How does one get on “a roll”, exactly?
What is the pattern which creates a run of writing that seems to flow so much better than the normally halting and insecure pace we are often stuck with?
We will try to plot ahead...but it doesn’t always work to bring out the speedwriter that lurks deep down in all of us. Even when we know exactly where to take our story, it’s the getting there which throws us off, at least it does for me. I’m the neurotic writer. The one who questions every word before and after I put it on the page, carefully examining each line for rhythm, for nicely worded trios and smart alliterations of both assonance and consonance.
In other words, I’m constantly editing as I go, which makes for very slow writing.
I started this particular book on September 1st. It’s been three months (and a smattering of days). I was heartily hoping that I would be able to say that I was done, the book was finished and ready for my critique partners to rip apart!
But it is not.
I’m still a good 15,000 words from being finished. BUT at the same time, I’ve been on a little bit of a roll lately (and I’m crossing my fingers even as I type this). Maybe the self-editing whore has been working so much overtime, those six inch stilettos she had been stabbing me with need a bit of a break, because the last few days my words have come nicely, like a gently flowing riverbed that is neither stagnant nor rushing so fast my little dinghy would overturn and dump my precious laptop into the water.
Why? I haven’t got a clue. I’m glad for it, but I really wish I could figure out what sequence of events to reproduce for the next time I’m struggling to put the words down on the page.
What is the pattern which creates a run of writing that seems to flow so much better than the normally halting and insecure pace we are often stuck with?
We will try to plot ahead...but it doesn’t always work to bring out the speedwriter that lurks deep down in all of us. Even when we know exactly where to take our story, it’s the getting there which throws us off, at least it does for me. I’m the neurotic writer. The one who questions every word before and after I put it on the page, carefully examining each line for rhythm, for nicely worded trios and smart alliterations of both assonance and consonance.
In other words, I’m constantly editing as I go, which makes for very slow writing.
I started this particular book on September 1st. It’s been three months (and a smattering of days). I was heartily hoping that I would be able to say that I was done, the book was finished and ready for my critique partners to rip apart!
But it is not.
I’m still a good 15,000 words from being finished. BUT at the same time, I’ve been on a little bit of a roll lately (and I’m crossing my fingers even as I type this). Maybe the self-editing whore has been working so much overtime, those six inch stilettos she had been stabbing me with need a bit of a break, because the last few days my words have come nicely, like a gently flowing riverbed that is neither stagnant nor rushing so fast my little dinghy would overturn and dump my precious laptop into the water.
Why? I haven’t got a clue. I’m glad for it, but I really wish I could figure out what sequence of events to reproduce for the next time I’m struggling to put the words down on the page.
17 comments:
when you figure out what exactly it is that keeps those words coming non stop.... you come tell the rest of us in the word... so we can do it too!
Now that was a great picture, btw. :)
I edit as I go too, and I have not been on a roll in a while...just little dribs and drabs every day. But I've had some distractions with revisions and life stuff. I'm less than 7,000 words away from the end...if only I knew what happened, LOL. I find the beginning so much faster than the end, but my goal is to finish by the end of the month, one word at a time.
LOL, Tiff I'll be sure to let you know
Maggie, you keep writing newsletters and spend time with that baby when it comes...let me cross the finish line before you for once :)
All this productivity is making me sad and green with envy. I've been working way too long on BYM and don't have a finished product. You'll finish your book, J.K., and it'll be awesome.
I never seem to be on a roll! I want the secrets. Sometimes it feels like I'm searching for the fountain of youth...
I have no doubt you'll crank through those last 15K. Hmm...perhaps a nice present to yourself?
I tend to start a few pages back from where I ended to get in the flow for the day. Apart from that I have no advice. Some books are just plain hard to write and I've learned to struggle through and worry at the next stage.
Ely, when that book is done it's going to be amazing! I know you had a rough start with it, but have you figured out what's happening now?
Stephanie, if only there were secrets to learn, I would gladly pass them along. Right now I think my roll is based purely on "stubborn determination" I WILL finish this before the end of the year!
Shelley, I tend to do that too. I always have to review a couple of pages before I get started writing something new--although this is where the internal editor usually kicks in and before I know it hours have passed "tweaking" the old stuff and I still have nothing new to show for it
I love the pic too! :)
And I'm with Tiff; once you figure out how to get those words flowing, you let us all know. I suspect if you wrote it down, there'd be a crowd of us stepping up to buy that book.
I edit as I go too, honestly. I hope you get going soon though. :) Me too, for that matter.
Sorry, late as usual.
I've figured out that the words flow when the story is working. In fact, I'm pretty sure I've stopped up again because the current scene is wrong. Which means I have to slash about 800 to 1K words this weekend and figure something else out.
It's almost as if the characters fight me when it's wrong until I catch on and change direction. In other words, I have no control, I'm at their whim. And if it's write, they're nice enough to keep the words coming.
It would be nice if I could spell "right" right.
Marn, you'll get going once you work everything out. I'm in awe of your plotting abilities. I'm way too wishy-washy when it comes to the direction of my story.
Terri, I'm glad your characters are speaking up and telling you what they want! It's a good sign that the story is exciting and you'll be excited to keep writing it :)
Kris, I think your searching for the writing equivalent of the philosopher's stone with that opening question!
My theory (you knew it was coming! *grin*) is that the subconscious mind accumulates concepts and ideas into a sort of reservoir. Something then opens the tap and the flow becomes unstoppable.
Like the Dutch boy with his finger in the dyke, preventing the flood, this is the inverse process of getting your finger out.
Oh dear, that didn't come out quite right!
I'm glad that the writing is rolling though. *smile*
Q, as always you share your sage wisdom so eloquently :)
You know, my husband always says I should have been a scientist -- to which I laugh -- because I'm always demanding a formula, step-by-step instructions. I want to know why something happens and how to either reproduce it or stop it. It may drive me crazy, considering things don't always follow the patterns we want them to.
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