Some good things happened over the weekend. We had dinner with Suzy and her crew–our first company in the new house. (Gazpacho and sammies, if you’re wondering. Peach-blueberry crumble for dessert.) My little guy finally had a partner for Minecraft, and the adults had some great conversations about . . . Well, I don’t know what the guys talked about, because I kept dragging Suzy away to have her all to myself. Which is greedy and un-hostessy, but if you know Suzy you’ll understand.
Another happy thing: I’m off and running with the next book. No, really, this time it’s true. I spent Sunday filling index cards with scenes, laid them out all over the floor, then stuck them up on my bulletin board in what could actually pass for order. There seem to be two doorways, three character arcs, a couple of murders and a fair amount of sex (marked with little pink flags for even distribution). Because I’m a big girl, I even have a premise–Obsessive love leads to murder–and have worked this into each thread of the story, so that love of person, place, and thing all lead to destruction in the end. Ever the optimistic world view.
I sat around yesterday nursing a migraine and congratulating myself for my pre-production work on this novel. There’s a chance this time around that I will begin from the right place, scrutinizing every scene to make sure it jives with the story. I won’t have to get four drafts in before I begin to write what I’m writing about. I have a premise, goddamnit. I am armed and dangerous.
This morning I threw down a thousand words. Skipped right over the gazpacho introductions to the peach-crumble sexy bits.
Some habits are hard to break.
What about you? Got premise?
P.S. Congratulations to our own Erika Marks on her new two-book deal with NAL!
Man. You are far organized than I am. Maybe that’s why my stories don’t progress as smoothly. Something to think about…
This is desperation organization, an attempt to keep things headed in the right direction. As you will no doubt see in the months to come, things will go sideways in spite of the bulletin board. But at least I can say I tried.
This is THE WAY TO DO IT.
Mazel tov!
I think it helped to talk to Suzy about it. I get nervous about trying new things in whatever passes as a ‘process’ with me, but Suzy said something along the lines of, ‘you’re supposed to keep learning, not getting locked into the same mistakes over and over.’
Sometimes it takes another person to point out the obvious.
I can’t wait to see that bulletin board!! Good for you for getting it all organized up front. Can’t wait to hear how it goes.
Hey wait, is this a whole new story, or does your recent protagonist make another appearance?
I can’t wait to see YOU. I see from your note at Betsy’s that you’re feeling lousy right now. Do you think your eye will need another surgery?
This is a whole new story. I couldn’t think of a really compelling story line to follow into a sequel, so I decided to start fresh but continue in the same genre.
i am allowed to wander, so long as i don’t leave the premises.
that girl needs to be more careful with that gun. those things aren’t toys.
She likes having a big hot pistol between her legs.
if they’re fired rapidly and repeatedly, they can get hot enough to blister.
Yes, but if you blow on them, they cool right down. (After you swallow the bullets, of course.)
Congrats! A wall covered in post-its with pink flags and themes sounds like an excellent way to start. Coincidentally, I too just did an all out brainstorming session where I fleshed out the cast, detailed the plot from a two paragraph summary to a three page run through, and figured out what sort of theme I want: The ends never justify the means.
My one problem is that this kind of planning makes the rest of the writing feel a little rote; I know what’s coming next, and there’s no surprise in it. Or so I think. I’m hoping my characters take on a life of their own and hijack the plot.
Excuse me injudicious application of italics!
And me sudden proclivity for pirate speak.
Get that man an eye patch!
Planning absolutely takes some of the spontaneity out of a project, but I’m willing to risk it because wandering off the way I do is too dangerous. There are too many ways to quit. I figure I can power through if the only thing in my way is tedium, because I’ve dealt with that before. And I can always move the cards around or swap them or shred them with my fingers in a moment of angst. So there’s that to look forward to.
I like your three-page run through and your theme. It sounds like your next little seedling is beginning to sprout.
The girl in the photo has it all wrong. She needs to use something that vibrates for a long time, not shoots off quickly.
Ha! Bring on the plastic.
Hahahahahaha! TRP, thanks for my biggest laugh of the day.
HOly moses– I don’t often read the comments, but this one got me snorting. Oh, Janine, that was a good one. And Averil– reading about you writing fills me with jealousy, envy, and joy. I want what you’re having– the straight shot!
The premise and the quality of the writing are everything, in my opinion. I have too many ideas for what stories could be about, and tend to start on a new story before finishing the previous one. Bad boy! I know.
Oh, I hear you. Any bright shiny object can distract me when I’m knee deep in an ugly draft. But I think you’re a lucky one if you’ve got a dozen stories knocking around in your head; I have to struggle to come up with anything at all.
It ain’t the shot, it’s the recoil . . .
I’m trying not to do too much with my new premise-thingie until I can put Pigeon to bed, but there appear to be strippers, a homicide cop, and a genius-class pole dancer who has a part time job as a dominatrix. And two possible mysteries involving dead teenagers playing dangerous games . . . and the random discovery of beautifully made-up dead bodies.
Maybe I should buy some index cards?
A genius-class pole dancer who moonlights as a dominatrix? I’m in! Put the birdies to bed, will you?
Working on it . . .
Oh, you! Thanks for that cheer, my dear…
Now let’s get to this fabulous second novel news of yours–yes! And index cards! I am so impressed! I don’t know why I fight the index card because the darn things work, I know they do!
I do love that you admit to skipping over the softer parts for the real meat–I’m so guilty of that. And then of course, we realize it ALL has to be meaty otherwise who wants to read those parts? I’m actually in that place right now, trying to put lipstick and blush on those scenes, the ones I couldn’t wait to skip over.
Hmm. Maybe the madness to our method isn’t so bad, because it does set the intensity at a certain level; everything you write afterward is striving to keep up. But of course the downside is that the story is put together out of order and takes a long time to smooth out. And then there’s all that lipstick to apply.
Yay you!
I’ve figured out my most recent premise, but now I’ve got to get my logic in gear. I’ve been waiting with bated breath for cooler weather to arrive — and it’s in the weather report now — so I have to do some mapping and recording. I don’t want to forget pieces of the puzzle while I’m out of the house looking for photos.
I look forward to being able to think about that other project again, and actually get it done.
And congratulations to Erika!
Oh that’s going to be fun. Get out there into the world, get your photos. I’ve been shooting some stock images myself (what isn’t beautiful in Portland?) and I’m having a good old time.
I’ll be interested to see how your project comes together, Ré. Happy hunting!
gold star for you, Sparks, for using “bated breath” correctly. graduates of advanced writing programs have been known to misspell it “baited breath.” i hate even to imagine that sort of breath.
Thanks for that gold star, Mr. Callis. You made me smile.
For my comment, I resisted the urge to google it, but if I’d been writing a story, I would’ve looked it up yet again, to be sure. Feels good to know I’ve got this one now.
I’m armed. I think I’m too well armed. Like I’m carrying way too much ammo and the weight is totally fucking up my back and knees. I got the whole plot, scene by scene, and the characters were all ready and waiting… and twelve pages in I thought, “I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I’M DOING!”
Jesus, Chris, I say that the whole time: I’m lost! I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing!
It turns out that thinking up a story is not as hard as sitting down to write one.
What about you? Got premise?
I’m taking a break, 45K wds into a novel. Or I could say stuck. Or I could say evaluating whether it’s working. Yeah, that’s it, evaluating…
Definitely you’re evaluating. NOT stuck. Is this the book you began on your retreat?
Yes. And I hit the wall a few days after I got back to my regular world of work and responsibility. Funny how that works.
No premise, but lots of schemes.
I’m thrilled that you got to spend time with Suzy and her family. AND that you’ve got your story organized. What a relief it can be to get those pieces down so you can manipulate them as necessary.
Suzy is wonderful. She took me out to Powell’s last night to see Chelsea Cain’s reading, and afterward we had a drink at a bar nearby. It was my deflowering, the first author reading I’ve seen. Lots of fun it was, too.
You are in your element, my dear. So exciting to hear about. Definitely take a picture of those index cards, laid out like a jig saw puzzle.
By the way, hubby gave me an ARC of Agatha Christie’s personal letters, written by her grandson. He thought I’d like it since she was my mom’s favorite. I’d love to pass it on to you. Send me your new address and I’ll pop it in the mail.
xo
What?! My Agatha’s letters? Oh my gosh, I’d love to read them. I’ll email you.
Thanks!