writercises | Entries tagged with discovery writing

Original Posting 2022/2/25

Over here, https://writingexcuses.com/2022/02/20/17-8-the-alchemy-of-creativity/ they spent considerable time chewing over the question of how one goes from idea to expression, or perhaps how does one shift from one form to another. Interestingly enough, it seemed clear that some people on the podcast basically have a movie running in their head, and need to figure out how to convert that to prose, while others seem to have words running wild, and are more likely to start with drafting, and then work their way into revisions. Anyway, different approaches for different folks.

I have to admit, I'm a word person. Movies? Nah, not in my head. But I can sort of see how some people might start with that kind of visual playground, and need to convert it into words. And, of course, there are folks who are doing what one of the people mentioned, basically starting with a script, seeing what kind of movie that prompts in their head, and then annotating the script with various notes about the cameras, the settings, the scenes, all of that, and then taking that and converting it into a storyboard...

There was also a bit of amusement when one person pointed out that they are a dessert first writer. I.e., they write the parts that excite them first, then have to step back and put it all together. This might be opposed to the "in order" writer, who starts at the beginning and goes on until the end.

Whew! So we have outliners and pantsers or discovery writers, those who prefer to lay it all out in some kind of outline (or perhaps a mindmap or othe visual format?) and those who dive right into the writing, working out the structure as they get the words down... And we have movie in the head people and words and feelings folks? Plus we have dessert first writers and in order writers...

Fun and games! What kind of process do you find yourself using? Do you recognize these differences? Is there something else that shapes your writing, and makes it different from the way other people seem to tackle things?

Something to ponder this weekend, maybe?

Write?

mbarker

Original Posting 2021/5/10

Elsewhere, someone asked for advice about whether or not to stop and make a revision to their work in progress or not. They explained they were about 50% or better into their story, but had just realized that there was a bit character in the early part who could play a bigger role as a red herring, and they wondered whether to go back and rewrite the early part now, or press on to the end and then do the revision. Here's my response...

I think the answer is yes. Seriously, I've seen advocates for both approaches to handling that great idea that comes in the middle of writing. One group suggests that you write yourself a note, to be used during revision, but then press ahead and write the whole thing. Their argument is that you may (and probably will) come up with other changes that need to be worked in, and pushing to finish first (a) ensures that you do finish, and (b) let's you work in all those changes during a revision pass or two, instead of repeatedly restarting during the first draft race to the end. Another group says no, when you have a change like this, go ahead and rewrite, patch it in, and then work forward from a strong base, with the change already in place. That way you don't have as much rework to do on the later parts, since you already worked in the change.

I think a lot of it depends on your own approach. If you are trying to keep the whole thing in your head, and writing, writing, aiming at that finish (aka discovery writing or pantser), then it probably makes sense to just make a note and keep going. You're going to keep on discovering things to work into the story, and that revision is going to be fairly hefty anyway, so go ahead and get a whole list before you go back and start making changes. On the other hand, if you have a pretty good idea of where you are going, and the change will be fairly major, (aka plotter?) then it may make sense to go back and work it in now. Incidentally, Lois McMaster Bujold has talked about her process, which involves writing herself a series of fairly extensive side commentaries while writing (I think of this as co-writing), which lets her keep track of changes like this for later revision, while still pushing ahead on the mainline without too much major upheaval. I suppose that might be a third approach, pause, write up bits and pieces without working them in, enough so that you think you have the idea well in hand, then go ahead.

So, yes. You may want to take a little time and at least write yourself a note, perhaps some character scenes and such, to help you keep track of that new red herring until you come back during revision and work them in everywhere. And go ahead and write the rest of the story as if you had made those changes already, but go ahead and push for the finish. OR stop now, go back and rework things to at least bring out that new character, add some scenes and dialogue and so forth, and then pick up again with a firmer base to work from.

Your choice. Whichever works best for your writing process, at this time, for this story.

mbarker

Original Posting 3/15/2020

I have to admit, most of the time, I do free writing. Oh, I have read the books and articles about various patterns, and tried using outlines and so forth, but... most often, I grab an idea (or more than one. I do like the brainstorming notion of starting with several ideas, often just a phrase or sentence each, and then picking out one of those). Then I often let it percolate for a while, a day or so if I can. Not particularly poking at it, just letting it float around in the back brain, kicking up connections and so forth. Nowadays, I will often open a google doc and write down the original idea or whatever, then add the little connections as they spring up. Maybe look up a song, and add a link to the YouTube or lyrics. Let the thing collect and simmer a bit.Then, more often than not, I just sit down and do a rough draft. I may have a character in mind, and maybe a little conflict or something, but I kind of let the whole thing play out in my mind as I write things down. Yep, pantsing madly! Oh, if things seem to be stagnating, I’ll drag up my list of beats or maybe a random moral dilemma or something, remember try-fail cycles, or whatever, but most of the time, it’s just me watching the characters playing on the virtual stage in my head, and taking notes, writing down their dialogue, and so forth.The other thing that sometimes happens is that I’ll write out a rough sketch, phrases and sentences, quickly laying out a scene or two. Then I’ll go back and fill that out, writing the details in.Now, if I have a chance, I like to let it sit for a day or so, and then review it. I almost always find things to fill in, places where I need to straighten out the work or add some explanation of what’s going on. I rarely let something go without at least one, if not more, readthrough editing passes.Of course, this kind of quick drafting works best in short forms. Recently, I’ve been having fun with OddPrompts, https://moreoddsthanends.home.blog/ which let’s me suggest some prompts, then gives me an assigned prompt to chew on, and a place to let them know what I have done with it, and to feed back some comments, too. Right now, for example, I’ve got a continuing story about a cook in a monster hunting outfit that I keep adding pieces to, along with the short odd bits that working on the prompts generate.It’s kind of funny, while I keep studying the various forms and so forth, when I go to write, that’s not really what I use. Just some basic brainstorming, then free writing, aka pantsing, and some review and editing. I will admit, I keep journals, and files and files of ideas and sketches. But most of the time, I don’t even dig those out, I just run a fresh idea out when needed.Sometime, I really should take... oh, the hero’s journey or Save the Cat! beats and try walking all the way through them. Not sure what I’d end up with, but it would be a good exercise for me.So, there you go. I’m a pantser, who studies the outliners and wonders about it.

mbarker

Original Posting 3/14/2020

Just a kind of brainstorming exercise. Many of you, I think, are writing, or have written, or maybe would like to be writing. Of course, one of the tricky parts of writing is facing that blank page, or more likely, blank screen, and getting yourself engaged and pouring words out. Now, I know, there's advice about sitting down at a typewriter and opening a vein. Other people swear by, or swear at, a particular framework, like the three-act structure, hero's journey, or some such. 20 minute freewriting sprints. Reddit prompts! Or what have you...So, your challenge. Write down whatever you use to spark that writing frenzy. Tell us, in a few lines, or more extensively, just what you use to start yourself. Is there a checklist of questions that you like? A particular way of looking at things? Do you start with a character, a situation, a setting, or something? Whatever it is, tell us about it!Go ahead, write it up, as if you were telling us how to get started. Then post that, right here on writers. Don't worry, rubbing that worry stone before starting is not ridiculous if it works for you!Hey, your outlining method, or your pantsing approach, might be just what someone else needs to help them get started again!Okay? Think about how you tackle it, write it up, and tell us!

mbarker

Original Posting 11/01/2019

If you do, you are probably already set up and ready to roll, just as soon as November First starts wherever you are. On the other hand, if you have missed it...It's November! For many writers, that means it's nanowrimo time again! National Novel Writing Month! There's a website (https://nanowrimo.org/) with support, and all that, but the main idea is simple. Toss the internal editor in the back, and write! Aim at 50,000 words (or more! Just because you hit the goal, don't stop now! Keep going!) during the month of November. That means 1,667 words a day, or 12,500 per week. Although I'd recommend doing a bit of overloading or front-loading, because there may be turkeys and other interruptions towards the end of the month. So, say 2,000 words a day, or even 2,500 words a day to start?But part of the fun is not fretting too much about the target, and just settle down and write whatever you can, whatever feels good! Push to do more than you have done before. Try a genre you haven't tried, but always wanted to. Switch from that hackneyed third person to first person (or, for the very adventurous, give second person a try!). Maybe play with present tense instead of the well-trodden past tense?Oh, yeah, there's also the fun of trying discovery writing if you have been an outliner, a planner. Or play with some planning, if you have always done discovery writing.Rediscover the fun of writing! Remember why you wanted to do this stuff, and go ahead and enjoy it for a month!One notion that I've seen a lot of people suggesting is what I might call incremental outlining or planning. Basically, sure, go ahead and at least have a kind of idea of what you want to write, maybe a few of the characters and so forth, but don't worry too much. Then, every day, start out with a little brainstorming and outlining. Probably a scene or two. Set the goals, figure out what you want to have happen in this scene, who you need, and... write! Yes, you may find yourself needing to go back and rearrange scenes or rewrite stuff later, but... don't worry about it for now, we're pushing for words, and more words! Okay? Just write those daily pieces, and we'll fit them into the quilt later.So, even if you haven't tried nano before, let me invite you to join in, and write! Don't worry, you haven't lost much preparation time. Actually, I think you could include whatever preliminary sketches and so forth you want to do before you dive into writing, writing, writing as part of your nanowrimo word count.And when people ask if you nano, you can smile, and say, "Yes!"Go ahead, write! You've got a month to run wild, and an invitation to, as Nike likes to suggest, just do it!

mbarker

Original Posting 9/19/2019

Nanowrimo, as most of you know, is the National Novel Writing Month that used to be known as November. The challenge is simple -- write 50,000 words during November!Now, there's a website over here https://nanowrimo.org/ that can help. They let you register, provide tracking for your numbers, will count the words in your final draft, and give pep talks, certificates, and other stuff.Right now, they are running a preparation course. Apparently, a six week course that started last week (whoops!) and runs through the middle of October. You can download the whole handbook, and catch up if you want to. The six pieces they are tackling?1. Develop a story idea you're passionate about2. Create complex, believable characters3. Construct a detail plot or outline4. Build a strong world for your characters5. Organize your life to support your writing goals6. Find, schedule, and manage your timeI find it slightly amusing that they are giving a six week workshop to get ready for a month-long (four weeks, right?) writing binge, but...Some of us like preparation, others prefer jumping in and discovery writing (aka pantsing). If you are interested in getting yourself ready for Nanowrimo, their prep program looks pretty good! Go for it!And then... in November!WRITE!

mbarker.livejournal.com

Running Water

We have rice paddies near us, which means I get to see the farmers playing games with water. One of the fun parts is when they open the water on a gutter that hasn't been used for a while. There's a trickle, then a kind of gush with mud and muck tumbling out, and as the torrent continues, it starts to run smooth and clean -- and powerful.

Looking at the comments from some of the nanowrimo writers on another list, it seems as if they are experiencing that sort of a cleansing. Several of them commented about initial awkwardness and slowness, worries about needing to edit, needing to outline, and needing to do something besides write. However, they persevered and started to find themselves writing more than they needed to, just because it felt right.

They also found themselves having characters come to life and say we're going over here, or this is going to happen now, or otherwise finding that the story shifts, the setting, the characters, the plot, all that stuff that we thought we had under control goes off on its own merry way. And that's okay! In fact, it's kind of exciting.

That's probably another point or theme that seems to come through their comments. The feeling of release -- that just sitting down and letting the words tumble out feels good. Bradbury, Goldberg, and others have commented that one of the evil rumors is that writing should feel bad, that it should be agony and hard work. Yes, there is perspiration and commitment and a fair amount of stubbornness required to keep writing, to finish it, to go back over it and make it better, and to put it out there in public view -- and deal with the rejections. But there's also a feeling of accomplishment, a feeling of doing something that feels right.

"There's nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein." Walter Wellesley Smith

"Writing became such a process of discovery that I couldn't wait to get to work in the morning: I wanted to know what I was going to say." Sharon O'Brien

I think they're both saying the same thing. Far too often, people see opening a vein and get scared. That sounds painful! Then Sharon O'Brien reminds us that it's exciting to find out what we're going to say. What will happen next?

That's what the nanowrimo writers seem to be commenting on -- the fun and the push of seeing where the words take you, of having the torrent clean out the muck and mud and come roaring out, smooth and clean. Take a deep drink from that rush, and keep writing.

tink
(about 450 words)
Rock around the clock tonight!

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The Place For My Writers Notes

Entries tagged with discovery writing

TECH: Capturing Lightning In A Bottle?

TECH: How do I handle that great idea that hits in the middle of writing?

EXERCISE: How do you kickstart your writing? (tink’s answer)

EXERCISE: How do you kickstart your writing?

WOW: Do you nano? (500 Words)

WOW: Nanowrimo?

TECH: Nanowrimo Notes #19: A firehose?

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