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Tuesday, July 3, 2012

#IWSG - July Post - 3P's


Hi there, guess what - I'm on vacation in Ft. Lauderdale right now and yes, I'm writing this in advance. [snicker] Surely you didn't expect me to miss my third Insecure Writers Support Group post. Hey, I'm nothing if not a planner...and that can be a problem.

I'm working on my first ever novel, a romance (with a dab of mystery) that is set in Montana. I wrote the basic outline in 1996, during my first go-round of fiction writing. I updated it and started writing, using Scrivener. I've been fortunate to connect with a couple of great critique partners (thanks to Rachael Harrie) and the feedback I've been getting is priceless.

As a novice writer, I'm know I'm making a lot of mistakes. All I do is write...spit out the words...without any thought to the basics: creating conflict, making sure a scene moves the story along, leaving the reader wanting more at the end of a chapter. I know I can go back and rectify all this but I also want to keep it in mind as I write new chapters.

How does this relate to planning and outlines? Well, as I edited my first chapter, I ended up with two more scenes. Moving into my second chapter, I added three new scenes plus four new characters crawled out of the woodwork. Now, after the critique of my second chapter, I realize I need to add a new chapter in between the two originals.

So I'm thinking I may be more of a pantser than I thought...it will be interesting to see how this all translates to my Camp NaNoWriMo in August when I'll tackle my mystery set in PA. I have a body, a location and some characters. No idea who dunit....LOL!

Oh, the 3P's? Planning, Pantsing and Polish!




PS. I hope you will all take a peek at my new blog, Write4Ten, where I provide a prompt for a ten minute writing exercise. It's fun, creative and won't take up much of your day!

12 comments:

  1. I'm smiling right now (more of a smirk really) because I know just how you feel. All my life I've tended to be very organized (AKA control freak) but when it comes to writing, especially fiction, that all falls apart. Sometimes I have no idea where the words came from that just flowed off my fingertips. Nice to know I'm not alone! Have a great vacation from your retirement! :-)

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  2. Planning is too hard, and when I think of a scene in the moment I have to write it or I end up losing what I wanted convey, it doesn't feel fresh if I plan it a thousand ways and I just get lost with possibilities :) being a pantser forces me to pick a direction

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  3. And there I am trying to cut down on the number of characters in my own novel! Planning? All the best laid plans gang aft agley - at lease, mine do!

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  4. Sounds like the project is clearer now than it was in 1996. I'm a plotster (plotter and pantser). I write my outline, then write all the scenes from that. Then I write all of the separate scenes to flesh it out and answer any unanswered questions so there are no loose ends, and add in romantic opportunities and mishaps. Crazy, huh?

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  5. Ha! You sound like me. :P Great post. :)
    ISWG #288

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  6. Thanks for stopping by and commenting...you know I love visitors. ;-)

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  7. I'm always adding things after the first draft. I outline, but I'm such a bare bones writer that I need to add some meat to the story after the first draft. Just think, Donna - most people have to take out scenes. We get to add them!

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  8. Great post! I hope you're enjoying your vacation. :)

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  9. Just popping over from Write Escape! I love you web page design. Such a cute heading!
    It is funny pulling out those old manuscripts and taking a peep. Usually, you see how far you've moved and can look at it with a much keener eye! I just did that with one of mine and thinking about jazzing it up a bit and see what can be pulled together. Still, there's nothing like beginning something completely new! : )

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  10. Wow! For a novice writer, you sound extremely organised!
    And you seem so knowledgeable when it comes to social networking...

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  11. Feedback and the help of more experienced novelists is priceless. Don't rush things. Everything will come in its own time, and you'll be so proud of yourself. :-)

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  12. Again, thanks everyone for stopping by...I appreciate the input!!

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