I am working on a novel - what I anticipate to be the first of several, but we all have to start somewhere. In the process of finally settling down, focusing on getting the story told (read: putting my butt in a chair to actually, you know, write), I am figuring out a lot about what works for me as a writer. At least, in terms of working on the novel.*
First, scratch the computer. Don't get me wrong, I love my Macbook, and I do type everything up, but the words just don't seem to come as easily or freely when I'm staring at a screen, unless I have a very specific item in mind. It's possible that there's some psychology to it, that seeing sheets of paper filling up with words begets more words wanting to be captured on paper. It's also helpful that I can still work on the text, without having to make sure I have a computer with me. So I've been hand writing this latest section, the last few thousand words, and anticipate hand scribbling through the rest of the first draft.
Which brings up point number two: Transcribe as I go. Simply put, scratch out the test during my writing time, then spend some down time (usually at work the next day) typing everything up, with possible rewording or expansion as I copy it over. This gives me a chance to do a little editing as I go, but it disconnects enough that it becomes a minor issue. I'm thinking too much about the events of the story, and where things are going, to focus too heavily on some of the details. Besides - that's what the time between completing draft one and preparing draft two is for.
Which hints at process point number three. There's debate about where one should end, or stop, during a writing session. Finish the chapter? Finish the scene? Finish the sentence? Stop somewhere in the middle to give a fresh place to jump back into? What I've been doing with this project has been: write the scene/moment/exchange that feels natural, and stopping when I feel like stopping, or if I feel things are just not coming of their own accord. But I make some notes about the "next moments" that I can see coming, based on what has been written. Another way to visualize this: "Based on [this moment], I see A, B and C as the next sequences." It may be a little while before I get to B, C, or even far off D, but this starts things working and thinking...
Which lends itself to the question of outlines. I have found that outlines can be problematic - I either get the feeling that I'm forcing the skeleton of story out of myself, essentially telling the story by bullet points, or I feel that the ideas are too vague to really weigh in as an outline, and I don't get anything accomplished. I do, sort of, outline the project, but in a very general way. Clear as mud? Right.
Using the current project as an example: I have the idea that I'm running with, and I know I want it to be a thriller/suspense type work with overlapping and nested plot lines, circling around and forced onto one central character, and how he tries to survive it all. I know I am going to have misdirection playing a part. But the specifics (even down to character names) have not been figured out yet. I'm setting the story in Boston, and I knew I wanted to have some kind of reason for the main character to go to Fenway, but I wasn't quite sure where to work it in. I know moments I want to include, but connecting the dots is the touchy part. I don't want to feel like I'm trying to put to much into the story without knowing how the events will connect. It feels a bit like I'm rambling, but the point is I am doing a very basic outline, as a guide to key events, but I'm leaving out any explicit details.
My mind is turning fuzzy, so I will close with this. The best part, the most fun that I have had with writing, has actually been over the last couple of weeks, where I have been able (and chosen) to make strides in the mechanical aspects of figuring out how I write. It's allowed me to be more relaxed, and more productive, when I've sat down and put pen to paper. It has felt more like I'm channeling the events instead of "making stuff up." And that's one of the best feelings of all...
* Shorter works can also, for now, be handled by other means - like actually composing at a computer. We'll see how things go the more projects I do.
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