Comments | karen_w_newton: In the beginning. . .

karen_w_newton

In the beginning. . .

May 23, 2010 22:10

I wrote a couple books in my head before I ever put one on paper. And I do mean on paper. The very first time I wrote a "novel" (I am using the term loosely; that's one that will never see the light of day) it was on a typewriter. The second one was on a PC with dual floppy drives (I am seriously giving away my age here). It wasn't until the ( Read more... )

writing

Comments 10

birdhousefrog May 24 2010, 10:47:09 UTC

absolutely! good post about your process, says the process hound.

mtlawson May 24 2010, 12:00:37 UTC

Experience and wisdom are hard to come by otherwise, Karen. The fact you're learning is a good thing.

If you invent a machine to go back in time to teach this to yourself, would you have listened?

karen_w_newton May 24 2010, 12:02:28 UTC

Hmm. I have a feeling if I actually could go back in time, teaching myself to write better sooner would not even be on the list of things I would do, what with preventing the Kennedy assassination and all.

bogwitch64 May 24 2010, 13:30:32 UTC

It took me a long time to realize that the running starts I always start with were exactly that--running starts. I still do it, but at least now I'm aware of it. I know the first five, ten pages are going to be cut. Without those running starts though, I can't seem to get where I need to go. In the end, it's more efficient to simply do it and cut than try to do it right from the beginning.

Great post, Karen!

karen_w_newton May 24 2010, 14:42:22 UTC

running start-- I like that term! Sort of like, when a photographer takes a picture and he wants the model in motion, he doesn't "snap" until he/she is in the right place!

bogwitch64 May 24 2010, 14:47:02 UTC

EXACTLY! Perfect analogy.

ellenfisher May 24 2010, 16:52:13 UTC

I almost always wind up starting at my original starting point. A sentence pops into my head, I write it down, and that's the beginning of the story. I edit plenty along the way, but the beginning is rarely changed significantly. However, I admit I am very far from a structured writer-- I'm definitely more of the pantser type:-).

karen_w_newton May 24 2010, 16:55:35 UTC

I am a definite pantser -- I never wrote a book from an outline in my life-- but I have found that I need to assess the m.s. once I get it done. I guess what I mean is that my subconscious makes a better writer than an editor.

jongibbs May 24 2010, 19:23:09 UTC

'Yes, the subconscious is a good idea generator, but it should not drive the bus.'

If I did a 'Quote of the week', this would be it :)

karen_w_newton May 24 2010, 19:29:42 UTC

Feel free to steal it!