If you’re a writer, you fall into one of two categories: Plotter or Pantser. People who know or follow me, know I lean heavily into Pantser status.
Oh, I’ve learned (sort of) how to have more than “no idea” when I sit down to write. I’ve had to develop this technique through the many NaNoWriMos I have participated in. That’s because my first couple of tries, I actually had NO IDEA what my story was going to be or where it was going. I’d spend the first two weeks of November trying out different characters, situations, even locales before I could concentrate on something that made sense, and even then it didn’t make much sense.
This is a waste of time and effort. While I love going where the wind blows me, it’s difficult to get anything accomplished using this severe pants-ing technique. So I decided I would at the very minimum have characters assembled, what the story would be, where it would take place, and a general idea of how long this story would take place. It’s an outline, but not really an outline, as it’s basically in my head.
That way, when November rolled around, I could “write as fast as I could” — therefore, I was able to achieve the 50,000 words in a month.
My current WIP that I’m editing (a NaNoWriMo creation from 2017) is fraught with holes. I know this because in addition to editing the work, I make copious handwritten notes in a notebook, kind of in a spreadsheet format, listing the characters, the scenes, the page counts, etc. I know, I know, I should use something in computer format, but my eyes can’t do a lot of close work, plus I tend to lose my way on the computer. (This notebook also contains hand drawn maps and other layouts, character descriptions with each person’s motivations, fears, etc., and other notes that come to mind.)
When I write a first draft, especially in NaNo mode, I sometimes veer off the linear path and write scenes I hope to insert in the work…somewhere. I got this habit from my online classes with Michelle Richmond and other authors. As an exercise, sometimes we would write an ending, sometimes something in the middle, sometimes a climactic scene. It might seem like a dumb thing to do, but I found these types of exercises released a part of my brain that was jammed up. A lot of times, I’d reread a scene I’d written and was amazed that such words came out of my head. Surprising in many ways.
My mode of operation is to skip over what is giving me a problem. I don’t have time to get bogged down, so I make a note (in my notebook, indicating page number in the document and what I want to achieve there) and continue on.
I let this entire edit sit for a few months, which was a good thing. Plus, in fall, I have other concerns, mostly harvesting my garden, canning what I have to, and preparing the ground for winter. Life throws you all kinds of things to achieve, not just writing, and you have to do other things; I think it’s necessary. My head is in a different place now, my eyes too. If you’re struggling to find the right words, put the work away for a while. Don’t beat yourself up while you’re doing it. You likely needed the rest and diversion before tackling the work. And to be clear, writing IS work. It’s the hardest work you’ll ever do.
I need about 30,000 words, which isn’t much. The bones are there. The story is there. I just have to sit down and let my mind wander. I can’t wait to see where it takes me.
Random photo of an angel trumpet blossom that is not like the others on the same plant. It’s super fluffy. And yes, they are blooming inside, in mid-January.
