I woke up today in an awesome mood. The inflammation that has been flaring in my pooch appears to have finally been banished. And after about $700 in drugs and diagnostics what did the job? A $10 bottle of prednisone. Go figure. And to top that off, the snow is all but gone save for a few scattered embankments on the side of the road. The past three days have been sunny and relatively warm. I've managed to get out for a run and a walk and today another run is scheduled. My friend, Christine, is training for a half marathon--the little keener--and she has offered to take me out running on Sunday. Should be fun. My own personal trainer.The writing is going great. I'm finding lots of places where I can cut and blend and so far, knock on wood, I am on track with my word count. This in itself is a major accomplishment that has never been seen before. Breaking the story down into three acts and assigning page counts to each is making this process much easier. And I've noticed something as I'm doing this. Each book I approach in a different way. With every new manuscript I seem to try a new 'system'. There is the one staple that never changes - outline first. But then I veer off and each book seems to end up with is own way of evolving. One I did the hero's journey. Another I did the First Draft in 30 Days method. Another I did GMC and scene caps. Now with Brimstone it's the Three Acts but this was first fleshed out with extensive backstories, GMCs, and timelines. And so far, this book seems to flowing the easiest. Although I think that might also be due to the fact that I feel such a passion for this series that even the hard days don't feel like a huge struggle.
Does anyone else do that? Create a different system of writing the book with each new manuscript? Or do you each have the same system you follow each time?
By the way, on a totally unrelated topic, I have found a new place which I think is similar to myspace, but I'm not entirely sure having never been on my space, but it's called Facebook. Check it out. I think you can just type in my name to get my profile to pop up or you might have to set up a log in first. Not sure.
6 comments:
A system? That would indicate a sense of organization. My only system is to make sure I'm hitting the mark at the end of my chapter and that I got the scenes I wanted within. Then Surprise, its the next chapter.
You have fun on that run thing. I'll be home going through the Sunday newspaper ads drinking coffee.
I generally continue to pants everything, but I'm letting the crafting part of the writing process evolve. I'm gathering skills for revisions and that's a huge accomplishment for me. But it's not a matter of trying on new techniques with every book. I'm adding onto my skills base (like Napoleon Dynamite!)
I haven't developed a hard-core system for every book, but I do sort of follow a general path - characterization, GMC's, plot outline. I'm trying to become more organized, though.
I use different systems for different books, whatever feels right at the time. I try to capture as much as I know before I start. GMC's, inciting incident, conflict between H&h. Then I start writing and when I run out of steam I try some other stuff to get me on the road to the end.
By kids just mentioned FaceBook at dinner tonight. Apparently it's the rage for the teen set.
Glad to hear Coop is better!!
As for systems, yeah, I mix and match with each new book, trying to find something perfect. Yeah, right, I know. But like you, I enjoy exploring new ways of organizing and planning my stories :)
I basically stick with the same process with each book. I tried once to start with an outline and start on page one, but I was bored by page 25. I couldn't understand where the fun would be if I had no surprises down the line. Of course, I'm still not published so maybe my "method" isn't actually working...
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