I love writing, but I don’t like getting started. It is complete drudgery to create a multi-layered proposal. When I finally reach the right depth, it sits on my computer desktop for weeks or months while publishing houses consider whether my writing is a good fit for them.
Then I’m signing a contract and under deadline. Tha
t is such a GOOD feeling.
Such validation for all the prework when I think I have a good idea, maybe even a great idea…and then…gulp…I have to write that great idea.
All of a sudden I’m not so sure it’s a brilliant idea anymore.
This is where I’ve been living the last few weeks. I have a book due in April, with another I’m cowriting with Tricia due in February. So to give myself and this book the best chance I want to write the first draft by January — even earlier so I can enjoy Christmas and the holidays with my family.
I’ve reread the synopsis. I’ve spent time figuring out the hero and heroines — at least at a deep level — for the four related books. I’ve even thought a bit about the prequel novella I’ll write after I turn in the book. That’s required more thought about the intersection of the heroines in this series, which has been fun — and paralyzing.
Then I edited the sample chapters — usually a surefire way to get me back into the flow of the story. But I was still paralyzed.
Now I’m beginning to feel the days tick by. There are an ever shrinking number left for me to write! So I turn to trusty pinterest and create a secret board with images of my characters. Still nothing. The juice is gone. The special sauce ain’t working. I. Am. A. Hack. Good thing the publisher hasn’t sent me the advance yet, because they’ll be changing their mind!
So I go old school. I dig up a website that has calendar pages for the months my book will occur in. I get out my trusty erasable pens (LOVE these things!). And I start color coding the plots on the calendar. The top photo is what I started with. Not much. The second photo shows the current state of the calendar. It’s not complete — it’s probably 50% of the story flowed on the page. But now I can see the scenes I need to write. I can visualize if the hero’s perspective is showing up or if he’s been dormant too long.
This may seem incredibly old school. There are no fancy spreadsheets — though I seriously opened Excel and was ready to type. There are no multi-colored post its on a large board — when I’ve done that, the notes tend to float off the board.
But what it did do was unstick me. And that is invaluable! So there’s your behind the scenes look at this writer’s current state of neurosis!
And I need your help! I need to name a non-profit agency that the hero works at in Washington, D.C. It works with immigrating children and should indicate hope somehow. Any thoughts?
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Unsticking yourself if not easily done, to paraphrase Dr. Seuss’ “unslumping yourself is not easily done.” What works one time will not always work the next to get started. For instance, I should be writing right now to meet a deadline instead of making a comment on a blog about writing!
Procrastination is an amazing thing, isn’t it? 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Nancy!
Getting stuck is no fun. Sometimes, it happens to me when I’m racing toward the end of a story. I have to go back and start at the beginning and usually I can find the problem and write my way back through the book. I’m glad you were able to get going with your calendar, Cara.
I know these projects will turn into great books!!
The excitement to write is back. I love that!
This is a timely post for me, Cara, because I just began writing a new novel yesterday. Beginning is always the hardest, most daunting part of the process for me so I procrastinated for quite some time with research and character development and a wee bit of plotting. But yesterday, I finally MADE myself face page one, chapter one. Typically, once I’ve written the first 100 pages I catch momentum and the rest of the process rolls along better. Beginnings, though! Yikes.
God bless your new project! May He equip you every step of the way.
There’s something magical for me that happens about page 50…it’s like a that point I finally know the characters enough to fly!
“Set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word”…Ezekial 21 verse that inspires me when I need to “set my face” toward my “Jerusalem” writing goal.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
Love that. And I am a firm believer in daily word count goals. I know my writing pace. So I know what I should be able to write in a day without too much stress. It’s getting to the point where I can write that is killer right now 🙂
Wow Cara! Thanks for the insight into an author’s mind and process. Glad you’re unstuck!
Me, too! It is such a relief. 🙂
Sometimes there’s nothing better than oldschool! Thanks for sharing – what a neat idea, I’ll have to try it some time.
It worked really well this time. Let me visualize everything that had to happen, and by using different colors I could see what’s missing on a plot at a glance.