Digging through the toolbox
One of the advantages of having been at this writing game for so long is that I have a vast array of tools in my toolbox. Some of them get shoved to the back, covered up, or slide between the cracks. But eventually I remember they're in there.
Today I had a high-level, big-picture writing problem to approach. After staring blankly and apprehensively at the screen for a bit, I decided to brainstorm and plan in longhand. I routinely do my drafting and revising on the computer nowadays, but for some reason this task needed the concreteness and simplicity of pen on paper. Then I sat down to the electronic manuscript with a (handwritten) list of specific edits to make to this draft. For some reason, this worked on this particular day with this particular problem.
Another example of living my motto, "Whatever works." If one approach doesn't work, there are plenty more to try.
Today I had a high-level, big-picture writing problem to approach. After staring blankly and apprehensively at the screen for a bit, I decided to brainstorm and plan in longhand. I routinely do my drafting and revising on the computer nowadays, but for some reason this task needed the concreteness and simplicity of pen on paper. Then I sat down to the electronic manuscript with a (handwritten) list of specific edits to make to this draft. For some reason, this worked on this particular day with this particular problem.
Another example of living my motto, "Whatever works." If one approach doesn't work, there are plenty more to try.
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Maggie
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Dec 10, 2016 11:56AM
I have such a hard time plotting. Do you sit down and write everything you can think of about your characters before you start writing or do those details come to you as you write?
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Maggie wrote: "I have such a hard time plotting. Do you sit down and write everything you can think of about your characters before you start writing or do those details come to you as you write?"I just incorporate details as I write. But sometimes when I need to get to know a character better, I write a brief, rambling autobiography for him or her, in a separate file.
There are writers who do spell out every detail about the characters beforehand; they fill out questionnaires or character sheets. It depends on what works for you!
