Sometimes you will see writing advice that instructs to turn off the critic while you write. I can't do that. As a result most often my first drafts are pretty much the only drafts I do, because I will not move on until my narrative is where I want it to be. I think it saves me a great deal of time, as I don't redraft the same thing 8-10 times. The side effect of this method is when I'm finished with something, just looking at it makes me want to vomit. Ilona Andrews
One of my new favorite places to read is League of Reluctant Adults, a blog by five fantasy writers, including Stacia Kane/December Quinn. Funny and to-the-point insights about the writing process. I particularly liked Ilona's comments in the post from which I quoted. Hah! That could be me, except I keep jumping to another project before I get the sick-unto-death feeling going.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
That's me too -- both the internal editor with no "Off" switch and the bouncing back and forth between projects. The only time I stick to a single project until it's done is when I'm very close to a deadline, and although I can do it, it gets more and more stressful as I go along. I really don't prefer to work that way. Although I'm more productive close to a deadline, so it's a trade-off. [wry smile]
Angie
I have tried both. Either way, I still have to go back and rewrite, so I guess I won't be as critical when the first draft rolls around. :*)
I do a bit of both. The big action scenes I can lay out and move on, knowing that any holes or repeated words or wonky sentences can be fixed in edits. The in-between scenes, the ones that develop characters or impart information...those I work and work and work, because I can't move on until they're at least basically ready to go.
Yes, definitely with December.
I just can't slop the words on the page and keep going.
That's my process, LOL! Even down to the vomit thing!
I get that way when I first start writing something. Those first three chapters get written and revised quite a bit before I declare that "first draft" done and move on. But I do that even more with my school essays. Is it bad to admit that I rarely do multiple drafts of essays, especially when I was in high school and as an undergrad? Or who am I kidding, I've been doing that with the grad work too, so far.
Post a Comment