Pepsilovr
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Are you a “pantser” or a “plotter”? Or somewhere in between? I find that even if I have a good idea of where I am going with a scene (or the book), the characters tend to run off and do things I hadn’t had in mind…
Lois McMaster Bujold
I've answered this before at greater length, somewhere, if you scroll back through the pile, but I'm in-between. I do a lot of general note taking, and pushing ideas around on paper to see if they'll fit, before I start writing, but it's as much a memory aid as anything. I then narrow down on scenes, my basic work unit, and outline each one quite a bit before I sit down and write it out, sometimes mutating as it goes. Then lather, rinse, repeat with the next scenes in a chain. I don't outline in detail in advance; future developments fade off into obscurity pretty quickly, until I work my way closer.
I have more problems with characters sitting down and not moving than with them running off.
When I'm writing anything at all, that is.
Ta, L.
I've answered this before at greater length, somewhere, if you scroll back through the pile, but I'm in-between. I do a lot of general note taking, and pushing ideas around on paper to see if they'll fit, before I start writing, but it's as much a memory aid as anything. I then narrow down on scenes, my basic work unit, and outline each one quite a bit before I sit down and write it out, sometimes mutating as it goes. Then lather, rinse, repeat with the next scenes in a chain. I don't outline in detail in advance; future developments fade off into obscurity pretty quickly, until I work my way closer.
I have more problems with characters sitting down and not moving than with them running off.
When I'm writing anything at all, that is.
Ta, L.
More Answered Questions
D
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Hi! I am a huge fan. I have been re-listening to the Vorkosigan books recently, and I was wondering… have you considered writing a book about one or more of Elli Quinn’s sons leaving Athos and coming to find her? I think it would be really fun to see how they interact during an adventure together. Thanks so much for your wonderful books!
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