Novel III Mark 2
Well, Novel III got off to a flying start, and then the doubts started creeping in and I slowed down... but then I was given a good talking to, by others and by myself, and reminded myself that first drafts are always rubbish and there's no point doing it if I'm going to fret and not enjoy it...
...but then I had a long think about it in the bath...
...and I realised it's down to a simple binary choice I've wrestled with before: Plot or character?
Not that you can't have novels which focus on plot and character, but when it comes down to it most will favour one over the other. And if you try and do both they can end up fighting with each other, and neither gets covered satisfactorily.
The book I started writing last week was character-based. I'm drawn to that. I'm fascinated by people and the things they do, the way they treat each other, the way they react to big life events.
But... I also love adventure, and action, and stuff happening. And I don't always find it easy to write about people who are not me. And I realised, my biggest objection to the new book was that there wasn't enough stuff happening, and I kept wanting more excitement...
And I think I've come to a conclusion. Just now, for whatever reason, I want to write something energetic, fast-paced, plot-based. Maybe even funny (I'm always terrified of stating outright that I'm trying to write something funny, in case it turns out not to be. At all. But [whispers] i'd like to write something funny).
Or so I decided in the bath yesterday.
So here's the plan: I've come up with a completely new plot outline, for an utterly different book, which was easier this time because I was more focused. Instead of just saying, "I want to write a book," I said, "I want to write a this kind of book, with some that and some t'other and a sprinkling of pepper."
I'm going to start the new one this week. Then at the end of the week, I decide between the two. Maybe the problem isn't plot vs character. Maybe it's just that starting on a new book is terrifying, and I'm getting First Draft Jitters. Maybe I'll find this one just as hard as the other one. In which case I simply have to pick one and Get On With It.
Me and the littl'un are off away next week, and I'm losing a week from this little diversion, so in practice I only have 12 weeks instead of 14 weeks... which means the new target is 96,000 words at 8,000 words per week. Hence the new word counters on the left hand side.
See. Told you I was the mistress of arse-aboutery. Nowt but an about-arsed queen, that's me.
___
...but then I had a long think about it in the bath...
...and I realised it's down to a simple binary choice I've wrestled with before: Plot or character?
Not that you can't have novels which focus on plot and character, but when it comes down to it most will favour one over the other. And if you try and do both they can end up fighting with each other, and neither gets covered satisfactorily.
The book I started writing last week was character-based. I'm drawn to that. I'm fascinated by people and the things they do, the way they treat each other, the way they react to big life events.
But... I also love adventure, and action, and stuff happening. And I don't always find it easy to write about people who are not me. And I realised, my biggest objection to the new book was that there wasn't enough stuff happening, and I kept wanting more excitement...
And I think I've come to a conclusion. Just now, for whatever reason, I want to write something energetic, fast-paced, plot-based. Maybe even funny (I'm always terrified of stating outright that I'm trying to write something funny, in case it turns out not to be. At all. But [whispers] i'd like to write something funny).
Or so I decided in the bath yesterday.
So here's the plan: I've come up with a completely new plot outline, for an utterly different book, which was easier this time because I was more focused. Instead of just saying, "I want to write a book," I said, "I want to write a this kind of book, with some that and some t'other and a sprinkling of pepper."
I'm going to start the new one this week. Then at the end of the week, I decide between the two. Maybe the problem isn't plot vs character. Maybe it's just that starting on a new book is terrifying, and I'm getting First Draft Jitters. Maybe I'll find this one just as hard as the other one. In which case I simply have to pick one and Get On With It.
Me and the littl'un are off away next week, and I'm losing a week from this little diversion, so in practice I only have 12 weeks instead of 14 weeks... which means the new target is 96,000 words at 8,000 words per week. Hence the new word counters on the left hand side.
See. Told you I was the mistress of arse-aboutery. Nowt but an about-arsed queen, that's me.
___
Labels: Writing About Writing
1 Comments:
That sounds like a plan! If it turns out to be first draft jitters, you'll have to give yourself a stern talking to. Does that work? Usually I just stick my fingers up at myself.
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