A Working Writer Writes
Image Source: https://www.allposters.com/-sp/Construction-of-the-Eiffel-Tower-Posters_i9208492_.htm
This is an extremely hard thing to figure out. There is something about writing in which we give all the praise for writing that has been written versus writing that is being written. Grades, publications, and feedback all come from reading writing that that has been produced rather than writing that is in the process of being produced, but for me, I need the drafting process. I can’t be a “pantser” or a “gardener” because I need the multiple drafts to essentially work on different elements of the story at different times. For me, trying to do character, dialogue (which is a function of character), plot, setting and theme all in one go is simply too much for me as a writer. I need to be able to separate these individual elements out rather than trying to focus on them all at once.
The Architect, Builder, and Craftsman
There is an image of the Eiffel tower is being built. We see its base, and we see it being constructed and being erected slowly, piece-by-piece, but at the end we see the completed masterpiece. This is basically the way I write. I build up images and impressions. They seem so clear in my mind, but as I write them, I find that they are really “fuzzy” and “blurry” (in terms of pure storytelling). The more I work on them and revise them, the “clearer” they become (again, in terms of storytelling). While my new stories might not work in terms of publication because they are not as “grimdark” as the current Sci-Fi/Fantasy works, they do seem to be a lot closer to the vision that I had in my head for the original story genesis. Now I just have to find a way to keep drafting (and perhaps speed up just a bit) so as to get more work done monthly, so that I can finish projects and feel a sense of accomplishment that also drives my writing.
Sidney
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Current Work-in-Progress: The Independent (Sci-Fi Short-Story – 2nd Draft)
Current Work-in-Progress: Project Star (Sci-Fi Short-Story -1st Draft)
Current Work-in-Progress: Ship of Shadows (Sci-Fi Graphic Novel – Script, Issue #1, Currently on Script Page 28)
