Comments on: Cindy’s Puzzle Method, Day 6

By: Gerhi Janse van Vuuren

Gerhi Janse van Vuuren — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 10:09:23 +0000

Ok, Randy must have posted this while I was writing my comment for the previous post. Isn’t it great that we live in different time zones. Where we are we are halfway into Friday already.

I have been working on random scenes in my novel. As they trigger an idea. I am at just over 8 thousand words at the moment.

What I have been doing so far is keeping things in an order. At the moment the order is mostly chronological. I have scenes that are quite extensive and places which says something like “There is a big showdown.” This way I am aware of where the gaps are and I believe my subconcious is working all the time trying to fill those gaps.

I had a complete idea of where the story should go but by writing scenes almost randomly the most interesting things started popping out. It means I have to work backwards to make some things make sense but I’m very excited about that.

Another point: I just finished reading Neil Gaiman’s American Gods. I haven’t enjoyed a book so much in a very long time. It is the kind of book I want to read a couple of times to figure out how he makes it work. It is also the quality of writing I strive for. Though , and very ironically, I found at least two continuity faults in the book. Shadow the main character is walkign barefoot at one point, and then, a couple of pages later, he stops to take of his shoes. I guess this happens to the best of us.

By: Karla

Karla — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:18:18 +0000

With Randy’s permission, I am posting a contest I am having on my blog until April 1! I hope you will all help me out and participate! Thanks, Randy!! (Just click on my name above or go to http://homeschoolblogger.com/karlakakins).

By: Pamela Cosel

Pamela Cosel — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 17:52:41 +0000

Randy,
I have to thank you for this series on Cindy’s Puzzle Method. I am the kind of writer for whom this method seems to fit better, than say, your Snowflake Method. As one whose expertise is work as a journalist, meaning non-fiction articles, the Puzzle Method is analogous to how I’ve composed such articles–only I hadn’t named it.

The Puzzle Method of novel writing now takes away the fear for me of completing such a big project because I am already familiar with this way to approach it–just didn’t realize it until reading Cindy’s blog posts here.

Thank you for allowing Cindy to teach us how she makes it all work.