I spent a lot of tonight reading over what me and Chance, (my son) have written so far in our book. We're now 55,000 words in--so 2/3 of the way there. It was past due to see if the chapters were flowing together as a whole. And...they are. Yay! Haha...
And that's one of the things that inspires me the most about writing. Taking an idea and a character (or set of characters) and watching as, bit by bit, they transform into something new under your fingers. The whole thing really takes on a life of it's own, to where I'm almost looking back and going, "Wow. Did we really write this?"
And I don't mean that in a conceited way--the book is still in it's first draft, so obviously it will need a lot of refining. I mean it more in the way of just being surprised to see how completely real the characters are and how our ideas translate from our head to the page and somehow, on the journey in between, turn into something so unexpectedly alive.
I used to think if I plotted a book out the whole, "coming to life" thing wouldn't happen. It seemed like that would be something strictly obtained by just flying by the seat of my pants and letting the story do what it would. Turns out I was wrong...
How about you? Do you plot things out or let your characters choose their own paths? Do you feel that your characters/their stories seem to flow from somewhere else when you're really in the zone? Somewhere so far inside of yourself that it almost doesn't seem like you at all? Or is it more of a methodical process?
P.S. Sorry for not putting the linky list up. Go HERE for it! John told me how to post it but it's two in the morning and I have a headache, so I didn't feel like messing with it. haha
I generally have a vague plot heading in and at some point make a graphic of plot points, but it's often subject to change. I live for that magic moment when the characters come to life and start talking back :)
ReplyDeleteMe too! That's the best moment, isn't it???
DeleteGlad it's coming together for you and your son!
ReplyDeleteI can spend months on the outline alone. Of course, the time spent writing the first draft is much shorter, so I guess it helps.
we probably spent about a month outlining this and every few days we end up adding stuff/taking stuff away...I'm really glad we plotted it all out first. Makes it WAY easier.
DeleteLOL... don't worry about the Linky.... next time!
ReplyDeleteI'm a MAJOR plotter and outliner, and recently I've become a major workshopper too. I like to have things all planned out before I write a chapter — it usually makes getting the words on the page easier the first time out.
BUT... even within that outline, scenes and characters definitely take on a life of their own. A character will make a snide remark, they'll do something you didn't expect, or they'll put themselves in a situation that changes the plan.
Case in point... I was in the middle of writing a fight scene the other day, when I realized a semi-major character had to die. O_o It was a surprise to even me... but it was much better than what I'd originally planned.
Thanks for sharing!
Isn't it awesome when that happens? I love being surprised by my characters. I've always got the plan to get them from point A to point B--example: they had to walk through the forest to a cave. But HOW they walked, talked, thought...I leave that up to them. It seems to be a good balance. :)
DeleteWow, I think it's so cool you and your son write together.
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question. I plan scenes in advance, but if my characters surprise me with a better action, line or plan, I let them take the lead.
that's pretty much what I do as well! :)And yeah, writing with Chance is awesome. I wrote two books before this without him, but I'm not sure I'll write anymore on my own. It's way too much fun writing with him to go back to doing it alone. :)
DeleteI usually have a few major plot points mapped out, but that's about it. Everything else is a surprise. I'm so glad this collaboration between you and your son is working out so well! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it is too! I was looking forward to trying it, but I didn't expect it to be so much fun, or to make my own writing so much better. I love it!
DeleteI do both but I'm 95% plotter. May be that's 99% plotter. However I do experience the coming to life you mention, just in a different stage. I am very happy of yours and your co-writer's progress in the story!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Al! I've plotted out about 99% of this too! I guess that's why I'm so happy to see the characters still coming to life in the midst of all those plotting constraints. haha. It's my first fully plotted book so I didn't know what to expect. I will not write without plotting again!
DeleteHappy for you Tamara! Sounds like you and your son are a great team~ :D
ReplyDeleteI have not outlined, but now that I truly want to write a book... I think I have
to! I can't wait to read it~ I'm so excited for you both~ Woo hoo...
It sounds amazing!
You and your son are writing a book? How incredibly awesome! I should do that with my daughter (if only she would allow me some creative control . . . hah hah hah). I'm a very exploratory writer. I'll go down this road and then that one and in the revision process whatever doesn't fit, I'll cut or change. Good luck with this project, it sounds so exciting!
ReplyDeleteI totally know what you mean. Sometimes I go back to what I've written the next day and it's kind of an out of body experience. I can't even remember the connections I made that created certain phrases or passages. And those are usually my favourite ones. Like Hemingway said, "Write drunk; edit sober." Now time for a G&T...
ReplyDelete