Comments on: P Stands For . . . http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/14/p-stands-for/ America's Mad Professor of Fiction Writing Wed, 16 May 2012 15:56:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Cate http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/14/p-stands-for/#comment-3395 Cate Fri, 14 Dec 2007 10:51:27 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/14/p-stands-for/#comment-3395 Thank you, Randy and Susan, for saying it's ok to write at my own pace and just do what works! You got my attention here--I probably would have ignored just another writer telling me his or her way is the ONLY way. I'm an artist. Some artists spend months making elaborate sketches of their subjects, choosing just the right angles and colors before they mark up a canvas. And then there's those like me who make the sketch on directly (with lots of erasing of course), mix the colors on the fly, and be prepared to make spontaneous wonders and layer over my mistakes. And throw out a couple of failed masterpieces before I get it right. Both methods involve lots of thought--just in the second method the thought comes out in the problem solving during the execution. But as far as I'm concerned, both take a lot of time, and both make beautiful art. Or what about actors? Method actors spend months studying their characters until they know them inside and out, and their subltlety in astounding. But then there's improv actors who can pull out an incredible performance on a dime. Might writing be something of the same? (Yes, by now you must know you're looking at a drafty non-outliner here.) Sorry Randy, I love your blog but I hate snow! Thank you, Randy and Susan, for saying it’s ok to write at my own pace and just do what works! You got my attention here–I probably would have ignored just another writer telling me his or her way is the ONLY way.

I’m an artist. Some artists spend months making elaborate sketches of their subjects, choosing just the right angles and colors before they mark up a canvas. And then there’s those like me who make the sketch on directly (with lots of erasing of course), mix the colors on the fly, and be prepared to make spontaneous wonders and layer over my mistakes. And throw out a couple of failed masterpieces before I get it right. Both methods involve lots of thought–just in the second method the thought comes out in the problem solving during the execution. But as far as I’m concerned, both take a lot of time, and both make beautiful art.

Or what about actors? Method actors spend months studying their characters until they know them inside and out, and their subltlety in astounding. But then there’s improv actors who can pull out an incredible performance on a dime.

Might writing be something of the same? (Yes, by now you must know you’re looking at a drafty non-outliner here.) Sorry Randy, I love your blog but I hate snow!

]]> By: Destiny http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/14/p-stands-for/#comment-3396 Destiny Fri, 14 Dec 2007 11:38:38 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/14/p-stands-for/#comment-3396 Mmm...I see a subtle (or perhaps not so subtle..) hint here, LOL. I love this topic. It's very informative. Mmm…I see a subtle (or perhaps not so subtle..) hint here, LOL.

I love this topic. It’s very informative.

]]> By: Carrie Neuman http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/14/p-stands-for/#comment-3397 Carrie Neuman Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:23:35 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/14/p-stands-for/#comment-3397 I wonder if it's an intovert vs extrovert thing, Cate. Supposedly, introverts like to think things through while extroverts like to talk through them. I'd think creating is the same way. I like to know what scenes I need, but not the details of what's going to happen in each one. I know who's trying to get something. I know where the characters were before they got there and where I need them to get in the end. Everything else is a mystery, a fascinating puzzle. I wonder if it’s an intovert vs extrovert thing, Cate. Supposedly, introverts like to think things through while extroverts like to talk through them. I’d think creating is the same way.

I like to know what scenes I need, but not the details of what’s going to happen in each one. I know who’s trying to get something. I know where the characters were before they got there and where I need them to get in the end. Everything else is a mystery, a fascinating puzzle.

]]> By: ML Eqatin http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/14/p-stands-for/#comment-3398 ML Eqatin Fri, 14 Dec 2007 15:22:00 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/14/p-stands-for/#comment-3398 Good post, Susan. "Write what you know and know what you write." I certainly appreciate that as a reader. That's why I use blends of people I know well for my characters (as I have mentioned before, my stories are all set long enough ago that nobody can complain): When I put them in a situation, I know exactly what that character would do. And I don't have to make up my plot twists, I just pore through old documents and select from a huge smorgasbord of historical fact. But doing all the research before you write does take time, there is no way around it. And the travel part is expensive. Good post, Susan. “Write what you know and know what you write.” I certainly appreciate that as a reader. That’s why I use blends of people I know well for my characters (as I have mentioned before, my stories are all set long enough ago that nobody can complain): When I put them in a situation, I know exactly what that character would do. And I don’t have to make up my plot twists, I just pore through old documents and select from a huge smorgasbord of historical fact. But doing all the research before you write does take time, there is no way around it. And the travel part is expensive.

]]> By: Pam Halter http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/14/p-stands-for/#comment-3399 Pam Halter Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:15:51 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/14/p-stands-for/#comment-3399 My best understanding of knowing your character intimately is so you can have them do something totally foreign and therefore throw a delicious twist to the story. :) I always think my stories through. I say they're simmering in my head. When a story is "done," I sit at the computer and type as fast as I can. I've always thought it was amazing how much I could accomplish doing it that way. Thanks, Susan, for affirming this way of writing. You have encouraged me today! My best understanding of knowing your character intimately is so you can have them do something totally foreign and therefore throw a delicious twist to the story. :)

I always think my stories through. I say they’re simmering in my head. When a story is “done,” I sit at the computer and type as fast as I can. I’ve always thought it was amazing how much I could accomplish doing it that way.

Thanks, Susan, for affirming this way of writing. You have encouraged me today!

]]> By: Deborah http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/14/p-stands-for/#comment-3400 Deborah Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:16:40 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/14/p-stands-for/#comment-3400 Very interesting and helpful! I am scared of pre-writing because I'm afraid I'll get out of control and write a jumbled mess. Then again, that fear is what's keeping me away, so maybe I should give it a whirl anyway... Deborah www.therhythmofwrite.com Very interesting and helpful! I am scared of pre-writing because I’m afraid I’ll get out of control and write a jumbled mess. Then again, that fear is what’s keeping me away, so maybe I should give it a whirl anyway…

Deborah
www.therhythmofwrite.com

]]> By: Bruce Younggreen http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/14/p-stands-for/#comment-3401 Bruce Younggreen Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:45:33 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/14/p-stands-for/#comment-3401 After having my novel stalled for three years, I discovered Randy's snowflake method. That was on December 4th. Since then, I've worked through the first four steps and am working on the fifth, development of my major characters' story summaries. I've got to tell you, I'm beginning to realize why I thought this story was going to work! I'm beginning to understand my characters. Pieces are falling into place. What I wrote three years ago will have to be scrapped entirely, but when I start writing the novel (again) I am completely confident that I won't be able to stop it from flowing out of me. Thank-you, Randy! Thank-you, Susan! After having my novel stalled for three years, I discovered Randy’s snowflake method. That was on December 4th. Since then, I’ve worked through the first four steps and am working on the fifth, development of my major characters’ story summaries. I’ve got to tell you, I’m beginning to realize why I thought this story was going to work! I’m beginning to understand my characters. Pieces are falling into place. What I wrote three years ago will have to be scrapped entirely, but when I start writing the novel (again) I am completely confident that I won’t be able to stop it from flowing out of me.

Thank-you, Randy!

Thank-you, Susan!

]]> By: Camille http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/14/p-stands-for/#comment-3402 Camille Fri, 14 Dec 2007 17:18:06 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/14/p-stands-for/#comment-3402 Smells of manacles??? eew. Thank you, Susan, for the Pretty, Practical and Promising "P" word. Yay---I can relate to Pre-writing; I'm a Planner. Unfortunately, I'm also a Piddler and a Procrastinator. Randy sez: By the way, life is not a contest to see who writes the fastest. Speed is really not that big a deal. I agree - it's not about speed. For me, it's about making better use of my writing time. My word output compared to the amount of time I spend at the computer is Pitiful. Now I want to pump out the prose (I never knew I was an aliteration addict until today). But---sigh---that must now wait until after Christmas. 9 relatives announced they are coming to join my family of 7 for the holidays. They don't say it to my face, but I KNOW they expect chocolate covered confections and don't know I'm on strike this year. And they're taking over my writing room. Pooh. Smells of manacles??? eew.

Thank you, Susan, for the Pretty, Practical and Promising “P” word. Yay—I can relate to Pre-writing; I’m a Planner. Unfortunately, I’m also a Piddler and a Procrastinator.

Randy sez: By the way, life is not a contest to see who writes the fastest. Speed is really not that big a deal.

I agree - it’s not about speed. For me, it’s about making better use of my writing time. My word output compared to the amount of time I spend at the computer is Pitiful.

Now I want to pump out the prose (I never knew I was an aliteration addict until today). But—sigh—that must now wait until after Christmas. 9 relatives announced they are coming to join my family of 7 for the holidays. They don’t say it to my face, but I KNOW they expect chocolate covered confections and don’t know I’m on strike this year. And they’re taking over my writing room.

Pooh.

]]> By: bonne friesen http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/14/p-stands-for/#comment-3403 bonne friesen Fri, 14 Dec 2007 18:28:18 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/14/p-stands-for/#comment-3403 The serendipity just keeps on happening with this blog and the things I'm already reading about! Randy talks about 'composting', I just read Karen Weisner talking about 'brainstorming' in "First Draft in 30 Days", now Susan calls it 'pre-writing', and she's going to tell me more! It always helps me to have more than one perspective on a new concept. Having written a Nanowrimo novel with an underdeveloped story world, I know I desperately need to get a grip on this before I start another major undertaking. Having the plot set kept me going, but it lacked the layers of awesome that could have been there if I'd had all the juicy tidbits floating around for me to pluck and discreetly scatter through the action. *sigh* The serendipity just keeps on happening with this blog and the things I’m already reading about!

Randy talks about ‘composting’, I just read Karen Weisner talking about ‘brainstorming’ in “First Draft in 30 Days”, now Susan calls it ‘pre-writing’, and she’s going to tell me more! It always helps me to have more than one perspective on a new concept.

Having written a Nanowrimo novel with an underdeveloped story world, I know I desperately need to get a grip on this before I start another major undertaking. Having the plot set kept me going, but it lacked the layers of awesome that could have been there if I’d had all the juicy tidbits floating around for me to pluck and discreetly scatter through the action. *sigh*

]]> By: Shruti http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/14/p-stands-for/#comment-3405 Shruti Sat, 15 Dec 2007 12:16:24 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/14/p-stands-for/#comment-3405 Writing the novel might take less, but the thinking or pre-planning part takes a lot of time. In today's fast-paced world, I'm trying hard not to think about novel writing in terms of time. Writing a good book in 3 yrs is worthwhile than writing a crappy one in 6 weeks - is my bible nowadays. :) Writing the novel might take less, but the thinking or pre-planning part takes a lot of time. In today’s fast-paced world, I’m trying hard not to think about novel writing in terms of time. Writing a good book in 3 yrs is worthwhile than writing a crappy one in 6 weeks - is my bible nowadays. :)

]]> By: marilyn http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/14/p-stands-for/#comment-3409 marilyn Sat, 15 Dec 2007 20:00:20 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/14/p-stands-for/#comment-3409 I'm not qualified to answer the question but I like extra credit. You could say you have to pack the tiny flakes of ideas together before you can throw that snowball of a project out into the world. I’m not qualified to answer the question but I like extra credit. You could say you have to pack the tiny flakes of ideas together before you can throw that snowball of a project out into the world.

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