly/dFbmqv
Congrats on the “starting to feel like a book”! I’m different from you however, at this stage I play Freecell!
I love this phase too! With my other projects, I just jumped right in, but I’m really taking time to let things marinate with this one.
What a wonderful stage! I’m a plotter/outliner as well. I like having some direction to start out and it doesn’t mean that the characters can’t take things in another direction.
Good luck!
Hi Caryn! I am a plotter, too…and I’m proud of it! While my original outlines often seem laughable when I get to the end, I need something to work toward.
Plotters of the world, unite!
Pamala – Thanks! Hard not to be optimistic when I’m excited about a new book.
I’m so sorry to hear that writing/plotting have been tough for you lately. I’m sending good vibes your way so you can find the joy in writing again. And thanks for the link. I’m going to listen tomorrow.
Conda – LOL! Yes, clearly we are worlds apart. Oh, but do you ever play Bubble Shooter? Also a fantastic plotting device.
Jess – That helps so much, doesn’t it? I hope it saves you lots of revisions later on.
Vicki – Good to know I’m not alone in plotting. Seems most people I know are pantsers, so I feel like I’m being too anal but, hey, it WORKS, right?
Stephanie – Hi back! Yay! Another plotter. And I know what you mean about looking back at your original outlines and laughing. I save my work in many different drafts, and it’s kind of fun to look back and see what I had at the beginning.
Awesome! How exciting!
I love starting something new but I am not much of an outliner. Or a planner. At all. (So I spend MOST of my time revising.) That’s OK. It’s fun to take whole chunks of something and move them around.
(Stressful and time consuming and incredibly inefficient. But fun.)
I couldn’t imagine trying to write a book!! But thanks for sharing your “process” it’s kind of neat to see/read about.
I’m working on a new novel. To be clear, by “working on” I mostly mean “gazing into space” and “playing computer solitaire”.
LOL! Sounds like how I work.
Oh, there’s just nothing like the pure magic of staring a new novel, is there? The giddy excitement, the limitless possibility, the sense that it can go anywhere and take you along for the ride … it’s just priceless. I’m with you 110%, it truly is an invigorating and inspiring phase. Best of luck to you!!
I love starting a new book too, when you’ve got total freedom and things are new and exciting. I can’t wait to hear more about it, Caryn! Enjoy the process and happy writing!
LoryKC – What a great attitude you have! I’ll have to try to see revisions like that. That might make them seem more creative.
ErikaJean – It’s definitely a process! Glad you liked it. I enjoy reading about how people do things I would never do, too.
Jennifer – Ha! So I’m not the only one…
Shari – Well said! And thanks for the luck.
Robin – Of course, the best part of you starting a new book is that soon I’ll get to read some of it! Well, I think it’s the best part of you starting a new book at least…
Ooo. I love the phase you’re in. When everything is so exciting, fresh and possible. Enjoy!!!
I love first drafts. Everything is fair game and you can let your imagination go wild.
Thanks, Suzanne!
So true, Marcia! Nice to put that imagination to some good use.
I also love the thrill of starting a new manuscript. I love the thinking part, the developing of new characters and wonder what journey they will make. It’s exciting.
So many possibilities!
Starting a new project feels so scary to me, like getting ready to jump off a giant cliff or something.
I’m almost to a place where I need to start querying my current project and start a new one. Makes me feel nauseous.
Good luck!
Ooh, good luck with your queries! That’s also exciting and scary at the same time.
So, in the end, how close do you get to that original outline?
Hmm. That’s a good question. The outline changes a lot as I write, but the basics usually stay the same, so I guess I stay pretty close. Sometimes there are twists, or I get to a particular point on my outline and realize that my character would never do or say what the outline tells them to, so I have to veer away for a while. Just outlining, though, makes me think about the plot and characters instead of rushing in, which is a big help.