Writing Update Time!
Whenever I start something new, there’s always a lot of initial editing and changing my mind and rewriting and moving things around. I usually end up with about three or four sections pasted into my word document that I’m trying rewrite or string together or incorporate into what I already have. Sometimes I have to pull scenes from another document or three because I remember how I had a few other trial openings saved in my story folder under different titles.
It’s a freaking mess, but I secretly enjoy it. 🙂 I know there’s this strong suggestion in the writing world of just plunging ahead and not editing until you finish. I’m all for that, but in my defense, I do tend to stop editing so much once I find my stride. I’m not going for perfection. It’s just how I find my footing. Plus, if the first chapter is a full on mess when I get into editing mode, I tend to freak out and head for the hills. Start slow, finish strong. ^_^
While I’m still not technically outlining, I did go ahead and sketch out a few chapters since I knew what I wanted for the first couple of scenes. I have also gone back to writing myself notes before bed and during the day. Apparently, this is just how I like to roll. I couldn’t stand not to, and this part of the process helps me out a lot. So, if it’s not broke, right?
Furthermore, while I tried to use a different kind of notebook to change things up, I have broken down and gone back to my composition books. I just love them, and they’re so much easier to carry around. What I didn’t break down and do, though, are the extensive bios and interviews and character profiles. Outside of my list of characters, all of the notes I’ve been taking are backstory and plot related. I’ve just been asking the little monsters what they look like as I go. That has been freeing.
Anywho, as you can see in the side bar! – I has words!! two stepping Not quite a true word count. The document has over 4k, but 1k of that is from a previous intro that I was playing around with and had a hard time finding because it had the worst placement title ever.
Without going into too much detail as I’m one of those superstitious kind of writers when I have a new baby story, I can say that I have some creatures and some interesting abilities in the story. I’m not sure how long it’s going to be. I have two plot arcs, so it’ll depend on how the first one plays out.
I will admit to feeling pretty confident. The idea came part from my list of story ideas (because that is why they are there!!) and part from the back of my brain somewhere while I was watching Spartacus on Netflix. They said this word that I like – seriously – and it reminded me of these crazy thoughts I have sometimes when I’m in one of my crazy kind of states.
I actually sprang an idea off of that, but there was this giant plot hole between point A and point Z – I basically had NO idea how to get from the beginning to the end, so I set that aside and mixed parts of that with the idea from my giant plot bunny field. It was even partially inspired by “Raven” my shelved NaNoWriMo story. And speaking of, I HAVE REVISION NOTES FOR RAVEN! EEEEK!
Lol! It’s currently in brainstorming and re-articulation mode and may fall apart at the seams, but there is hope. And that is exciting. To me. 🙂
Anywho, I did rather force myself one day to come up with something workable because I know I had something, and I was started to get really agitated! So after bugging my siblings (love them!), I ended up with my franken-idea that I had to spend about a week brainstorming and working the kinks out of. I had at least three different openings sketched out before I sat down and wrote something completely different (of course). There was no pressure to actually start drafting – I tend to stumble into it while I’m in the middle of doing something else anyway – never fails. I will probably have to put a little bit of pressure on myself when I start editing though, so I don’t get lazy.
There is a nice dose of crazy lined up in this plot, that has earned me some cross-eyed looks from my family, so I’m excited. ^_^ And that is made more exciting by the fact I can sum up my idea in one sentence!! It’s a horrible sentence, but it makes sense! That’s a good sign, right? *fingers crossed I actually finish this one* I feel really good about it though. 😀
20 Comments
Michelle Tran
Yay for Franken-ideas and taking inspiration from the old file of ideas. Those are the best! Looks like you have so much awesome stuff going on! Can’t wait to get more details on this new story idea. I bet it’s great!
Krystal Jane
Yay! ^_^ It is fun watching those tiny idea seeds turn into something coherent. Thanks for the vote of confidence! I can’t wait until I’m going really good on it. 😀
Crystal Collier
Wahoo! You are a woman after my own heart. Seriously! I start out the exact same way in the process, editing and switching things around as I go. As I’ve learned for later drafting, if the beginning doesn’t set up all the details right, I’m a total wreck and miss important details/scenes in later portions of the story. The only difference being, I have a full outline before I start–a loose one with tonz of freedom.
This franken-story thing? I call it layering. The more layers a story has, the more epic and unique. *high five* Keep at the awesomeness!
Oh, and I have an award for you today. 😀 http://crystalcollier.blogspot.com/2015/07/very-inspired-by.html
Krystal Jane
Yes! That’s it exactly. I much rather take a little longer at the beginning than have to start over from scratch later. *accepts high five* ^_^
Yay! Thanks for thinking of me! 😀
Michelle A (@SunflowerRei)
Yay, you’re writing again! Franken ideas can be fun. Sounds like it’s going well so far, but yeah, keep those little embers to yourself for now. I always feel like talking about an idea too soon ruins it lol
Krystal Jane
Lol! Right?! It’s like exposing negative print to the light.
Karla
you’re so cute lol 😀
Ideas come in all sorts of ways! It’s great that we’re not limited and can write whatever the heck we want!
Krystal Jane
Right on! ^_^
Ashley Dominique
Yay writing!
Krystal Jane
I know right! 🙂
erickeyswriter
Awesome!
Krystal Jane
Yeah! ^_^
RR
Fantastic!
Krystal Jane
Right?! 😀
Tonja Drecker
Yay for finding your groove again! I have a sort of outline before I start a story, but edit/rewrite/paste around/snip/throw away those first chapters over a dozen times before I really get going on a MS. And the original outline ends up getting mutilated too. Franken-ideas are the only way to go!
Krystal Jane
Yay! I’m in good company! 🙂 I have three separate chapter ones in addition to the one I ended up keeping and the two I wrote before that.
Madilyn Quinn
Congrats on getting back into the swing of things!
I don’t edit beforehand, I’ve finally broken myself of that happen since it literally took a project years to complete because of it. Now I just write it all as it comes and TRY not to go back. It’s been working so far 🙂
Krystal Jane
Thank you! ^_^
Awesome! I have seen SO many people get stuck because they can’t stop editing. A couple of times I have had to force myself to move forward because I was getting crazy!
sandiedocker
So glad you’ve hit on something that is inspiring you. Good luck with it.
Krystal Jane
Me, too! Thank you! ^_^