I have a work in progress!
Posted by CM under Ornithology on Sun 29 Oct 2006
he good news is that the vague stirrings of character suddenly fleshed out last night into an Actual Work in Progress, which I am currently calling “Untitled Ornothological Work of Indeterminate Suckage” (not a long-term title that I plan on pitching).
The other good news is that I have a very clear idea for what must happen up to about a chapter three, and a very clear idea what must happen in the last five chapters or so. The bad news is that there’s this big ol’ gap in the middle of my outline where I have written “???”.
I feel as if I should know everything when I start writing, but I also feel like I could start writing and determine that the suckage is high rather than low. Should I just start writing to see if it goes? Or do I grit my teeth and try to fill in those question marks?
October 29th, 2006 at 4:25 pm
I personally think you should just start writing! I’ve found that everything changes once you’ve written a few chapters and then you’re pissed that you spent so much time on the now-defunct outline. Not that I speak from experience or anything…
Aren’t you glad that I so faithfully comment on all of your blogs!
Sara
October 29th, 2006 at 5:02 pm
This is when you start to figure out where you fall on the plotter vs. pantser continuum.
That said, even if you start out toward one side, you may find yourself shifting strategies with later projects.
I’m a plotter, but given how many years I’ve spent in software development, that’s not a big surprise. Once I have an outline — or, better yet, my scenes storyboarded on note cards — I can cut loose and write completely by the seat of my pants. But until I have some kind of structure, I’m completely frozen.
Having the beginning and the end worked out is an excellent start. If the ideas are flowing and the words are coming to you, I’m with Sara — just start writing. I have every confidence you’ll figure out the strategy that makes the most sense for you.
October 29th, 2006 at 5:50 pm
Thanks for the advice Lynne and Sara. Let’s see what happens with the current idea.
October 29th, 2006 at 6:01 pm
I’m a fan of plot points, i.e. knowing vaguely where I need to be by page XX, but I can often get away with not doing that until I’ve written a few chapters. So, give just writing a shot and see how it shakes out for you. Good luck!
October 29th, 2006 at 7:55 pm
Okay, the Saras and Lynne have already commented, but here come my two cents. I say start writing because a lot of times ideas will come as you go along. You will be writing, and then a scene for later in the story will hit you.
Of course, I am one of those dreaded pantsers that Lynne talked about. However, personally my best ideas come while writing other parts of my story.
note: After reading your link on comma-splicing, I am now hyper-aware of all my comma usage. I definitely checked this post about 8 times to ensure it was de-spliced. You should receive some sort of Grammar Fairy award.
October 29th, 2006 at 9:29 pm
I only mind comma-splicing when it comes (a) regularly in (b) published works. Don’t worry. You’re safe with posts.
Unless you say:
wat R u think lol f1sh.
October 29th, 2006 at 10:41 pm
I was given the title “The Comma Queen” in fourth grade. I’m sure my writing is filled with more than an extra sprinkling of commas, but I’ve sort of given up caring. I just put them in instinctively and hope for the best. My college professors never really commented on it, so I suppose it wasn’t too atrocious. Either that or they were too dazzled by my sparkling prose to notice…
What’s the setting for this work of indeterminate suckage? Regency England? Outer space? A penal colony in Australia? I personally feel that there’s a dearth of romance novels set in penal colonies in Australia. I look to you to remedy this problem as soon as possible.
October 29th, 2006 at 11:02 pm
Extra commas are okay. I’m not a comma-vampire. The only problem is if you think that a comma justifies a run-on sentence. Then you are only so many sardines on toast. Figuratively speaking.
This work is set in outer space. No, actually, it’s set in Regency England.
Although, personally, I think the word “Antipodes” has inherent comedic value. It just sounds great. Antipodes. Antipodes.
Maybe I shall have the first introduction finished in a bit or so, and I shall post it and ask for comments.
October 30th, 2006 at 12:53 pm
I love the working title of your WIP. That’s kind of, sort of how I feel about mine some days. LOL!
And I agree w/Sara (see…great minds think alike). Just get started on it. Even if you hit a wall (figuratively-speaking), walk away from it and come back in a little while and all will be right with the world. Don’t expect it all to come to you at once. You’ll get it.
Now, get back to work! said the one’s who’s assiduously avoiding her own WIP…*rolling eyes*
October 30th, 2006 at 7:12 pm
Write like the wind! By the time you get through the first three chapters, you will have awakened at midnight 20 times with the rest of the story. Oh, I forgot, you’re not usually in bed at midnight.
I wanna see what you got. One rule. No alpha males allowed. Uh, oh wait I have kind of an alpha male in my manuscript. But he’s a doctor, he can’t help it.
October 30th, 2006 at 10:10 pm
Courtney,
I can,’t, find, the link, on, comma, splicing,. Where is it?
October 31st, 2006 at 6:42 am
Hi Courtney, ChinaGirl from AFL here. Glad to see you’re blogging. I linked to you. Good luck on your WIP. Are you going to tell us what subgenre it is?
- Lenora
November 2nd, 2006 at 3:58 pm
Horray for your WIP!!
Here’s to hoping this one actually posts!
November 2nd, 2006 at 8:17 pm
I think you should just throw the manuscript into the fire, realize that it was really good and suddenly you know how your book needs to flow, and realize that half of it is burnt and your future writing career just went down the drain.
Diana
who’s pissed that she had to add to post this.